Is Truck Driving my new career? (Long post)

[MidMO]

Hello All. Im looking for free advice from both veteran and first year drivers. Here goes. Im almost 30 and a family man. My weekends are devoted to my family and trying to catch up with mainenance needs of our home. I live in Central Missouri and currently work as a courier and warehouse assistant. Ive always enjoyed the courier aspect of my work, especially longer trips where I'm driving for hours at a time. I make OK money for what it is, but at times it seems like it's not enough, were barely paying the bills and unable to keep up with the expense of upkeep and general mainenance of our home. My wife and I both work full time.

Anyway, I've been giving alot of thought to OTR Truck Driving for the past couple of years now, and probably the only reason I havent just gone for it by now is the big fear of having to work on weekends. I have done alot of research online and have made several phone calls to trucking companies, and it seems like theres alot of empty promises in the industry. Most every company I call who advertise "home most weekends" end up telling me its more like "every other weekend", and that I would be on the road for anywhere from 12-14 days at a time. Other companies tell me that 24 hours makes up a weekend, so I would be on the road for 6 days and have one day off per week. I really believe I would enjoy a trucking career (and make good money doing it), but I need more time than that, as I do have a family to tend to. The only way I might consider working every other weekend is if I aquired a "7 and 7" run, whereas Id work 7 days and have the next 7 off, but to my knowledge, those opportunities are never available to new drivers.

Anyway, Id like to get some input from the trucking community on this. Should I just go for it, or is this not for me? Also, what companies do you recommend? What companies (and driving schools) should I avoid?

So far, If I decide to do this, my research is telling me that TMC is the best bet. They are willing to give me 46 weekends off (I guess working 8 of them is better than 26) and put it in writing (and their weekends are listed as 48 hours). They also have partial tuition reimbursement and they offer an option to get paid by the mile or by a percentage of each load (they really jazz this up on their website as a great money maker). I've seen their equipment on the road and I must say it certainly seems like they make maintenance and cleanliness a high priority, which is a plus in my opinion, but Ive also hear they are a bit too particular about the care of their equipment as well. Another company I thought about briefly is USA Truck, mainly because they advertise a decent pay scale and would pay most all of my tuition if I stay with them for a year. However theres never a mention of hometime and I have seen their trucks break down from time to time, so out of those two, I tend to lean more towards TMC.

Sorry for the long post, but Ive been thinking about this for too long, and I really need a shove one way or another, so Ive finally decided to see if the trucking community could give me some advice. I would appreciate it greatly!

Thanks!

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

I would give advice but i'm not a newbie but yet i'm not a veteran ,so that shuts me out. :wink:

[MidMO]

I guess I should have worded that better. Im looking for advice from ANYONE in the industry, whether your a newbie, a veteran, or anything in between. Im interested in hearing from anyone who would care to share their opinions and experiences.

Thanks!

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

If home on week ends is a must I would not consider OTR ...But maybe try Cfi/Con-Way Truck load they have a lot of relay drop/hook out m-f home sat sun...but unless local you do need to be good with giving up the sure-ness of weekends off

[GMAN]

Most carriers will not guarantee you home time every weekend. They will likely keep you out 2-3 weeks at a time. Once you get your own truck things might get a little better if you can manage to do more regional runs. The thing is that most carriers cannot guarantee to have you home by a certain date each week. That is the nature of this business. If you want to earn bigger paychecks you will more than likely need to work at least part of the weekend. Those carriers who do get you home on the weekend will likely do so either on Friday evening or Saturday morning and you will usually have to leave Sunday afternoon or evening in order to make a Monday morning delivery. I have found over the years that if I can get a load on the truck for Monday delivery that I will usually have a good week. If I wait until Monday morning to load, then I will not have as productive a week. If you don't want to work weekends, then this is probably not the business for you. There are a few carriers who will try to get you home on weekends, but most will not guarantee it. Most carriers seem to offer 1 day off for each week on the road. You will need to pay your dues by running hard for at least a few weeks to several months while you learn. Most carriers will put you with a trainer who will help you learn how to make money in this business. If you are looking for a 9-5 job, this isn't it. We mostly work irregular hours. No two days are alike. As a solo driver you will usually drive from 500-700 miles per day. You should average around 2,500-3,200 miles per week.

