What is the best way to start?

I am a wannabe, I have read some really great posts at this web site. I want to drive and for me money is an issue. I am fourty six years old and this would be a career change. I have worked hard all of my life and I am not afraid of hard work or long hours. I have an excellent driving record (non-commercial) no criminal record and an excellent work history. I want to drive so I can make a living which includes feeding my wife and three kids and givining them someplace to live not in and I do not mean some dump in a getto. I thought driving would allow me to feed and house my family. But, after reading the horror stories here, I have to say you all have scared the hell out of me. I mean terrified scared. I am very confusd is it worth getting into trucking for the long haul. I am looking to drive for the next twenty years and expect to do so (If I even get into driving). What is the best way to start? At first I thought I would go with an outfit like CR Englang, to hell with them. So what does a wannabe (broke wannabe) do to get into trucking or should I just look to do something else. I am very impressed with what I have read on this web-site so please if as many of you could give me your advice based on your experiences I would be most appreciative. Thank you and keep the shinny side up and the dirty side down (definite wannabe).

 

Don't look to trucking as a way to support a wife and 3 kids . If you are in it for the money it's a bad choice . You might do a little research on hotshot hauling though . It would involve getting your own 1 ton or medium duty truck and trailer and MC authority but there are good brokers and good loads in your area . (Yes , there are good brokers . There is one in Ashville hotshotters recommend )

 

I was checking my post and saw that 26 guys have read it but only one gave any feedback. I appreciate RickG's advice and will be following up on it. I would appreciate any other advice I know many of you really know whats going on and can give some good direction (just like RickG did). Thanks and I will keep checking.

 

I know for me i went thru alot of questions and still am but am going with millis transfer, after asking alot ofquestions and doing some talking with some of the drivers i have what i hope to be a realistic picture. I believe that i will make enough to get by, with a wife and three kids, two who are in college, but not by much and defenitly not going to get rich!! What i am looking at is the long term, if ican get trained and stay with a company for more than two to three years, i should be doing well enough by then that if local work appeals to me i should be able to do it without a hitch.. But i am looking like you for a company i can work with for what might be a real long haul, for at 47 i want to finish with one company seriously and as far as i can tell this might be the one. But then again thought i would never live to see forty either!!! Lol best of luck to you

 

Its a hard time to get started doing anything right now. Think back to when you were 18 and trying to get someone to give you a chance. Sell yourself to the trucking companies, dress for the interview and all that. If this is what you want to do go after it like a pitbull with lockjaw.

 

Hey bud, it is scary out there right now. With layoffs, pay cuts, hiring freezes and several companies doing away with student programs it makes the ones that are hiring more competitive. I will say however, that you seem to have several advantages. One is a clean MVR, another is no criminal record, you said you have a good work history that's a positive and also you live in western NC- plenty of freight comes through your way.

One thing you should keep in mind is that even in a good economy, for the first 6 months in trucking you're probably going to make just enough money to survive. Look at the student companies' training pay. If I'm not mistaken, most of them are about $350/wk. Remember that's gross pay. That's usually anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months, depending on the company. Even after you finally get to go solo, most of them aren't going to run you very hard at first and you'll have your school loan to pay on also. They'll typically try to give you runs that aren't tight on time and most of them won't let you run out west for at least for your first 6 months. Not that you can't make money in the east, but what it does is limit what loads you can run.

None of us can tell you is trucking is for you, but if you believe it is, then go for it. Take the positives and negatives you read about each company for what they're worth. There is no perfect trucking company, they all have their faults. If you decide to go into the industry, pick the company you feel is the best fit for you and don't look back. That's the best I can tell you. Good luck.