Wondering About You Truckers' Previous Careers

School days: Lawn mowing boy and newspaper route

2 months after I graduated from High School on my 18th birthday, I jumped in my dad's friends truck to learn how to drive. Been a trucker ever since and never regretted it. Just like it says in the "Chicken Lights and Chrome" song......... "Long haul trucker is all I'll ever be"!

However, some days I wish I went into the Air force to fly the big iron (C-5 or other cargo ships). Kinda wish I was a airline or corporate pilot, too.

 

USMC
Framer/Framing Contractor (until sf prices dropped through the subfloor)
Hourly Framing/Remodel/Home Repair/Fix-n-flipped one house on my own, quite a few for others)
Now in CDL school and looking forward to the career change. I've read there forums A LOT and know the job is not for everybody. I did a lot of research and paid for school with my own money (I opted for Sage in Henderson, CO and it's been a good choice in my opinion). I'm single so no worries about any family problems. I'm also something of a hermit so alone most of the times is just fine. I think the job will suite me just fine.

 

I was a chronically broke and fatigued full-time college student who also put in 40 hours a week on the nightshift. I finally had enough and began driving at age 21, the minimum age allowed by law to drive interstate. I finally did go back and finish that degree, and without needing to work my way through, my grades were much higher.

Although, I returned to trucking because my management degree brought half the annual income that my trucking career brought. Plus, as an owner/op I don't have to answer to some control freak boss who acts like they own me.

 

Previous careers?
1967-Bag boy, Army exchange, Fort Shafter, Hawaii
1968-Gas station attendant, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
1969-USN (retired 1989)
1989-J.B.Hunt transport, out of Vancouver, Wa.
1990-2011: Various Teamster positions (layed off and retired in 2011)
2011-Market Transport, Puyallup, Wa.
2011-Hawkins Enterprise (contractor)
12/28/2012: Retired again (Hopefully for the last time)

 

I was a Multi Billionaire Playboy until Obama's election.

 

Hate when that happens, Reality and all that paying the bills stuff.