| Author | Message | ||
     Aydenxb9 |
How do you like your career choice? I'm thinking of another career change. I'm not really enjoying the motorcycle sales game like I thought I would and going back to welding I fear would damage my health, so I'm thinking about getting some training and my CDL. I sell a lot of bikes to drivers and they all seem to make a good living. I also like the portability of the career as my wife is looking to try to make the jump from State/Federal to a Federal position that will hopefully in a few years lead us back to Ohio. I'm doing 8 to faint now and going broke in the process so I'm looking at my options. Opinions? | ||
| Swampy |
I'm a DOT guy, I don't know if that helps. I have a brother-in-law that drives for Walmart and loves it, but it took a lot of years to find that gig. I have another friend that drives for Swift hauling steel and he hates it, kind of like owing his soul to the company store. I have another friend that was hauling grain for a local seed dealer and leased the equipment from the dealer and lost his home to the sleeze ball. It is a different lifestyle, not 9-5, away from home...all the time, unless you can get a dedicated route, and you have to watch for the schemers out there that will drain your blood. With that said, you are old enough to be a good driver(insurable)and if you can find an independent school, one you pay for "up front" to get you some employable driver skills, lots of the larger trucking companies are hiring entry level drivers. Alot of the companies will hold a couple thousand of your first pay for "recovery fees" incase you get sick of being on the road for 30 days straight and abandon your equipment in BFE. | ||
| Sportsman |
Most companies that hire new fresh out of the school drivers have no conciense at all. They want a warm body to steer the truck. Pay sucks, equipment usually sucks, and forget being married as you will be out for as long as it takes till you to quit. They will promise you absolutly anything they think you want to hear.These outfits are BIG. As in billions. They get laws passed that benefit BIG companies and strangle deceint hardworking small outfits that are trying to treat their drivers like people. That being said, once you know what's going on and understand it is a ruthless business, there is a living to be made as a driver. It is very portable since once you have a good driver history, you can get a job anywhere. But absolutly plan on the first 3 years making minimum wage or much less and being gone. I believe the best path right now is to get an A licence but just drive a dump truck (B) for a few years. At least you'll get home even if you have to get up at 3AM to go to work. Then a reputable trucking company will be able to get you on their insurance. SWAMPY! You're a DOT GUY! We need to talk. It may help with my healing.  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I got my CDL last year and have talked to quite a few drivers/instructors as this is a good backup plan for when I exit the Marine Corps. I got the same advice in relation to the big companies i.e. SWIFT etc. as stated above. My instructor vouched that the best $$$ is made as an owner operator... It takes dedication and you must budget for your rig: gas, repairs, maint. tires etc. This will run thousands. But, you'll be better off in the long run. Moral, buy/lease your own truck if you can. Also, try to get on with a company that only does pick-up/drop hauls. I forget the industry name for that. Anyway, instead of the truck waiting around for loading/unloading, it's out on the road making you $$$. (Message edited by charlieboy6649 on May 31, 2005) | ||
| Sportsman |
Charlie, I've been an O/O for the past 29 years. Be very, very, leary of any lease/drive to own, program. Most of them are scams. They will run you to death for 4 years and then they suddenly have no freight, IE, no money and repo the truck when the numbers are'nt there. It's perfectly legal, but like I said before, NO concience. The whole thing is about control. If you have none, you WILL get screwed after wasting a big portion of your life. If you're going to get you're own truck, get your own truck, with your own money, with your own insurance, and your own tags. Companys love when you are dependent. You end up working twice as hard for half the money and some guy in a necktie buys a new Benz cause he's so smart. You'll want to gun them down, but you were the dope that trusted. I've seen it and it makes me sick. As an O/O money management is vital. I run 5 trucks now and you wouldn't believe how some drivers think about money. If you have plans on becoming an O/O, start puting 15% of your present salary in the bank. Living within your means is the first thing to begin the self disipline it really takes. PS: My son is a Marine and I feel for you young guys. I'm hoping he can parley his experience into something like the FBI or Northrop Grumin, or anything but living in a truck. I know everybody tells you it's a tough life and you're thinking yeah, but I'm a tough guy. F that. There are plenty of jobs that you can see your kids grow up and kiss the wife goodnight. Life passes faster than you can imagine. | ||
| S3t_bueller |
I'm a truck driver and these other guys have all made good points. I started out OTR hauling freight and running team for 4 years and that sucked. Then went to a private fleet hauling furniture, lot of work but pay was hub miles so it wasn't bad. Moved on to pulling a flatbed, again a lot of work and got paid a percentage of the gross revenue which in other words is a good way to get screwed over. They skim off the top to lower the gross and then lie about it. Now, I haul US mail for a contractor to the PO. I'm home every day, the pay is great, the work is easy but the schedule can suck at times. Even though your carrier doesn't work Sundays or holidays PO truck drivers do. Getting in isn't too tough, a little experience and ability to pass an FBI background and finding out who's hiring and you have a shot. | ||
| Jlnance |
