Becoming a truck driver

[mscher]

At 45 with no college degree, I'm finding it difficult to get back into information technology (It's been 1 year), even with 15 years experience. It was a nice ride, but it seems that younger and cheaper seem to be in more demand. <br /><br />Plus I'm not sure if the meetings, hours and stress are worth it anymore, especially if the money is not there (Northern Indiana).<br /><br />Since bills will not wait for me to rack up a $60K "edumacation", to compete with 20-year olds, I am thinking of a major career change, one that can work outdoors, may be needed.<br /><br />I have driven straight trucks (tri axle dump, concrete mixer and cattle truck), so I do know a bit about larger vehicles. <br /><br />I realize the the rigs are big, the hours are long and the weather and traffic good/bad. Is there an upside? <br /><br />Is a truck licensing school worth it? Also, looking for the best truck driver web sites.<br /><br />Thanks for any input.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Originally posted by Marty Scher:<br />Is there an upside? <br />

No.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

I considered driving truck for awhile, had even set up the school and everything, and decided against it. I like to be home every night, that is a large reason I got out of the military. The thought of being gone all the time, eating poorly, resting poorly didn't appeal to me. Even now it crosses my mind, but in the end I just want to be home every night. I had a buddy who drove truck, he never saw his wife and kids, was barely ever able to do anything he liked because he had to catch up on all the crap that needed to get done that built up while he was gone. The only upside I can think of is that a single person, without a family (or a life), could save a ton of money. Otherwise, the money is spent by the wife while you are gone, and when you get back you have to do all those chores. Nope, drivin' is not for me....

 

[jimr]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

go to http://www.truck.net/ and read posts on there. I went through company training in 99 and if i had it to do again i wouldn't. starting drivers make from 20-28 cent per mile. the cost of living on the road is outragous you can expect to be away from home for at least 3-6 weeks at a time. and you can make as much money flipping burgers at mcdonalds in the long run

 

[Bondo]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Is there an upside?

Your Up-side would be that you Live in the Middle of Freight Country(Northern Indiana)...........<br />You'd be Home a LOT more than I was when I was Trucking..............

 

[one more cast]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Marty, a good friend of mine became an over the road trucker a couple years ago after the plant he worked in for 25 years shut down. he is in his mid 50's and seems to enjoy it. You can drop him an email at bike101@webtv.net

 

[Hoserpoppasmurf]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

The oil business in Alberta is going nuts for the past 15 years. We have the Athabasca tar sands which contains about as much oil as all the middle east. They are desparately looking for skilled people and pay well. A lot of them are flown in and back out. It is frontier life but not wild. They pay signup bonus and so on for some skilled areas. Check out Suncor, Shell, Fort McMurray on the net. Probably a lot of your current skills are needed.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Been there, done that. <br />I'd look for a tri axle to drive, stay away from over the road.<br /><br /> Lumpers, hand unloads, multi stop unloads, dispatchers, receiving "agents", waiting, waiting, hurry hurry hurry, dispatchers, cell phone bills, wrong delivery instructions and times, dispatchers, home for only 16 hours a week, and dispatchers. #*^^&^^%% em all. Oh, did I mention dispatchers.

 

[DJ]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Marty,<br /><br />I'd have to agree with Roscoe. The over the road trucking industry is no place to make a decent living. <br /><br />Freight rate competition is fierce. Rising fuel prices, rising prices for equipment, etc. leaves little for drivers. The industry is screaming for qualified drivers, yet they can't afford to pay them.<br /><br />My suggestion would be to get your CDL and look locally (day cab work) or possibly try to get on with a municipality.

 

[jimr]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

thats what i did DJ I fell into my job with the city and if i didn't have a cdl I never would have gotten it.

 

[mscher]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

I agree that regional or local, verses OTR, is the way to go and that is what I'm shooting for.<br />If It works out, I'll go owner operator later.<br /><br />I read in the paper where the trucking companies are hurting big time since they have tons of business and not enough drivers. They are vowing to convert business to be more "driver friendly", raising pay and shuffling freight for shorter runs. We'll see.<br /><br />Regarding cr@ppy jobs, I now assemble heavy products 11 hours a day (working non-stop except for breaks), a 45 minute commute, with people about half my age. It's inside with little ventilation, just enough for the mosquitos to come in. I make about about 1/3 $$ that I made before and since it's night shift, I see my wife for about 5 minutes a day during the week.<br /><br />Not that I am complaining and I'm glad to have a job, but frankly it's seems that the life of a trucker may be a big step up.<br /><br />We'll see.

