I just gotta ask

[jayburd]

First of all I am 48 yr.s old and I am thinking about a career change.
I've been working for the same company for 25 years,there's no profit sharing or retirement and bonus' are few and far between and much anyway.
My kids are grown and I even have 2 grandkids.
I make about 34k gross annually.
I was gonna drive when I first got married,but decided to stay home and help raise the young'uns.
So now I am seriously considering starting driving for the remainder of my working years.
If you were in my shoes,which trucking company would you start with and what type of runs would you choose?
Yes I gotta take the student driver program,I never did get a license.
Starting from the bottom may be a pain,but the long term may be worth it.
BTW,I live in Texas.
I have talked to several firms but have not made any commitments yet.

[ToolMaker]

consider TMC.............check out http://www.goldiesplating.com/flatbedfred/

Also, there's a 100+ page "TMC" thread under the "Truck Driving Jobs" forum

good luck........... jeff

[redsfan]

Jayburd, you just need to figure out exactly what you want to run. There are tons of opportunities out there even for 48 yo newbies. If you think you would like flatbed, check out TMC or Maverick. If you're looking at dry van there are a whole host of opportunities out there for you. Flatbed will get you home most every weekend, but some van outfits are offering the same thing with regional runs.

Don't take offense to this because none is implied at all, but making 40K and up would not be tough at all at a multitude of companies, so you shouldn't have to take a pay cut to get started. Even in your first year. Any company worth their salt will offer you the things your currently missing in your job like 401K plans and bonuses. Some even have profit sharing.

There is a very useful tool on this website on the page to compare companies. Figure out what all you'd be interested in running (van, flat, etc.), decide what issues are important to you (hometime, pay, etc.) and start going through the list. You have 25 years in with the same company and that shows a lot of dedication. Provided that your driving record is good and you have no criminal background or serious health problems there will be a big list of companies chomping at the bit to get you into orientation and many that will help take care of getting you the CDL also.

Good luck!

[ColtsFan]

consider TMC.............check out http://www.goldiesplating.com/flatbedfred/

Thanks for the link! Has a page about pre trips. Gives good tips for peeps trying to get their CDL.

[fishnwiz]

I am starting about like you, 48 years old,29 years in a paper mill, time to move on. I did research for about 4 months and ended up with CFI or Crete. Decided to go with CFI. I start school in Drumright on March 14.If you can afford it pay for school yourself and don't be indebted to a company.

[jayburd]

Thanks 'all for your comments.
I think I'd prefer a dryvan,climbing around on top of a flat bed and tarping the loads sounds and looks like a pain.
But I reckon I'll do whut I gotta do to get started.

[Sealord]

"no profit sharing or retirement" What, never heard of an IRA (Roth/conventional)? BOL

[jayburd]

Yep,got one of those.
Hard to put money in if they don't pay worth a flip.