Trying to decide if Truck Driving is right for me...

Look into Roehl. They have some runs with short times out. Not sure of their experience requirements though. I was looking into them but I'm too far south.

 

I almost went with them. They hire out of school. Good people at recruiting.

I took a pass because I didn't want to drive a flatbed this early in the game.

 

You paying for your own schooling is an awesome decision for a couple of reasons. One, because you paid hard earned money for it, you'll appreciate it. Two, you won't have to give your soul to a company in return for your license. Three, you save $ in the end. I know of a couple of people that financed their schooling, and ultimately got ripped off by the time they paid all of that interest.

You can find an OTR job that gets you home every other weekend. In fact, I know of quite a few people that are home every other weekend. It'll reflect in your paycheck, but you mentioned that it's not all about the money. Once you get a year or two of experience, you can get a local, or dedicated run where you're at home more.

Manual Labor... Outside of my pre/post-trip inspections, the most work I've done is sweeping out the back of my trailer. If you're anything like me, you'll wish a little more manual labor were involved. I've been thinking about firing the lumpers, and unloading myself just for the exercise.

80% of the loads I haul are drop'n'hook. I occasionally get a live load/unload, and normally they want you gone as much as you want to be gone. Only a few times in the past 4-5 months have I been jerked around by a shipper.

Your timeline seems a little off. You'll repeat that cycle about 5-6 times, then go home. Once you're assigned a truck, you'll then go and pick up a load at the shipper. Then you'll drop at the receiver. During that process you have your inspections, paperwork, and so on.

Like most things in life, it's never as bad as it seems, and never as good is it sounds/looks. The first year it may be a little tough, but once you get experience, you'll be able to find sometime closer to home.

 

Thanks Ex-

Your response sounds pretty much as I envisioned it all along and am grateful for your insight and honesty.

I pretty much thought that out about paying for the school myself - I've financed schooling in the past for one of my previous careers and it took years to pay it off and cost a lot in interest - no thanks - these days I try not to finance anything but the house I don't even finance cars anymore.

And you're right - i don't mind if my paycheck reflects being home every other weekend, it's what is important to me at this stage in my life and choice of careers.

Thank you very much for your response.

 

As bad as this sounds, RickG, is exactly right. Your in your 50`s and almost retired, you can just about do anything you want. Finding the Trucking company to accommodate your requirements might be tough, but not impossible. Good Luck.

 

you dont necessarily have to do trucking, you can dispatch, Dock supervisor, or yard work, routing, ect.

 

Thanks wargames,

I've considered those positions as well, but I'd have to live near the company to accomplish that and I don't believe there is a company within 120 miles of me

 

You'd be surprised...

 

You'd be surprised... here's 500 to start with....

http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/keywordx.asp?searchstring=*FLORIDA*&SEARCHTYPE=