Looking to start driving trucks

[JDuece]

wanting to know if the trucking biz is a good one to get into.

[JDuece]

wanting to know if the trucking biz is a good one to get into. :wtf:

You may want to post this question in the newbies forum......The question is way to general .

Good, as opposed to what???

Are you young ,and just getting into the workforce?

Are you going on retirement and need to supplement your income?

Are you married? Are you single?...Too many varibles...

Some love it, some hate it, and to some, is nothing more then a job, a way to put food on the table.....

[truckermanitoba]

As long as you are willing to learn have a good skill set,some can learn some can not.It is one of the few industrys were it is up to you no one else can drive the truck down the road for you

[JDuece]

I got an offer from PAM Transport to sponsor my training I was wondering if PAM was a good company to drive for and thanks for your input and suggestions. JDuece :p

[JDuece]

Also, I have been practicing at my current job with the yard dog to get a feel for it.

J.DUECE....I moved your topic to here, so you may get more answers to your question.

[truckermanitoba]

well if you are using a yard donkey than you will have a feel for backing up.Remember that if they pay for your schooling you have to work for them for a year or pay them back.Think hard about it, can you be away for acouple of weeks at a time.Find out before you sign, how long you are away from home, what is your rate of pay,were the terminal is located that is closest to your home,Make sure you meet all the qualifications for medicial ,criminal record .vision and hearing requirements,age requirements. Most important can you live on what they will pay you for ayear.If you are married or have kids can you be away for two weeks at a time.Think about how are you with reading,and math as there will be lots to read and math is used alot in this field.Some peaple are not good at that.How are you at problem solving as most of the time you are by yourself so have to figure out what to do yourself.Dispatch can give you advice but it may or may not be any help.How are you with map reading and directions. Big thing how are you used to sleeping because you will not get to sleep at night all the time.Just remember that if they do not have a terminal close to you you will not get home as much,it is easier if they have one.Make sure thatanyone who matters is ok with this as if they are not it willcause problems later.Myself I did not have anybody pay for my training,I spent about 10 thousand dollars on my training and until you get two years experience jobs are not as easy to come by. I did my research and found a job and i am sticking to it.I get to see alot of different country and get paid to do it.I like it but it is not for everyone.

[JDuece]

Thanks Hellbound!!!!! :wtf:

[JDuece]

Trucker, my ole' lady seems to have some bit of a problem with it, but I have to do what makes me happy also. I want to give my kids a good or "decent" life should I say. I've been talking to a lot of truckers that I load daily at my current job and they seem to have nothing but good things to say about the trucking industry. Some are kinda encouraging me to do it. LOL

[JDuece]

hmmmm pretty boring post eh?

[LugNut]

Trucker, my ole' lady seems to have some bit of a problem with it, but I have to do what makes me happy also. I want to give my kids a good or "decent" life should I sayYour wife doesn't like it but you must make yourself heppy? Marriage is a two way street. Sometimes you make yourself happy and sometimes you don't. Giving careful thought to your spous is always a good idea.

Giving a good life to your children is one thing but making money and never being there with them to enjoy that good life is another. Life isn't about how much money you can make. I would never suggest any one with kids get into OTR trucking. In your case your wife and kids will be miserable. Satisfying your own needs and forsaking theirs seems just a bit selfish.

There are many vocations you can train for that make good money that will give you time with your family. Trucking isn't one of them.

[JDuece]

:chase: Lugnut, I fully understand what you are saying. I was thinking of trying it for one year and then maybe then going local so I could be at home more. As of right now I'm still considering it and I'm kinda of stuck in between. I appreciate all of the help and suggestions you have given to me!!!! :wacko:

[Cheryl]

Trucker, my ole' lady seems to have some bit of a problem with it, but I have to do what makes me happy also.

While it's true that you have to make youself happy, are you willing to risk your relationship for it? If this is something you really want to do, then you need to sit down with her and talk about it. Involve her...listen to her fears and concerns, and tell her yours. It's a huge lifestyle change, and not just for the would be driver. Keep in mind that when you are gone, we are the ones that have to deal with the house, bills, car, kids....all that stuff.....alone. That can be a very scary thought. There are all kinds of things that you both can do to make it easier if you decide this is what you want/need to do.

Together, you need to decide what you both would want from trucking. There is a long list to consider....flatbed or van, pay, hometime, benefits, what areas you want to run, to go to NYC or not :p , forced dispatch or not....there is more, but I'm sure you get the idea. The two of you have to decide what is more important...pay vs hometime? Hometime vs benefits? Research the companies you are interested in, and then research more....see what they each have to offer, and then make a decision. Each company has it's good points and it's bad...you may not find a perfect fit, but you need to find one that you can deal with.

As far as this....

I was thinking of trying it for one year and then maybe then going local so I could be at home more.

Not all local jobs are a great thing as far as being home more. An example: You have to be at work by 5am so you get up at 4. Get to the truck and your 14 hours starts....it's possible that you could be out for the full 14.....that puts you getting back out of the truck at 7pm and depending on the drive home, you may not get home till 7:30pm. That would give you 8.5 hours to eat, get a shower, spend time with the family, and sleep for a bit till you have to be back up at 4am to do it again. Don't get me wrong....not all local jobs are that way, and there are good ones out there. It just comes down to a quantity or quality issue.....The quality of your hometime, or the quantity of it....Would you rather have 2 days at home each week, when you can actually spend some time with your family, or 8.5 hours a day and you end up spending most of that time sleeping?

[Big_Dave]

Very well put Cheryl. :)

[Cheryl]

Thanks :)

[JDuece]

Thanks Cheryl for the input and it is a very good point. Don't get me wrong, I have thought about my family and all of the other suggestions you made. Y ou made some very good points and I think I will take your advice and have a sit down with my ole' lady and discuss the up and downs of the biz. Thanks again!!!!! :)