Trucking for a couple years before switching to another career?

I did this, but backwards. I got in to trucking to save money to go to college and finish flight school. I "moved in" with my mom, but its just somewhere I get mail and store my bike. On the rare occasions I do go home I couch surf between my mom's place and some friends places in tampa. I see nothing wrong with this, I'm still completely self-relient, I just dont see the point of paying $800/mo rent+utilities for a place I'd use 12 nights a year.

HOWEVER, I absolutely love trucking and it's derailed my plans. Why do 3 more years of school, plus take $60k in flight training to get a job that wont pay me what I'm making now for 4-5 years? Would I enjoy flying? Absolutely But I enjoy this job more than any I've ever had, and I'm making pretty good money. Why would I leave?

 

Im in a similar boat here. I worked as an insurance agent i bought a house as a single guy took on some debt. I lost the job and then got a weight loss surgery which added more debt. Im getting into trucking and moving in with mom at 33 yo. Y pay a rent or mortgage if im only going to live there for 3 days a month. Im going to be paying off my cc and loan debt and in 2 years when im free of it and lost weight ill get into something i really always wanted to do first as a correctional officer then as a police officer. When i get off the road and get one of those local jobs then ill get my own place again.

 

Illuminaughty, I have to say I appreciate your situation, and think it's great that you have such a handle on it. You're right - finding yourself with a semi-relevant degree, lots of debt and the other signficant challenges you mention is NOT a rare thing right now. Many people are finding themselves where you are. You're absolutely doing the right thing by researching, and soul-searching. My advice (though I'm pretty sure I'm not your intended audience) is to keep researching, outside of this forum, and outside of trucking as well. I'm sure this is redundant advice - you're probably already pursuing other avenues - but you seem determined to make a deliberate, practical decision, and I applaud that.

Oh, and by the way, in the current economy, multi-generational households are becoming increasingly common and accepted.

 

Another thing is that if you are OTR, you really are not "moving in" with your parents. It is more of an "I'm storing my stuff at their place and visiting them once in a while." And everyone knows that you should go see dear old dad and mom now and then!

 

I was in a similar situation when I was your age, only without the debt. As someone already said, some people have a harder time than others figuring out what they want to be. I to was one of them and I've been paying the price ever since.

It sounds like you might suffer from "wander lust", a desire to travel and see the country. My one piece of advice to you is to go where the money is now, not later. Doesn't mean you choose a career you hate, just one that will provide a good life. At your age it's very easy to romanticize things (i.e. driving a big rig cross country through amber waves of grain with the wind at your back and the sun in your hair). Don't fall into this trap. Choose a career NOW that will allow you to gradually pay off the debt and make a decent living. Work hard now and before you know it you'll be able to take time off and see the country on your own terms. If you have the means to pursue welding or nursing now, do so without haste.

One other thing, defaulting on student loans is a non-starter. Not even bankruptcy will get them off your back and refusal to pay can cause serious legal problems for you.

Just my two cents.

PS , don't pay too much attention to the douchebags beating up on you.

 

Excellent post there Ben. But your PS really does bear repeating. It is so easy for folks to rag on somebody else, when they really don't know what that person's situation is. "Walk a mile in my shoes. . ."

 

Thanks Big Don. Your signature reminds me of a dear old friend. He signs all his correspondence with "ROF" after his name, just like you see Joe Schmo, M.D. or PhD. For the longest time many people thought ROF was a real title. Turns out it stands for "Retired Old Fart".

 

FYI, "Retired Old Fart" IS any official title. And one that has taken a whole lot of hard work to earn!

 

OP I commend you on asking for advice as you are obviously not a member of the 'KNOW IT ALL' Nation. However you have received IMO great advice from different perspectives and I think you may be over-thinking. I know you want to do the right thing-but there are no guarantee's ever. Except when we look back on things.

Anyway you are an adult whether you like it or not;and as it seems to me you have common sense (very rare) I think you should do what your gut tells you to do..Know what I mean? When all alone and the rest of the world is sleeping and this is weighing on your mind...What does your GUT tell you to do?

Do not put too much pressure on yourself as though your decision is important..At 28 yrs old you will be able to recover if making the wrong choice. But I don't think you will. Good Luck Friend. Keep us posted?