Why did you get into trucking?

My only warning, wannabe1, is not to look into trucking as a safety net. Trucking is hurting too. My annual income has decreased by nearly 40% over the past two years. And in my best year (2007) I only grossed $55K.

 

Scarecrow, my dad was a truck driver in the Army during WWII. He likes to tell about how he had to drive winding mountain roads at night with no headlights so the enemy wouldn't see them. Now that must have been some hairy trucking! But that may have planted the seed that made me want to drive.

Also, I understand about how your mom and sister think. My sister is the same way. She can't understand why I would want to drive either. But since I go by what I want to do and not what she thinks I'm not going to let her discourage me.

When I got my drivers license I use to drive around with no particular place to go also. And those truck driving songs would be on the radio so that influenced me a lot. I think that's what they call wonder lust.

I spent 10 years stuck in a cubicle and it was really hard on me. I like my privacy and there is none of that in a cubicle. If you have a private phone call everyone in the place will know your business. There's just too many wagging tounges in an office environment for me.

 

You might read through some of the posts in the section "Ask and owner/operator" on the main discussion board. You might get a better response if you post there.

 

If you want to be O/O's check out my Money Making Hotshot thread in the Expedite forum . The truck pictured is based out of Vegas . For any O/O choice make sure you can get insurance coverage before you do anything . Hotshot work is also slow but the rates are better . You really need sales ability to make it because you need to eastablish base customers and not depend on brokers .

 

This is almost exactly how I feel. I did end up going to college at age 25, got my accounting degree, and have had good paying jobs. While I enjoyed being good at my job and being able to meet challenges, I never liked driving a desk or relying on others to be able to do my job. Right now, I'm not having any luck finding another accounting job, and I'm not sure I really want to. Currently driving a taxi part time.

At 47, I start trucking school in a few weeks. After reading the forums the last couple of days, it sounds like it's going to be tough to make a living at it. My personal "delusion" is that I may be able to own my own truck someday and maybe make some decent money. I think I can handle the rigors of the job and the time on the road.

But some of the posts I've been reading suggest that the reality of starting out in trucking is that it's going to be very difficult. If anything, my CDL A will be another arrow in my quiver, so I don't think I'll regret getting it. The course is at the community college, cost $1700, and lasts 9 weeks, supposedly with a lot of time behind the wheel.

 

Yes, go company first. I've seen o/o's in your shoes go out and buy a truck and drive it for x amount of time and get it repoed cause they can not make jack didley. In the end; if you go company, you will avoid all the hassles of owning a truck (if uhbby hasn't had recent experience you'll pay triple on insurance) and all the money you'll pour into it (repairs, rebuilds, new tires and etc..). Good luck.

 

I think that is an important characteristic to be a successful driver. You have to enjoy your own company. I have never been much of a team player either for the same reason you stated. I would much rather be left alone to do my job. Seems like the big buzzword in offices nowadays is "mulit-taksing" which is office speak for overworked and underpaid. Why should they pay two people to do the work of two people when they can pay one and say in the job description that "you must be able to multi-task."

I too have an accounting degree. Which proves that if you try hard, you can learn to do just about anything. But that doesn't mean it is the best for you. I too have had a hard time finding an accounting job. Employers look at my experience, age and former salary and know they can get someone half my age to work for half my salary. So I asked myself, why am I even trying? Why shouldn't I do what will make me happy? So I don't really want to go back to accounting. Is that a waste of a degree? No, I made a good living in accounting for many years. Now its time to move on.

Yes, I think it will be difficult to get started in this current economy but, for me, I would rather try to do what I believe I am best suited for than to go back to the office environment, I never was really happy there. I realize the realities of the current economy and how hard it is going to be to get a "good" job rather than go to a "driver mill" company but I am going to try. And if I have to go to a "starter" company so be it. That doesn't mean you have to stay there forever. Get good experience, do the best you can and be on the lookout for something better.

BTW, having your CDL A isn't like another license. From what I have read on this forum, if you don't put it to use soon after you get it you will have a harder time later on. If you wait for very long, no matter what the reason, you will probably have to take a refresher course to get a job, just FYI.

What community college are you attending? I have not found a course offered at that price. I am planning on going to the Sage school at St. Philips College in San Antonio. I have talked to several companies and Sage seems to have a good reputation in the trucking industry.

 

Southpaw,

I'm going to McFatter Tech...part of the Broward County school system (Ft Lauderdale area). I think you have to be a Florida resident to get that price.

I haven't researched the trucking companies, except for reading the forums the last couple of days. So I haven't figured out how I'll get my first job yet....better get going on that.

Here's what I think I would eventually like...having my own rig and running freight all over the country with my hang glider, hitting different flying sites and competitions along the way. I wonder if it would be legal to carry the glider on the cab somehow. Maybe have a home in the middle of the country somewhere so I can stop there once in a while. Reality might get in the way of all that, though.

Eventually this economy is going to get moving again so maybe there's some hope for us.

 

Wilburleft,
Yea, you better get started with your research so you will have some idea what the companies want. Start by looking for companies that have had some positive posts on here then call them. I have been pleasantly surprised by how willing they are to talk to me and I haven't even started school yet. Now they may tell me that they are not hiring or I live out of their hiring area or you need some experience already, but for the most part they have been pleasant to talk to. I have had some tell me that they only accept students from an accredited school. That is one of the reasons I am going to Sage. Other companies aren't as particular about the school but I think that the better the school, the better the training and the better chance you will have of getting a good job. The school you are going to should be accredited since it is part of the Broward County school system.

Eventually you should be able to own your own rig if that's what you want. I've even thought I might own one someday. Of course you know that you will be entering a whole new realm of trucking. But you can start preparing for that as soon as you get your first job and start to gain experience. I don't think anyone should try to be an o/o from the start, it's too risky. Learn all you can about the trucking business. Ask a lot of questions and read a lot of the trucking business related publications. Many are on the internet. Also, I have a subscription to XM radio and there is a truckers only channel (XM 171) that I listen to a lot and there is good info on the trucking business there. So you have many sources to help your dream come true. You just have to work at and make it happen.

As far as that hang glider, I don't know. I guess if it breaks down small enough it might work. I have heard of drivers taking certain things with them like weights so they can excerise while on the road.

Try not to lose heart about this difficult economy, if you want it you can do it. That's what I keep telling myself.

 

I got recruited right out of the Navy...I read the brochures...like the idea of making $40,000 in one year, and decided to do it for the adventure...I only intended to stay with it for a year or two...and then go to flight school...

(ah...the good ole days of being nieve...)