[MidMO]

BIG JEEP on 44's: Thanks for the advice. I did a search for CFI and ended up on Con-Way's site, so I'm guessing they are the same company? Anyway, I see they have a low turn-around rate, which is good, but it looks like they only hire experienced drivers. Beyond that, I cant get much information for some reason. Might be a good company to go with once I get some experience.

GMAN: I've noticed just about everything you talked about. What are your thoughts on TMC? Supposively, they will put "46 out of 52 weekends" in writing. And since I am in Missouri, they can put me on the "regional run" that you mentioned, with an average length of haul just under 600 miles. They also have what they call a "Dedicated Fleet" run, where you supposively get great home time, but "predictable" road time, but regional sounds more stable to me. I couldnt agree more with what you said about getting back on the road on Sunday nights, Id rather do that anyway than start Monday and end Saturday. My thought was to try it out for a year, and then if it got to be too much, try to take the experience I would have earned and find a daily type route with another company. Or, if I liked who I was with, I could just stay with the same company, either way, I get my CDL and some experience, which would open alot of doors for me.

Thats really where I'm torn. My family is important, and yes, if I do this, it would mean more time away from my family, but it would also mean more income, so I could better provide and care for my family. No matter what I decide to do, its tough.

By they way, I should mention to you drivers who are constantly working to deliver our goods, I'm very thankful. I know you probably go through the elements on a daily basis.

Keep the advice coming, I'm getting some great input.

Thanks!

[GMAN]

GMAN: I've noticed just about everything you talked about. What are your thoughts on TMC? Supposively, they will put "46 out of 52 weekends" in writing. And since I am in Missouri, they can put me on the "regional run" that you mentioned, with an average length of haul just under 600 miles. They also have what they call a "Dedicated Fleet" run, where you supposively get great home time, but "predictable" road time, but regional sounds more stable to me. I couldnt agree more with what you said about getting back on the road on Sunday nights, Id rather do that anyway than start Monday and end Saturday. My thought was to try it out for a year, and then if it got to be too much, try to take the experience I would have earned and find a daily type route with another company. Or, if I liked who I was with, I could just stay with the same company, either way, I get my CDL and some experience, which would open alot of doors for me.

Thats really where I'm torn. My family is important, and yes, if I do this, it would mean more time away from my family, but it would also mean more income, so I could better provide and care for my family. No matter what I decide to do, its tough.

By they way, I should mention to you drivers who are constantly working to deliver our goods, I'm very thankful. I know you probably go through the elements on a daily basis.

Keep the advice coming, I'm getting some great input.

Thanks!

I can't give you any personal experience about TMC, but most of what I recall that has been posted on this forum has been positive. There is no such thing as the perfect company. You simply need to find one that has more of what you are looking for and go for it. If they offer you most of what you want or need, then it may be a good fit. Business is about trade offs. If you want to earn more money in this business you will need to stay out more. If you need to be home more frequently, then your income will usually suffer. Missouri should be a good place to live for home time. It is important to be near major freight lanes if you want to get home frequently. I don't blame you for wanting to be home more often. If you want to drive and be home, you may consider going local after you get a year or two experience. This is the avenue many before you have taken. Some local jobs pay well, others do not. Life is a trade off. It comes down to what you are willing to give up for what you want.

[Colts Fan]

Thats really where I'm torn. My family is important, and yes, if I do this, it would mean more time away from my family, but it would also mean more income, so I could better provide and care for my family. No matter what I decide to do, its tough.

Don't do it. You'll miss your kids too much. And the income is not that great in the first few years. I would say go for it if you were single with no attachments. But, your kids need a father and your wife needs a husband. How could you fulfill those roles being gone 2-3 weeks at a time?

[Colts Fan]

I see GMAN just replied. He is right, many get a year or two of experience to find a good local job. I trained with an OTR carrier (Baylor Trucking) and went solo for a little less than 2 weeks before I called it quits. I got lucky and got a local gig a couple of weeks later and have been doing that since Jan. this year.

Right now I'm on a route doing 2 overnights a week with a team driver and that's it. Off Sat. morning to Wed. morning (nice hometime). I happen to prefer getting paid by the hour than the mile.

Double L, if you see this I get paid for EVERYTHING. Yes, I even get paid to sleep, eat and crap. Is that too greedy?

