Worth it to get back into trucking?

Don’t go back to “Reefer Madness”. Dry van is a much better life.
Look at smaller companies.

 

I challenge you to a duel over that remark!

 

--Lual

 

Not worth it…….

 

Stay away unless you overwhelmingly like driving. Otherwise the risk reward balance is not in the drivers favor and getting worse.

You the driver put a lot on the line; health, physical safety, legal liability, social connections, privacy if you have cameras, free time, etc. In return an average paycheck, much worse if you calculate the hours. There are much better ways to earn a living.

 

Is it worth it? That all depends on what you put into it. If you can table all your grief towards covid restrictions, rules of shippers and receivers, and industry regulations, and focus on getting the most out of trucking, then yeah its worth it. To me it's worth because you make decent money to simply, drive.

 

You mention some of what I like about driving. During the Covid restrictions we had freedom. I like many of the people I meet on the road. I like the grind mostly, but it would be nice if that had a balance switch. I certainly like the quiet hours driving over night.

But I still don’t think it’s “worth it”. The compensation is nowhere near where it should be given the risks and hours.

I would not recommend it to any young guy that still has options to start a better paying trade, likely working less hours, and with the potential to make much more, have a family life, and be respected.

But for many life situations it’s a good option if one is willing to accept the massive downside.

 

Getting a job here in Wisconsin is like snagging salmon in a narrow shallow river , jobs have opened up here that were never open in past years and you could only get the job if you knew somebody.
Now you can just walk in off the street and get these jobs that pay close to 100k with overtime of course so what I'm trying to say is the landscape has changed now the employer needs you worse than you ned them.
Id take a good look around your area before you commit , you may be surprised of what you may find.
Wish you luck which ever road you take.

 

Im doing loads for a company here in the High Desert, Lancaster / Palmdale area and they are in deed of a driver to run Lancaster CA, to San Antiono TX area, no loading or unload, swap trailer with the Florida driver and come back. Ive been doing it, stay in a hotel such as Hampton or Holiday Inn Express. Basicly I leave Monday late or early tuesday my choice, run half way, say Aprox Wilcox AZ, then meet the driver the following evening in Texas, swap trailer , get room come back, stopping half way get a another room for the 10 off and come home. Now rush at all. Im retired offically, and dont want to be out every week. this is tuesday thru friday I get back around 1300 to 1400 friday afternoon. Back it in, turn in the paperwork and go home. They unload and reload, the most I do is scale it on the way out of town.

 

Sounds like a sweet run.