What's the better job, mechanic or driver?

Aircraft mechanic. You'll have to go to school or a formal apprenticeship but once you get that license you can just about write your own future.
I'm not knocking trucking but I don't think I'd consider it as a career if I had other choices.

 

Those also seem to pay much higher than otr.

 

I would rather be a couch potato

 

being retired.

 

More skill needed too. I loved riding in the truck in the bush far more than the highway. Way more excitement in the sticks.

 

True.

And I honestly love dealing with the loggers, they are a good bunch.

 

I spent 18 years wrenching and beating my body to death. I am volvo and cummins certified. I can do anything involved with repairing or rebuilding a truck and trailer. Including reefer units. I have mobile hvac certification which is required in order to work on reefers.... this is different from auto ac work.

I beat my body to the point that it takes a week to recover from doing an axle of brakes or a couple of u-joints.

I make significantly more money now with my single tractor-trailer running where ever I chose than I did working in the shop.... I was making $54/hr when I changed career paths. I don't work half as hard these days and make more money. I work on my truck 90% of the time...as long as my back and shoulders can handle it.

If I could do it all over again.... learn to wrench, get good at it and then buy a truck and lease it to Landstar or another carrier that has no company drivers and lets you do your own thing.

 

Buy a truck and lease it TO a company, not from it? Please elaborate.

 

lease TO a company..... meaning that you are an owner and operator of your equipment. You sign an agreement (lease) with a carrier to exclusively haul freight under their operating authority. They retain a percentage of the revenue from the loads you haul. In return you get the benefits of the company.... fuel discounts, insurance discounts, etc. I am leased to Landstar. My company has an agreement with Landstar. I run their name and DOT number, use their load board, negotiate rates and other things. I am guaranteed to get paid for the loads I haul, get steep tire and fuel discounts as well as many other perks and benefits. Like cheap, good insurance.... I can't come close to beating the prices I get through them.

NEVER EVER..... did I mention NEVER do a lease purchase deal. You NEVER want the guy you are buying from to also control your income. You have zero leverage... they screw you over and you have no other options but to clean out their truck that you have agreed to pay all the bills on or smile and bend over to let them give it to you more.