[VitoCorleone99]

BIG JEEP on 44's: Thanks for the advice. I did a search for CFI and ended up on Con-Way's site, so I'm guessing they are the same company? Anyway, I see they have a low turn-around rate, which is good, but it looks like they only hire experienced drivers. Beyond that, I cant get much information for some reason. Might be a good company to go with once I get some experience.

http://con-way.com/en/careers/the_co...y_and_benefits

That's some basic info. The recruiters can fill in whatever blanks you may still have from there. Honestly though, I don't think this company (nor any other OTR carrier) would be a good fit if you're looking to have weekends off. We have to stay out ten days before requesting home time and we get one day off for seven out. So, conceivably, you could request time after every ten days and have a couple days off by the time you got home. That puts you into a perpetual cycle of getting away from home and getting back home - not the best way to make money.

On the experience end, they do have an excellent training program for new drivers. Some of the older guys actually complain that the company pays too much attention to training new people. It costs somewhere around $1,200 to the driver, with the company subsidizing the rest, but doesn't come with all of the strings that "free CDL training" tends to involve. In your case, Crowder College in Neosho would be the best bet for the CDL course, after which you would have to spend a few weeks with a trainer before getting your own truck. Once you got your own truck, you would have to pull one load for Con-way Truckload. Beyond that you would have no obligation to the company.

In general terms, I am inclined to tell people with families at home to think twice and then three times about going OTR. Everybody is different and I make no assumptions, but I've known of quite a few people who just found it to be too much of a strain on their family lives. I should add that I also know some people who have been very happy making the move, but there's a reason for turnover rates being what they are.

[wepwawet]

Check out Transport America Home weekends 48 out of 52 which means they can force you out 4 wks a yr. just dont cry when your getting 2000-2400 miles a wk.


Thats the way it works the more your home = less miles cause they have to keep you close enough to get you to the house.

There are a few companys out there that have this type of program or did with the flood of exp drivers on the market I will be amazed if it stays around much longer.

[DarthJayhawk]

MidMo, If you get a job that gets you home most weekends, you probably won't be making much more than you are now, if any at all. I have a wife and young daughter at home, and I don't really want to be gone that much.
I looked at several jobs before taking the one I'm getting ready to start. Keep in mind I have nearly three years of accident and ticket free OTR experience, so I had a few more possibilities.
I first looked at a couple of LTL carriers that would have me home daily, but the hours were erratic at first, and there was the possibility of layoffs.
Then I looked at a carrier that got me home every weekend for 48 hrs, paid a percentage, and I would probably earn right at 40k a year. I need to earn a little more than that, at least right now.
Next I looked at a place that promised me every weekend off, with a salary of 46k. Sounded all right until I saw I would have to drive for 13 plus hours a day to make it home by friday night. I might fudge the book a little here or there every now and then if absolutely necessary, but no way will I take that kind of insane risk on a daily basis.
I finally settled on a small company that sends me out for 6-10 days at a time, and I should make about 50k my first year. They have two different busy seasons a year, and for those 6 months I will probably only be home long enough for my shutdown. The other six months are a lot more relaxed, and I should get two and a half to three days home at a time. They have excellent benefits, and it appears a ton of freight to keep me busy.

Is this job perfect? No, but if I am to be gone from home, I want to be compensated for it, which they will do. I'm gonna hate some of the long runs that keep me gone so much, but it is better than having to run over on hours all the time, or not making enough to pay my bills. I'm going to miss my wife and child, but at least I know they will be fed.

I hope seeing how I came to my decision helps you in yours.

Good Luck.

[GTR SILVER]

why not talk to local............. contractors..........demolition.....scrap metal.....and excavating company's...before you go to school........ :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :idea: :idea: :idea: :?: :?: :?: ............. it's all about networking. :wink: :wink: :wink:

say that your very interested in training with them...that you will be

attending school, and when you get out.....you will train on your "dime"

for 1 2 or 3 weeks...that shows a lot of heart on your part........ 8) 8) 8)


just my 2/cents :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :arrow: :wink: 8)

BOL 2 YA....

[unclehotte]

I also would say: DONT DO IT! Especially because of wife and kids. I am happy where I am NOW, timeoff and moneywise.....but the first three years were just HELL!!!

[got mud?]

there used to be a really good post on here from a guy named josh (can't remember his board name) If I remember correctly he hauled flowers in FL. anyway I think the post was a sticky at one point. was about being a driver and family. maybe someone remembers his name and can dig it up for you. tried to do a search but could't find it.

[Useless]

I make OK money for what it is, but at times it seems like it's not enough, were barely paying the bills and unable to keep up with the expense of upkeep and general mainenance of our home. My wife and I both work full time.