Dave - Sorry the motorcycle sales thing isn't working out. I know how a job that isn't fun can drag down the rest of your life. Do you want to drive a truck, or do you just want to do something different? If you want to drive a truck, then go for it. If you just want to do something different, you're in a pretty good position. You have a job and you're near several universities and community colleges. If there is something you would really like to do, you can probably get the training to do it w/o having to quit your day job. Ever though of being a high school shop or welding instructor? | ||
| Swampy |
Sportsman Yes! Let the healing begin! A kinder, gentler machine gun hand! I'm from the government, I'm here to help. M&M/Slim Shady "Two Trailer Park Girls Go Round the Outside"(I sing that when I'm spectin') I do motorcoach inspections and regulatory compliance reviews for the FMCSRs, I also conduct driver training and carrier compliance classes(Hours of service, D&A, DQ, Maintainence) I got 20 years in only 30 more to go thankyou! | ||
| Henry_the_8th |
I too am a truck driver. I decided that after 7 years in the power tool repair business I was stuck with no future. My company allowed me to train and test in their equipment in my spare time. The job, I say job because this isn't the career for me, got me more $$$ in a short period of time without going to school. My company isn't the greatest to work for, but it could be worse. I get a base salary plus stops, miles and a monthly bonus. I do OK, but I feel like I am gone too much. I spend 4 non-consecutive days out a week. I miss my family. My little girl was just 3 months old when I took this job and I have missed so much. There are things about it that I like. If I was single I could definitely see getting on with a good company and putting in a few years OTR and having some nice spending money when I was done. If you feel this is something you want to do i would say choose your employer carefully, talk to some current and past employees to get a feel for the place. Just my .02 | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I appreciate the advice found here. Sportsman, by lease, I meant, buy/lease on your own not with the company. I was warned on that one too... The reason I believe the hours wouldn't get to me is I'm a fireman in the Marine Corps now. I work 24 and 48 hour shifts. I'm a Marine so all Marine stuff must be taken care of off duty. After working a 24 hour shift and getting off at 0800, I usually don't get home till 1000 or even later. My wife doesn't get home till 1800. So after doing the math; I spend 12-16 waking hours with my wife a WEEK! Lets just say I think I'd see her more trucking... | ||
| Sportsman |
Swampy, I can see by your post you are one of the sane ones. Some of those guys really believe they are saving the world because they think you may have movement in a S cam bushing. It'll only cost 2 days and $1,000 to get that fixed on the road, VS $10 at home over the weekend. Honestly, I've met some nice guys doing your job that actually understand what their doing, and then.... I was getting a reaming by a DOT guy once and he went on a rant about my trailer being a code trailer out of spec and about how he was going to impound the unit and put me in jail and stuff. It was getting pretty intense. I told him "you could shoot me if you feel like it, but what do you want?" After that he calmed down, he explained I had to pull the code tag. I hauled liquid sugar in that tank for 10 years and that was the first I'd heard about codes. (never said I was smart) Point is, some of those guys really get way too serious. Yes, you do an important job keeping the jipsy crowd rained in, as there are alot of quick buck lunatics running 40 tons down the highway in junk. But from my personal experience, the guy with the $2,000 payment on the new unit is more likely to kill somebody when they're desperate and pushing to make the next payment and fall asleep. If it's near new and it's filthy dirty, check logs and enlighten the poor soul to get something he can afford. I'm not sure, but it seems like certain states get directives to give fines at times and that is part of the frustration. Just set up a basket and a sign saying "toss in a 20 and we won't screw you" or something. That would be so much easier to deal with. OK, may 2 cents is spent. You keep keeping it sane on your end and I'll do my best to keep it safe on mine. I'm sure you have plenty of stories to tell. There is, real lunacy going on out there. I can't wait to hear your best story. | ||
| Sportsman |
Charlie, God knows I wish the best for you. Trucking isn't all that bad. I've done reasonably well for what I started with. I just feel you are a Marine. There has to be a big corporation or county government that needs a fireman. With having your resume I would think you might find a job driving the firetruck and having a future that includes pay raises. Truck driver is truck driver. It starts at X cents a mile and ends at X cents a mile in 30 years. Yes you get better at it and learn to cut corners, but firemen get raises/promotions every year. It might take a while to get in with the local FD, but man I look at the past and if it's anything like the future fireman beats driver any day. Look at it this way. A truck driver is killed at work 2 or 3 times every day and the family gets whatever life insurance he himself was paying for. If a fireman is killed they have a big funural and the wife is compensated for eternity. Society does hold one above the other.You have options and choices to make at your age. Think long term. | ||
| Cmm213 |
I drive a truck for a beverage company (beer) its not bad, I deliver only draft beer kegs off of a refrigerated trailer. The work is hard sometimes but now I am pretty strong. My company has great insurance I don't pay a cent!!Drawback is that I bust my butt and I usually only make 42 to 43000 a year. I am in town driver so I work my 8 or 10 hours and go home.  | ||
| Swampy |
I work with a guy that is Barney Fifes son, I'm telling you he looks just like him and when he smells blood he starts quivering like a mad dog. I worked with him today, at one of the tourist destinations, He put two buses out-of-service before noon! One of the buses was a van cutaway with about 24 seats, Driver...no CDL(Suspended), no log, no medical. Company....no USDOT number, no insurance, no annual inspection. He doesn't get out of the office much but when he does he puts his time to good use. An yes, I have stories, everything from blowing the beaver dam to drunk bus drivers at the casino.....but we all do. |
