Would Like To Hear From Ex-military

I know Roehl has a program specifically for ex-military.

 

I'm in the same boat.... getting outta the Marine Corps and looking to follow my Fathers footsteps. TMC has been the company I've been most interested in because Flatbed is what my family does. Can't get on with Landstar with my dad till I get 1yr OTR experience. After reading forums alot I think I'm still leaning towards TMC. Roelh requires 6 months solo before I can bring my wife with me :/ so regretfully they're out. Haven't looked into Mavrick that much but I've seen them mentioned quite a bit on the forums. Anyone with 1yr experience and money for there own truck Landstar is a nice company!

 

You Can Look At Ats And Cfi,both Have A Heay Haul Division That Are Hiring Newbies. Best Of Luck Devil Dog. Semper Fi

 

I can't say if trucking is easier than the Navy, but it is easier than the Army. Then again, I'm single w/few bills. I also have the absolute minimum amount of personal responsibility and self-discipline required to do this job.

Here is an idea, I'll relate it to pay grades. Maybe others could correct this or weigh in...

E1-E2----No way these guys should ever drive a truck. Lots of time brand new drivers in a Swift or Werner have this wild look in their eyes.

E3-E4----Okay these guys still make me nervous, sort of like a driver w/about 6 months experience and no rollovers yet.

E5----This is probably about right.

E6----Drivers w/around 5 or more years experience. Anything higher should be like an owner operator or a senior company driver.

I don't know, maybe this is a bad example, but it perhaps one way to compare OTR driving to the military people looking to leave the military for a driving job.

 

It's sure alot easier than finding a decent Bremahog! Or getting a cold beer at the White Pig. IMHO anyhing is better than the shipyard.

You shouldn't have any problems because you were in the service. In fact all that training you got that we all thought was bullcrap will pay off for you now. I don't think I'd like to go with team driving. I tried it for a couple of years and I had a decent partner but there were times someone else would be there that I didn't like.

I think you'll find just about all the companies are military friendly but don't expect special treatment. You'll be a "Boot" for awhile just like everyone else. And you'll have to pay your dues. That means you'll be gone for awhile (nothing like deployments) and you'll be at the bottom of the barrel for runs. I don't think you'll make as much money as you do now. But of course I don't know what your rank is and I don't know what your rate is.

I did 20 years as a Seabee and I wish I would have done 10 more. I've driven OTR for a civilian company while in the service and I've driven OTR for the Navy. I've driven vans, flatbeds, doubles, triples, and gasoline tankers. I'm now retired for the second time but that took some planning and hard work.

I've never had any problems because I was in the Navy and it only helped me. You just have to remember that you're starting over again and that means keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut.

Keep in touch.

 

Your biggest problem...that you will encounter in trucking.

The trucking industry wrote the book on SNAFU....the military just thought it was neat, so they used it.

 

I'm not sure what your rank is, but I retired last April as a Chief. I was bringing home about $2000 a pay day, after taxes when I retired. I had some allotments also in the tune of about $800. While I was driving for Roehl, I was taking home a little over $900 every two weeks on their Honor Program. I also got a little over $900 from the VA. This is all after taxes. So as you can see, it was a good pay cut when I got out. I would think that a second class would be a good rank to compare driving too as far as money goes, but that all depends how long you have been in the Navy. Once you have more experience, you can make better money driving. You just have to survive that long.

As far as time away from home, it would be different if I was single or didn't like sleeping with my wife, but I think over a career, you would spend more time away from home as a driver than the Navy. True you spend more time at once in the Navy, but you are not making any money when you are home as a driver like you do when your ship is in home port. I spent 11 days out and home for 3. I did it for four months and had plans to keep doing it until I had the experience needed to get a decent local job, but a good job fell into my lap at the shipyard here in Newport News. Now I am home every night and only work 40 hours a week. Oh ya, I make more money now too.

Over all, I had a great time driving. I have always loved to drive, but I had to do what was best for my family.

Feel free to send me a PM if you want more info.

 

MCSF NSB BANGOR,, WOW WERES THE WILDERBEAST!

 

easier than what ? if your just doing it cause you think you can make alot of money then do yourself a favor and go a different route. i don't understand why so many people think truck driving is easy and a fortune is gonna be made. believe me we don't do it to become rich, cause that just won't happen. we do it cause we love the freedom of the road and it's in our blood. go the direction of what youur doing in the military out here in the civilan world.