Thanks!

MidMo;

Didn't have time to read all of the replies, but it seems to me that there is something missing here;

What is your net monthly income, and what are your monthly expenses.

Remember that driving is an industry where cash flow can become very erratic, and while hometime is nice, it can also bite hard on the paycheck.

BOL2U

[freebird]

I make OK money for what it is, but at times it seems like it's not enough, were barely paying the bills and unable to keep up with the expense of upkeep and general mainenance of our home. My wife and I both work full time.

Thanks!

MidMo;

Didn't have time to read all of the replies, but it seems to me that there is something missing here;

What is your net monthly income, and what are your monthly expenses.

Remember that driving is an industry where cash flow can become very erratic, and while hometime is nice, it can also bite hard on the paycheck.

BOL2U

Add to this that just starting out your not going to see a real check for the better part of month.
Nothing worse then getting into training and trying to live on training pay, it will maybe pay your food bill on the road, let alone the everyday bills back at home!

[belpre122]

there used to be a really good post on here from a guy named josh (can't remember his board name) If I remember correctly he hauled flowers in FL. anyway I think the post was a sticky at one point. was about being a driver and family. maybe someone remembers his name and can dig it up for you. tried to do a search but could't find it.

As requested..................................


Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:18 am Post subject: Newbies+wanabe's...don't say, you weren't warned.

I know, I know.............it will be different with you........"you'll be the exception to the rule."

Disclaimer: I am NOT trying to persuade or dissuade anyone from getting into trucking.....I personally LOVE driving a truck....but, I am extremely fortunate,....because I retired from another profession at a fairly young age and am financially sound....... I drive a truck because I want to......NOT, because I have to.........there is a huge difference.

.....This in my opinion is one of the best post I have ever seen on any trucking board........I pulled it from another board (which shall remain nameless) and in my humble opinion it hits home, is hard-hitting, to the point and not full of the cushy, cushy make-you-feel good political correctness crap. .........Read it, take from it what you want and leave the rest.......in my opinion, an excellent post, not based on hearsay, but his and others personal experience and opinion........It might NOT be what you want to hear, but, it IS the truth........written by a person who has seen more white lines and miles (well over 1,500,000), than most of us will ever see, via his many, many years of professional truck driving....................Josh


================================================== =======================

Newbies: You see me write a lot about the importance of craftsmanship and responsible profession behavior, and the going-rate wages and benefits for new drivers. Here's another side of the story:


OTR takes you away from your family and home for weeks at a time, and when you subtract even minimal expenses living on the road, there's precious little left for the wife, kids and home expenses.

You can make more net money for your family, work fewer hours, and at least sleep in your own bed every night with TWO full-time fast food jobs. The novelty of being a trucker and living on the road will wear-off pretty fast, and what's left is a disgraceful wage for the responsibility and risk, and in most cases, a family and home left abandoned and broke.

If you've got a wife and kids that need you and your support, DO NOT get into OTR trucking with Werner or anyone else. The number of tragedies -- guys who end up in divorce and living hand-to-mouth on the road while most of their paycheck goes to child support -- is staggering. They thought they could be a dad and husband with only a few days home a month and could eat baloney sandwiches most of the time and send most of their money home....WRONG! It rarely turns out this way.

No matter how much your and your family is dedicated to making this plan work, the fact is it will turn your relationships and finances upside-down. Few can make the stress and pitiful financial work -- and even if you do, you're missing the baby's first steps and the little league games and everything else you supposedly got married for. If you got married and started a family, stay home and be a husband and father.

OTR trucking isn't a "mission" to protect the public or your country like being a soldier or cop or firefighter. We're not heroes -- that's just what the industry tells us to take their crappy jobs. We just move paper towels or produce or little boats from one location to another -- just a low-wage worker doing relatively dull, mind-numbing work. Your body will get soft, your mind will suffer from the irregular sleep/work cycles, and your life will fly by with nothing much to show for the sacrifice. There's no retirement, no sick leave, no significant recognition for your efforts, and the trucking labor pool is increasingly dipping into the "working poor" class. This is no longer the middle-class job it once was,and the moment you make a poor decision behind the wheel that gets you in trouble, you're out on your azz facing possible criminal charges and civil action. The company will cut you loose and let you hang.

I could go on and on and on..... But the point is: This is a terrible career choice for a married guy with a family and home life.

