Thinking of going into the trucking industry

I signed a contract and avg 1500 a week right out of school. I team drive, which most dont like, and I load my trailer. But it's good $$$$.

I had about 8k in school loans to earn general education associate degrees. Mostly I just paid cash as much as I could. Learned a great deal, dont regret it.

But yeah, you can earn as much or more than a BS degree person, and you dont really have to interview or fight for employment as much. You just apply and show up and pass a drug test.

 

I clearly understand. Do what is best for your family. I hope all goes good for you and your wife.

 

Driving will make you money. I can't say that you will never live paycheck to paycheck again , your money management will decide that. As long as you understand what you are jumping into ( long hours, time away from home and family etc.) Then go for it. You may love it or hate it , the time with a trainer will be the worst . Just push through it and when you get your own truck things will be a lot better. Good luck.

 

Just one more thing.... You don't make money sitting at the truck stop. You only make money when those wheels are turning.

 

What i like about trucking is when I work harder I get paid more. Unlike salary/hourly employees that get paid the same amount regardless.

I get 30.00 per pick up. I can hurry and get it done in 20 minutes and be back on the road. The part that takes the longest is waiting on those hourly employees that work there to finish screwing off and get around to signing the #### paper.

Most of the horror stories I havent really encountered in my experience so far. I had to chain a few times. I waited 3 hours once to get a single pallet loaded on to my trailer in Indianapolis right before home time! But thats about it for me. Even pulling reefers my longest wait was 3 hours. I'm sure it takes longer at some places, but so far have not dealt with that.

I left IT to do this work and never going back.

Oh at my terminals I have waited longer and solo drivers definitely do. Being on a team truck we get priority on the docks. Thats another thing.

 

Well Chinatown helped me find my job, so I can vouch for his recommendations.

Mileage is important but also look at other pays offered. Most weeks my mileage pay is about 900-1100. Then I also get 30.00 per pick up (10-15 pick ups a week avg). 50.00 to unload. 30.00 for LTL dock backing, 150 layover (truck doesn't move a full 24 hrs), etc. I dont get detention with what I am doing but haven't needed it. So those add up to about an extra 500.0p a week. So it turns good pay into great pay.

So don't look at mileage only.