Leaving the military!

[jpratt0826]

I am going to attend the western dakota tech school. The military is paying for it all, so i wont be needing any company training. I am looking at going OTR hopefully with a reefer company so i can get steady miles. I want to hit OTR for abut two years and then move to something regional or something local so my wife can go back to work. She is going to school for nursing during those two years OTR. I looking into May and Stevens Transport now. Any feedback would be cool.

My dad was in the business when i was a teen and i figure i would like it enough to make do for a while.

[rgarthman1969]

First of all, let me say thank you for doing what you did while you was serving our country. I dont know to much on the two that you listed so I cant help you there. There will be a few that will be able to give you all the information that you are looking for. BOL

[coastie]

I am going to attend the western dakota tech school. The military is paying for it all, so i wont be needing any company training. I am looking at going OTR hopefully with a reefer company so i can get steady miles. I want to hit OTR for abut two years and then move to something regional or something local so my wife can go back to work. She is going to school for nursing during those two years OTR. I looking into May and Stevens Transport now. Any feedback would be cool.

My dad was in the business when i was a teen and i figure i would like it enough to make do for a while.

First thank you for Serving, Now STAY in, you may regret it later on, most do regret getting out... If I could get back in I would not be trucking though I do enjoy trucking.

Pulling Reefer is not a a sure thing in getting miles. You will spend alot of time sitting at receivers such as Grocery warehouses. I do or did enjoy pulling a reefer, but the bad part is the long time to get unloaded, paying the lumpers to unload.

What I hear May is a fairly good Company. From what I read on another forum, they do use a 13 speed for a road test so be sure to learn the difference in the different gears.

Stevens I heard mixed stories. Not driven for them, just hear say, so take it as such. Some like it and some hate it. It all how you take it. But that going to be with any company.

[JeffTheTerrible]

I am going to attend the western dakota tech school. The military is paying for it all, so i wont be needing any company training. I am looking at going OTR hopefully with a reefer company so i can get steady miles. I want to hit OTR for abut two years and then move to something regional or something local so my wife can go back to work. She is going to school for nursing during those two years OTR. I looking into May and Stevens Transport now. Any feedback would be cool.

My dad was in the business when i was a teen and i figure i would like it enough to make do for a while.

What branch were you in? About the not needing training from the company bit, you may not need schooling, but you'll still be subject to company training after school (usually around 40 days or so with a trainer), regardless. Honestly, I really can't say that I'd recommend getting started in this industry right now, but I have no alternatives to suggest, either.

[jpratt0826]

I just can not think of anything else to do with myself. I am coming out of the Air Force. I am aware of the trainer portion of getting started, i was refering to the actual driving school and then being stuck with a specific company for a year to 18 months.

Everyone seems to tell newbies not to get into he bussiness, but you guys seem to do it. I know that there are downsides to it, but i prefer it than the trips to the kitty litter land on the regular basis. I am away from my family that way, and would prefer to be gone while still in the USA. I was changing jobs within the military to a Military Suvival School Instructor. Unfortunately i got hurt and become just one of the numbers that didnt make it. Had surgery and got DQ from going back. That led to me getting out on my terms and not trying to stay for another go round.

[JeffTheTerrible]

Yeah, I know about kitty litter land.. I left a good portion of my leg there.

I got into it because I didn't heed the advice of those who told me not to get into it, and because I had this romanticised image of trucking in my mind, which I would imagine isn't exclusive to myself alone.
As for what else you could do with yourself, have you looked? There are plenty of trade courses available which will provide steady employment. I received EMT-P certification when I was on active duty, and I did that after my ETS date before I got a CDL and started driving a truck, and I may very well end up recertifying and going back into it. There are options out there, but you'll never find out what they are if you're expecting them to just come to you.

[jpratt0826]

Would there realisticly be enough money envolved in it to tie over a family for one to two years. My wife is planning on going to school, and my main goal is to suck it up and do it for two years or so. This way hopefully we could survive as a one encome family for a while.

Also May's website says their OTR drivers can average 11,000 miles a month. Is this a realistic number or smoke being blown up the you know what hole? They run Reefers and are coast to coaste from what i can see.

[Ridge Runner]

Would there realisticly be enough money envolved in it to tie over a family for one to two years. My wife is planning on going to school, and my main goal is to suck it up and do it for two years or so. This way hopefully we could survive as a one encome family for a while.

Also May's website says their OTR drivers can average 11,000 miles a month. Is this a realistic number or smoke being blown up the you know what hole? They run Reefers and are coast to coaste from what i can see.

That would depend alot on what kind of bills you have and your lifestyle. Any kids???

How much do you need to cover your bills and food? From what others here have said you can expect to earn appox 30 to 35K in your first year or two. I guess I got lucky and was the exception. I grossed over 50K my first year then went local at around 40K.

[jpratt0826]

Well we dont have that many bills, just the average. A car payment, rent and insurance. The military on the other hand has us in a nice house, and live pretty comfortabley. I need to make around 45K a year to be close to my pay and entitlements in the military. I know now is not a great time to leave the Air Force, but i want to and i am hardheaded.

I was also told i could make a decent paycheck hauling for a logging company and companies like coca cola. I cant seem to find to much info on the first one though. Any input on this?