You effectively disqualified yourself for living on the road in a truck when you started a family. If you're going to go on the road for weeks in a truck, you might as well just sit down with your wife and tell her you've changed your mind and are leaving for good. Hire a lawyer and get it over with before dragging her and your kids into this charade.

For a single guy...? That's another story. You can give-up your permanent residence, live out of a post office box and put away some money for a few years while living relatively comfortably on the road with all the cool gear. But there's no point in having a "real" home if you're never home to enjoy it. Your car will sit 26 days a month for all the payments and insurance, etc. And you'll effectively lose most of your friendships as you disappear from their lives.
But hell -- if you're single, want to destroy your health and set your course on slow suicide, who cares. At least you're not dragging anybody else down with you. And if friendships don't come easily anyway and you don't care much about a "normal" life -- OTR is actually a pretty good way to escape that reality. That's MY reality - to be perfectly honest - and I love this life. I'm a social misfit and a perfect match for this nonsense. But I wouldn't even consider it if I had the slightest responsibility beside my own admittedly self-destructive selfishness.

Got it? This job SUKS unless you're a little crazy and have nothing to lose. It's an irresponsible career choice if others depend on you, or you want anything like the "normal life" so many truckers come to miss after the novelty wears off.

40k may sound like pretty good money, but it's crap for the quantity of work, the responsibility and risk, the toll on your mind and body....and most of all, the family who'll see precious little of it from the dad who abandoned them to go live on the road.

Stay at home where you belong. Pretend you're an illegal immigrant and get into construction...ANYTHING but abandoning your family trying to be some hot-shot young buck again. Open your eyes and see the reality. The turnover is way over 100% a year -- even higher among newbies -- because most first-year drivers realize they've made a mistake and leave the industry, a little embarrassed and a lot poorer having been fleeced by a truck school and everyone else along the way.....

"...fair and balanced - you decide."

Here is a link to the actual thread; http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...=18642&start=0

[GMAN]

Over the years I have met a lot of people who have come and gone in this business. Being away from home will not break up a solid marriage. If there are already problems it could compound them. I have known of some who have told me that their marriage has survived due to being apart. Some people need more individual space. There is no cookie cutter approach that works for everyone. If I were you, I would sit down with my wife and discuss the pros and cons. The realities are that you will likely be away from home 2-3 weeks at a stretch during your first year or so. That could continue, depending on the company. Once you gain a year or two there are some carriers around that will get you home a day or so per week. Much of what will be available to you will depend on where you live. It is important to have the support of your spouse when starting this type of career change. Your first year earnings should be somewhere between $30-35,000. You can eat cheaper and more healthy out of your truck. If you eat every meal in restaurants you should count on about $10-12/meal. If you eat cold cereal and perhaps a sandwich for two meals and then a hot meal with vegetables, you won't spend nearly as much money on the road and can eat fairly healthy. One reason a lot of new drivers don't do as well starting out is they get started playing video games at the truck stops. You can drop a lot of money on those video games. If this is something you really want to do and you have the support of your family, then it could be a good thing. You will miss a lot of things with your children. I would sit down and make a list of what you want and/or need in a carrier. Since you emphasized home time, I would certainly include that in my list. If you do find something local, your pay may not be much more than minimum wage. Some do much better, but others do not. Pay is always lower starting out, regardless of the career. You may also want to check with your local state employment office. There could be companies in your area that might be a better fit than the major carriers.

[mt1trucker]

I have been driving for 18 months now and I can tell you this.......
When I started training, my daughter was 20 years old, engaged and living on her own and my wife has been on the road with me from day 1. If that were not the case, I would never have started in the first place. Local jobs are hard to find and even when you find one the usually want 2-3 years exp. My advice is to stay home and concentrate on being a good dad/husband. Unless your kid(s) are almost 18 or something, don't even consider it.
There is no driver shortage anymore and therefore the money isn't anything great, especially when you are just starting out. Forget all the ads that say you will make around 40K the first year. I busted my butt for my first year, went home only a few times for only a day or two each time and I took almost every load that came my way. Heck, if I wasn't preplanned by the time I got to my destination I was on the phone with my DM or the planner getting another load........
all that time on the road got me around 29K...........and I was home for realistically 10 days out of the 365.
My wife and I enjoy the travel and look forward to the future but being a family man should disqualify you from consideration :wink:

Don't take my post the wrong way, I just don't want you to give up your family time to chase 40K a year when thats not realistic. A few years in, sure 40K isn't hard, but not for a new driver.