Trucker with degree ? Anyone

Sure, there are lots of truckers with bachelor degrees, some with more advanced degrees.
In America, with the economy the way it is, people are turning to whoever is hiring. I have a bachelor of Science in Biology and have been a genetic research scientist for 28 years, but this year the laboratory funding grant didn't get renewed, so I am being layed off in April. I have my class A CDL permit and will be paying for school with my unused vacation time payout. Hopefully I can time it so I complete school between layoff and my daughter's wedding in June, and then start OTR after that.

 

i've got my degree in aviation management. got me a great position for awhile....well almost 20 years.....both as a pilot of large aircraft and then made the move into senior management.... and was very lucrative but that industry is about as unstable and undependable as they come. and that degree doesn't do alot of good when the jobs at that level are being eliminated and relocation to some pretty undesirable areas of the country is the only way to stay in it.

you'll find alot of us out here that came from other industries with advanced degrees and quite a few on the forum here as well.......but those that are currently in school and thinking of making that jump to trucking after investing all that time in school i don't know. i have seen a couple of posts to that effect around from time to time.

but the larger number of us with advanced degrees came to trucking after the career field we got our degree in just didn't work out or we just got tired of the office politics and being stuck staring at the same 4 walls every day.

 

BA plus 5 years here. When life hands you lemons, become a trucker.

 

i have a degree...sort of. was young and stupid and majored in music and theater. that and a buck will buy you a cup of coffee. did get a "marketable" skill out of time in navy...air traffic control. but i HATED that job...you couldnt pay me enough to tempt me back to that.

 

just from being on the other side of the headset i'll say i've got nothing but repsect for those in the tower lol......no way you could get me to do that job either.....shooting an approach in 1/4 and 200 with a crosswind right at design limits was less responsibilty than handling every aircraft out there doing it on a given day when the conditions went down....

and yeah, having spent my share of time on stage as well unless you're just one of the lucky ones that doesn't get you far in life either lol......oh to be young and dumb again hehehe

 

funny thing is...both my brother and cousin are fairly successful in the arts. brother mostly in music, having played with mildly successful bands that likely no one here has heard of (yolk was the most popular one), and cousin has been very successful as an actor, making a few million by my estimation. everyone reading this has either seen him or heard his voice,or both. hes on a very short list of successful voice over people, and has done several national commercials, a few small parts in law and order episodes, and other stuff. i did both bands and theater...tried professionally for 4 years and made around 14k. thank god for the 3rd shift job that allowed me to eat now and then.

 

My husband has a Bachelors in Religious Studies & completed a semester of grad school for his Master of Divinity. Then he became a trucker because unfortunately, churches don't tend to pay pastors very much.

 

BS Mathematics. BS Business Administration, Management.

It seems age can now be a problem. Never planned for that.

 

I have been in the Army, driven a truck, worked union construction and held high paying (over rated) IT jobs.

Hold a class A CDL with all endorsements, clean driving record, Degree in Computer Science, MBA in Business Administration, 13 computer certifications and completed a 4 year union apprenticeship.
The best times I have had working in my life were spent in the Army and driving a truck. I absolutely despise being stuck in a dark office every day, sitting in a small cubicle doing tasks and attending meetings that offer no value to anyone other than take up time. So many folks in offices create “work” to fill the time and to try to justify their jobs. I am done with it.

My words of advice are this. Life is short any time you want a reminder take a look at the obituaries in the newspaper and think wow would I be happy with my life if mine was over? Live and do what you want. There are always a constant flow of jobs in one’s field. So take a chance. Try to live below your means and save so YOU have control of your life and can make changes.

Finally NEVER let money, title or job describe who you are as a person. I had good role models in my life and have lived my life with honesty, hard work, and by not making excuses. Be a good person and your life will be full of opportunities. You are in control and you make your life what you want it to be.
Once you have degree, education, training, or most importantly life lessons and experience no one can take that away from you.

I was scared to go into IT I was the only one in my family to get a degree. All my family are construction workers or military. Was I the smartest nerd? Heck no far from it but you know what I was the hardest working and the most appreciative since I had worked hard with my hands. The first five years felt like I was in fantasy land on vacation. (Air conditioned, break room, sit in a nice chair all day, ect)

Just don’t ever feel stuck!!!!