[GMAN]

I don't want to discourage you but it is unlikely that you will start at $45,000 with any carrier unless you have at least a couple of years experience. As we stated earlier, $30-35,000 is the norm. If this is something you really want to do then I would probably keep looking. There could be one around that might fit the bill for you. With the economy in a major slump you would probably be better off staying in the Air Force for the time being. Of course, only you can make that decision. Like most major career changes, you will need to pay your dues. It is almost a cliche'. There have been more than 2,000 carriers who have shut their doors since the first of the year. That has put more qualified drivers into the job market.

[jpratt0826]

Yeah i am extremely afraid of the market right now, but at the same time i want out. I understand paying dues very well, just dont want to make a move that will hurt the family to bad. I got a lot to consider, but the fortunate thing is i have some time to look around and research. I dont get out till march.

[Nomad_]

Gman, Coastie it's been a while. I met JRPrat... on a military forum. He was talking about trucking, so I suggested that he might visit this board for the truth. Don't take it easy on him.



JR..... WELCOME ABOARD!

You are now in the right place to get answers. These folks are straight shooters, and they are the motherload of combined experience and experiences.

Damn, I miss being behind the wheel !!! :wink:

[JeffTheTerrible]

Yeah i am extremely afraid of the market right now, but at the same time i want out. I understand paying dues very well, just dont want to make a move that will hurt the family to bad. I got a lot to consider, but the fortunate thing is i have some time to look around and research. I dont get out till march.

What's your occupational specialty now? Or is it career field or something of that sort in the Air Force?

Are you eligible to reclassify to a different occupation? I know I've come across plenty of Air Force and Navy personnel driving semis (actual Class 8 tractors, not tactical vehicles), and who had obtained their CDL through their branch of service. So it may be possible that you can have a bit of both worlds?

[derelict77]

I would go with May before Stevens, and if you can go with Gordon Trucking in your area, they are a great starter company! Have you thought about jobs in the defense contractor industry? They love ex-mils!

[jpratt0826]

About Re-classing; I was in the process of leaving my current career field and retrainin into Military Survival School Instructor position. Due to the intensity of my training even before leaving for school i got injured. They want me to re-up for another 4-6 yrs before i can be eligible to try again. I just dont want to take the chance of not getting it and being stuck in my current job. I feel six years was long enough doing a job i didnt like. I did it good and have almost served my contract, so i dont feel they can ask much more of me.

The Air Force is paying for my training to go through driving school and that i am greatful for. I am going to be working eight hours a night and going to school for eight hours a day, to get my CDL before get out. Long six weeks, but doable. I worked those kind of hours for 6 months in Iraq so i can probably handle it for a short burst here at home.

I will look into Gordon! Seems to me i can almost get as many miles running regional as running full fledged OTR, do companies that run regional tend to work better at getting you home on time or is it the same as long haul. Request DM for down time?

[jpratt0826]

Gman, Coastie it's been a while. I met JRPrat... on a military forum. He was talking about trucking, so I suggested that he might visit this board for the truth. Don't take it easy on him.



JR..... WELCOME ABOARD!

You are now in the right place to get answers. These folks are straight shooters, and they are the motherload of combined experience and experiences.

Damn, I miss being behind the wheel !!! :wink:

Thanks Man Good to see you over here!

[Nomad_]

Gman, Coastie it's been a while. I met JRPrat... on a military forum. He was talking about trucking, so I suggested that he might visit this board for the truth. Don't take it easy on him.



JR..... WELCOME ABOARD!

You are now in the right place to get answers. These folks are straight shooters, and they are the motherload of combined experience and experiences.

Damn, I miss being behind the wheel !!! :wink:

Thanks Man Good to see you over here!

Well, it is good to see some of the old faces and catch up on some trucking trends. JR....I know it's tough to be on such a high concerning the romance or passion of trucking and have to hear so many negative things. However, the honeymoon can end quickly for some new drivers. But hey, if you feel it that strong, go for it. With the economy in the ****ter, as G-man and others have said, many companies have folded displacing hundreds/thousands of seasoned drivers. Hence there is a lot of competition out there. As far as regional goes, Roehl has a flexible home-time schedules. I walked away from a part-time job (weekender) where the full timers were pulling between $900-$1200 a week doing dedicated local runs to paper mills (home everyday). If you decide to go for it, turn over every rock. I was told that I will only be able to find crap jobs as a part-timer. I was starting to think they were right, per my first gig. But I kept looking. I wish I could have kept it up, but I was working full time elsewhere and going to school and raising a family. Something had to give. Plus the Maine Winters are dangerous as hell for a rookie driver, lol.

As far as the military goes, as you probably know, reentry for prior service is slim -- except for security forces. You will be operating without a safety net.


Anyway, I hope you become a success story!!

[JeffTheTerrible]

As far as the military goes, as you probably know, reentry for prior service is slim -- except for security forces. You will be operating without a safety net.

He could go either go into the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard, or, if he decided to reenter the military, go to a branch which is more lenient on prior service reentries, by which I mean, the Army. I've known people who'd even gotten RE4s in the Navy, but were able to go into the Army.

[belpre122]

I grossed over 50K my first year then went local at around 40K.

Ridge a local? :?: I had no idea! Shows what I know. 8)

[JeffTheTerrible]

I know. Now that he's revealed that, he actually seems somewhat likable now :P