Wannabe trucker needs some advice

..This is what I am considering right now....I miss driving and want to return, but have a fairly stable job and couldnt make even 1/2 of what I make out on the road. The issue with this idea, is storage and the lack of knowing what forms/permits/insurance I need just to be able to bobtail down the road and not break some law or fined myself FINED. Cant park the thing in my subdivision (other than overnight) and no way I could get a permit to build that tall of a garage....so that idea is on the back burner. Sucks too, since I can walk into a KW dealer and pickup a decent used 2005 T600 ...

I had put a few posts in CList asking for anyone that was willing to give me some refresher training (got my CDL back in 1993). I am willing to pay someone a fair rate and figured that would benefit both me and the o/o, especially if he ain't runnin.

I received a whopping ZERO responses....that seemed odd for Milwaukee.
Maybe I should try that idea again. I dunno...

 

How old is too old to begin? I'm a 57-year-old geezer who retired from the USAF a few years back. Got the urge to hit the road. I'd like the long hauls. I dream of seeing the West again, and from the cab of a big rig is fine by me. Local community college has a 3-week course for just under 4K. I haven't paid anything yet, but they sent me for the physical and I passed. (I did have a minor stroke 8 years ago, but no effects. Problem for insurance??) Our kids are out of the coop, wife is fine with having lots of quiet time. I'm very active and in good shape, so I'm sure I can handle the physical part of it. Great driving record. Should I consider dropping the 4K for an 8 or 10 year career? Is it that lucrative? I'd be fine with 30K a year, not looking for big bucks. Thanks for any &all advice.

 

Welcome to the TTR Forum. I'm looking at getting back in at 54 myself. I don't see the age as a problem. In addition, your expectations are realistic enough. Just do more reaseach so you fully understand what you are geting into.

I'm working on making this unruly bit of information easier to read but I'll share it anyway.

Here's my standard copy and paste advice. It is aimed toward helping new drivers avoid common misconceptions, pitfalls and disappointments about the industry. I hope you find something of value in it.

You need to research and find out what the important questions are. You can make an above average living but you will make sacrifices that other jobs don't require. Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. Don't just go to school and then try to figure out where to go.

I don't know your financial situation. Don't take training from a company if you can afford it or get it with financial aid. You will be their slave for up to year. If you leave they will trash you DAC and credit record. Check out your local community colleges and employment office.

Just know that most training and trucking company recruiters will do nothing but lie to you. They will let you talk about what you want and then tell you what you want to hear. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Your home time, family, paycheck and everything else comes second.

It is not like any other job. Local is usually backbreaking delivery work 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Often you unload dozens of times a day or you are a salesman. In my area most dump truck jobs pay less than a good factory job. Regional is lots of loading and unloading time, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local but will wear on you and push your HOS limits. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles.

You'll probably have to pay your dues before you get the gravy job. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get something like that starting out, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Regardless of your driving choice, after school you will go through company training. For OTR this can be six weeks to three months with little or no home time. The first phase is usually $400 a week and the second phase is $500-550 a week. Some pay less. One company pays 12 CPM for training.

You don't want to wait around too long after training or you'll have trouble finding a job. If you get out before you have a year in, when you try to come back a few months later you will find they want you to start over. Most OTR companies don't put any value on local experience so it is better for your career to drive OTR first if you will ever want that option.

One more thing, if you have anything that makes you less desirable than your competing job applicants, a phone or in-person interview will often bring the best results. Even if I am the best candidate I will choose face-to-face if at all possible and phone if not. Sure you may have to fill out that online application but that isn't the best way to get a good job. You have to do something or be someone who stands out from the crowd. Do regular follow-ups by phone on the jobs you really want. Too many new drivers just settle for a job from the list the school has. There are many more options available. The school works in volume and looks the best when it says 90+% of our graduates find employment. So obviously they get better results from companies that hire in higher numbers.

Now I'll share some thoughts and opinions on common misconceptions. New OTR driver starting pay is usually about $35,000 - $40,000 annually. It will probably be less if you choose regional because you will drive fewer miles. You will most likely see all the sites you can from the truck windshield on the Interstate or parked at the truck stop. The company will not allow you to go out of route or bobtail around to sightsee.

Other helpful suggestions include attending school in early spring. This will give you several months to acclimate yourself to your new driving career before you have to tackle the chore of winter driving. It also will get you started in the busier time of year when more miles are available to make you more money.

 

Thanks, buddy. That's a lot of info to chew on, and I'll consider everything you pointed out. I see there are many things I never knew or thought of. I still have a hankerin' to get out there and do it, and I'm a really easygoing and tolerant guy, always the last one to complain if ever...but I don't want to get used. There's a trucker living down my street, I'll talk with him too next time he's in. Again, thanks much!

 

You are very welcome. I don't think you will have a bit of trouble based on your attitude and what you have said. I do think it is sad what the starter companies have come to. Still if you understand what to expect and want what you are going after, it's not unbearable.

A smart man with a good attitude and realistic goals can make lemonaid from dog poop, so the lemons these companies give you work fine.