 

[DJ]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Marty,<br /><br />Best of luck to you.<br /><br />The trucking companies will never be able to make good on their promises as long as freight rates stay depressed.<br /><br />The American public will never go for freight rate increases.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

OTR Trucking companies have been making those promises for 15 years. But is been a price driven business ever since it was deregulated, and that means the driver takes it in the shorts.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

My uncle and 2 cousins in upstate NY have driven truck their whole lives. They all have made comfortable lives for themselves financially (they own their rigs and drive independently), but every one of them has severe back problems.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

I drove OTR for 22 years.<br />Was leased to a company and moved nothing but oversize stuff.<br /><br />I retired in 1994, not that I had to, but because I had enough.<br /><br />I now am thinking about retiring again and selling my courier business.<br /><br />Back when I started driving, it was fun, but not now. Way more traffic on the road now and a whole bunch of people on the road that don't know what end is up biggest part of the time, and oh don't get me started on them fresh out of driving school 23 year olds that think they know it all.<br /><br />Like was said, for a single person, get on with a national big company outfit.<br /><br />They ay least have good benifits and the best equipment.<br />New stuff ever 2 years.

 

[NathanY]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

I drive a Tri-Axle, a 2004 Mack Granite. Nice truck, great money, lots of work, but I hate it. The bumps and beating you take from driving across a job site to deliver dirt or rock is, and not being able to sleep at night because your back and kidneys hurt so bad, is not worth it to me. But, like you, I can not get back into the IT field, so I do it to make ends meet.

 

[jimr]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Their is NO DRIVER SHORTAGE and trucking companies will never be driver friendly! these company recruiters will tell you anything you want to hear put you in a nice shiny truck and pay you crap wages and if you complain too much or refuse a load you will sit 1000 miles from home and when you are due to go home they will send you the other way. if you quit they will slam you on your DAC report and make it tough to get another job. goto www.truck.net in the newbies section and do some research before you jump into this. the job isn't for everyone and its geting more expensive to get into it. soon you will have to have finger prints and background check to obtain a hazmat endorsment. now most travel centers(not tuck stops anymore) are charging 5-10 bucks to take a shower. if you compare all the expense of living on the road and sending money home for bills compared to living at home and working for a little over minimum wage you will be money ahead to stay home

 

[Mdude]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

I remember when OTR truckers were the "gentlemen" of the road. But that was a long time ago. Now, they're cranking people out of driving schools faster than anything, they don't have anything in the way of experience and way too many only have enough smarts to pass the tests and that's it. There are so many truck driving schools that they've cut themselves a niche and made it impossible to get work without going to the school.<br /><br />Once the sap gets out of school, he gets paid only to move the freight and the company is constantly pushing him to move it faster and faster. They force him into cheating his time and log books and if he doesn't perform, he doesn't make any money. He gets run hard and put up wet. If he has an accident, the company disavows knowing what he's doing, denies pushing him so hard and cut's him loose. And he won't be able to find more work with an accident on his record. <br /><br />Now they have that Qualcomm system and the poor trucker is living his entire life with "Big Brother" breathing down his neck. He can't get off at any rest area or truck stop to pee without the company knowing it and demanding an accounting.<br /><br />My brother-in-law has gone through this friggin cattle call and I've never seen him so miserable in all the years I've known him. His life is a real grind and, like JasonJ said, his wife spends all his money faster than he can reel her in.

 

[mscher]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Thanks for the input, everyone.<br /><br />I'm going for it and will either go to a commercial school or Company sponsored, where they pay a few bucks while attending, then agree to work for them for x period of time.<br /><br />I already have a lousy job, so getting another one that pays $15K more per year starting, will work for me.

 

[cuzner]

Re: Becoming a truck driver

Hey Marty I wish you luck... I've been in the trucking buisness for 17 years.If I had to do over I would not do the same.I do make a decent living as an indipendant, but there is a huge down side. Be prepared to be treated like shi.. labour laws are alot diferent in transportation, and you will learn in hurry people will take advantage of you if they can.Avoid border crossing if you can. There are some decent companys to work for on your side of the border Fed Ex freight is one. Good luck.... and don't let them turn you into a pr.ck, I've seen that happen too often in this buisness.<br /><br /> Jim