What should I choose?

Summers in the part of Montana where I live are absolutely sublime in their beauty.

Both days of summer, that is.

 

Here's a nice area in Florida:
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Nudist Community - Land O Lakes Real Estate - 7 Homes For ...
https://www.zillow.com/land-o-lakes-fl/nudist-community_att
Zillow has 7 homes for sale in Land O Lakes FL matching Nudist Community. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place.
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Well said. It’s been a while, but it sure is a steep learning curve. It’s not for everyone.

 

This post ....I couldn't have said it better, but I will say this....if there is a question as to which path to take, then you may want to rethink trucking. You may like driving but are you sure your ready for a lifestyle change?

 

@hopeful eyes
Amazon is a meat grinder.
My honey works there.
I hate seeing how ragged she looks after a week of that.
She's been there about a year now, and while she likes some aspects, there's more she doesn't care for.
Mostly, leadership and rotten people.
The kicker being that they pay 35% more than anything else in the area, so, she toughs it out for us.
I got into trucking because it's one thing I've talked about for 10 years, and finally was able to get through school to get my class a.
I'm finishing up my hazmat and Tanker tomorrow, and will start driving tankers locally.
It's been a brutal year for us, like many others.
I lost a business to covid, and had no pay for months while we tried like hell to survive, but ran out of money.
Unemployment sucks.
If you've the ability to get your cdl, GET IT.
For the love of all things holy, get it.
You'll never want for work.
You may not get the stellar gig you want out of the gate, but it'll get you seat time, and decent pay long term.
Yes, there's good and bad companies to drive for.
Find something that works for you and roll....and never look back.
Get that seat time.
Lay down those miles.
Be the best you're able to be.
Look ahead to what you really want to do, as you gain experience.
Go for it.
You gotta start somewhere.
Your moment is now.

 

@hopeful eyes
Understand though, there's a lot about trucking that sucks, but more that's awesome.
It's like any job, but with a twist.
It's also a lifestyle.
I have a farm, and can't roll long haul.
I'm good with that.
It took some doing, but I found a great opportunity, close to home, and I'm able to sleep in my bed every night.
With my honey.
And the dogs.
My family is what's most important to me.
I'll give up a higher paying gig for that benefit.
Yeah, I could make 4-600 a week more otr, but I'd miss being home.
And honey wouldn't be able to keep working.
I applied to 20 places when I was in school.
I got 14 offers.
I got a grant to cover school completely.
I took the one local gig that sounded bes , but ultimately, it hasn't worked out.
The tanker option just rolled into my lap a few weeks ago, and the hazmat has taken a while.
You got this.
Figure out how to pay for school, so you're not beholden to any company.
The "get your cdl" programs have pretty steep payback requirements.
Generally in the 4-6k range, or fulfilling a time /miles obligation.
My school cost 2100 total, zero requirements for miles or payback.
You can do it, I'm sure.
Just start by putting one foot in front of the other, and get moving.

 

I just thought of something. To get a better idea of some of the, um, challenges, that a driver can face in dealing with the company for which they are driving, you might want to look at some of the threads in the Bad Trucking Companies section. Just to, sort of, get the bigger picture, but if you do, remember that those threads are from disgruntled drivers, FORMER employees, that sort of thing.

For example, the company I'm working for driving for right now is my dream company, what I consider to be the job I've been hoping for for years, but there are more than a couple of threads where drivers are totally bashing the company, for all sorts of reasons, problems that I simply CANNOT imagine seeing at this company. So, there *is* that...

 

Amazon