what to do??

If the truck is paid for, and you have a good record, I wouldn't think it would be too difficult to find a decent company to lease to with an '05 model truck.

There's always getting your own authority, too, I suppose.

Man, I can't imagine working in a mine. My hat's off to anyone who can do it. Glad there are guys to do it for our nation's energy needs, but I just know I couldn't handle it.

 

You also supply the palladium and platunum we use here at the lab I work in.

So why can't you hit the road instead?

 

$1300 truck pamts. a month is not to bad; but "if" and only if, you can refinance it to be like half of that, I would try. Reduce all your other expenses to only the bare necessities, if you have credit cards I would opt for a reduced payment plan, it won't hurt your credit all that much as long as you're paying something. Also, I think more importantly you should make yourself as marketable as possible, make sure you get your Hazmat endorsement if you don't have it already, if you can get tanker, double triples, etc. go for it, those are things you can do before you make your comeback. Finally on making yourself more marketable. I would only run for an outfit that let's me find my own loads, and one that employs a diversity of trailers as in dry, refer, and flat, and even running power only where feasible : why because the economy is still pretty funky and you want to make yourself as divers and multi-purpose as possible.

One other thing, as it is trucking companies are being more picky and trying to avoid those that have not driven for some time so you'll have to "mass" apply" perhap by putting together a good solid resume and sending it out email or something to "say", hundreds of trucking companies; once you get a few hits negotiate it down from there. hope that helps, and yeah get out that mine, the true trucker spirit is one that's free, it's got to be moving, going, seeing good ol' mother earth and all that: Okay, good luck, Jo Bernard

 

is trucking going down hill bad? in a word yes and it's going to get worse before it gets better , the old days are now gone forever with the new regs comming out and the sad thing is we brought it all on ourselves and i think the bad times are just starting this will be just the first round.

would i give up my truck? no not as of yet ill hang on as long as i can but i don't know how long that will be. course im a little different then most i started this business for the freedom and independence when you take all that away there is really nothing left to keep me out here , i don't need the abuse i already got plenty of that and i get that free.

but big brother knows best i guess and that may be but i think i can do without his best.
best of luck . southernpride

 

I hate to agree with another driver,(just on principle of course!) but SouthernPride is right. The trucking industry is in a battle to see who can get to the bottom 1st for rates and working conditions for the driver. Add in ever growing regulation, and the possibility of Mexican trucks! Like him if I had not been in it for so long, and have a special niche to work in, I would avoid it if possible. Learn to ignore the politics and BS, and enjoy the good paycheck, and do something that you really enjoy in your free time.