I say go for it. 48 is the perfect age, you've got your kids raised, house paid for, and most likely have achieved all the other goals you set for yourself 28+ years ago. At this point money shouldn't and needn't be the deciding factor.

If there's anything in your life that you want to accomplish or try before you're done, now's the time to get on with it.

I personally started truck driving as my most recent adventure 2 months after I turned 55.

 

Where those of us who are saying to stay where you are at are only doing so if your only reason for wanting to go OTR is to see more of the country.

If there is more to it than that, then yeah go for it, but just be ready for the realities of the job.

 

That blunt admission made beer come out my nose. (And I ain't goin' nowhere near nothin' with a steering wheel until July 9th, so everybody settle down.)

Anyway, I think you guys are right that all that local oil field experience wouldn't do much to count toward OTR with any of the major players. He might do OK if he could get hooked up with somebody less formal, and more personal. Otherwise he'd be having trouble touching $800 a week I think, starting out.

I know a lot of guys around here he could drive for who don't know DAC from a hole in the ground, and really don't care about anything other than how well you can drive a truck. Driving for somebody like that might be his best bet, though we're a long way from Tejas up here.

 

trkntxn, you don't really get to see many sites in OTR because 85% of your travels are confined to the national network: the system of interstate highways which criscross this great land. Cool places that you've read or heard about are usually off-limits to class 8 trucks anyway. And even if you could stop, you wouldn't be able to spend much time. That's because to make decent $$$ in this biz, you've got to keep the left door shut and the wheels turning.

OTR is alot more than just cruising down the highpay highway listening to Garth Brooks on the radio. It's long days, lonely nights, and lots of hurry-up and wait. Once the novelty of all the sunsets and rainbows fade away, you'll discover what a pitiful wage you're earning for the time and effort you put into the job.

 

Cold and Frosty: :lol: You obviously didn't read the title of the thread. YOUR advice was not "solicited." But, hey.... I don't mind if you chime in, although we've heard the tune a thousand times! :lol:

Fact is, I've heard many of these solo drivers on here mention "secondary routes" that I (as a team) almost never get to travel. But, even "I" get to stop and smell the tourist attractions every now and then! For those who've never SEEN any of this great country, the 15% you allowed is quite the experience!

Without even a 10th of the "downtime" of a Solo, I've seen quite a few nice places! And I NEVER tire of seeing a rainbow or a sunset. Perhaps, THAT is your problem. You have no real appreciation for what God has given us everyday! You probably think, "seen one, seen 'em all!" I pity you. You may get to sit on your porch every evening, but you can see only the SAME sights!

You know, I've heard you can drop your trailer in the parking lot, and bobtail to the base of Mt. Rushmore. I intend to do it soon! Not everything is "off limits" to a trucker. With all that "hurry up and wait" time, I would think a good "trip planner" could get in at least a LITTLE sightseeing!

One of my favorite quotes from a Michener novel is: " Pity the man who can travel from Dan to Be'er Sheba and say, 'tis all barren!'"

You remind me of that man everytime you open your mouth.

But, that's part of the essence of being a trucker..... knowing we are "different" from those of you who are NOT!"

But, hey, you have a nice day there in Smallsville, USA! And one just like it tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.....until you die there.

I'll die doing 70 in a 60 going downhill from 7,000 ft to the valley floor.... and hope I don't take anyone with me! :lol:

My last sight will be either a rainbow or a sunset, and my last thought will be how I'm glad I'm not you!

:lol:

 

Are you pulling a flatbed or stepdeck at your current job? Or are you driving a One-ton pulling a 45 foot gooseneck? That is the first thing to consider. What realavance does your current job have, in comparison to OTR?

Now...if you are already driving a Class 8 tractor, pulling a 45' or 48 foot trailer, then start knocking on doors and talking with some of the flatbed operations up that way. I think Westar in Wichita Falls would be a good place to start. Small enough to be not so stringuent on their qualification rules, big enough to afford you the chance. After that outfit you can look at TMC, SMX (Smithway Express/Western Express). Or...you can try this outfit. http://www.lwmiller.com/ They are out of Logan UT, and as the website will tell you, they have multiple types of equipment. Also....Larry, having been a "local" driver, before being an OTR driver....and a Company President..is going to be far more reseptive, than these College Kids that are running the Major truvcking operations.

Talk withdifferent sizes of trucking companies, then do what fits best for YOU.

 

Iron turkey, I can't pm you due to less than 50 post count, so if you can pm me i would like to ask a few questions about hyland, i might be going to baggs to work................

 

In response to Orange Tx Yes Im driving class 8 379 pete actually, pulling flatbed moving rigs. You asked about what Im doing in relation to OTR. I know in comparison to true OTR mines not even in the same ballpark, But I stay out in the truck usually 3 nights per week at a couple small truck stops in the general vicinity where most of our work is centered. I work Mon - Fri. I do like the fact of having weekends off. My wife works oddball hours at the local hospital. She comes with me sometimes, and has no problem sleeping in a moving truck. I know you OTR drivers are going to have fun with this one, But sometimes she will stay out with me a night or two, And I tell her its like were camping. But I would bet a couple weeks of "Camping" in the truck might get a little old huh? My initial thought when I first posted this was it might be kinda neat to go OTR , take her with me and have it like a working/travelling , seeing the country thing all wrapped up in one. I may have been naive as hell possibly, But it was just something I was considering. And needed advice from people who have been there and done that, Before cutting myself loose from a good stable job. You guys be careful and have a good holiday. Trkntxn.

 

Sounds like lunch-counter tales to me. Most companies give you a route and expect you to follow that route to a "T". Any miles over that route are OOR (Out-Of-Route) and are considered wasteful given the cost of diesel and the additional wear-and-tear on the truck. Of course, you won't get paid for all the miles on that route, nor will you be paid to go off the route to fuel the truck when it benefits the company. But as we all know, such freebies are "part of the job" = codewords for geting the shaft.

You may take a "secondary route" now and then, but good luck finding a place to park. 99% of the time, you spend your 10-hour DOT break flopped out in a truckstop, pickle park, terminal, consignee, drop-yard, or deserted get-off ramp miles from home.

Dunno about that. I take my car to "see the sites" and I can go anywhere I want. I'm not restricted by weight limits, no-truck signs, idle restrictions, HOS, lack of parking, bridges, etc.

I would like to know what your company’s insurance carrier thinks of this. Not to mention Homeland Security. Every OTR company I pulled for was very strict about keeping the tractor connected to the trailer unless you were on company property or engaged in company business.

Look at is like this: at say .37 cpm, you need 2800 miles per week to gross over $1k. At 7 days out, that's over 440 miles per day (because of 10% HHG you must actually run 3080). At 55 mph, those are 8 hour driving days. Not counting getting loaded/unloaded, breaks, fueling, waiting, traffic, and all the other assorted BS. Then you've got to get your 10-hour DOT break in. So where is all this time to sightsee?

I'll tell you one thing...if you gave up your present gig you'd have a line of OTR guys from Dallas, TX to Dayton, OH trying to land your job. Not many jobs like that anymore where you can drive truck, take home 800 bills per week, and get plenty of time at home with momma.

 

Stay Home. You have a gig that is better than 95% of OTR.

If you gave it up it would likely take you years to get back to where you are at right now income wise.

Does your job have a slow season? If you really wanted to find out what OTR was all about you could take a 4-6 week leave and arrange to drive team with a O/O or small company. You could graze on the grass on the other side of the proverbial fence knowing that you had your good job waiting for you when you finished.

I've always wanted to do something like this myself for a month or so. I'm in a similar boat as I was lucky enough to go skip the OTR drudgery and go straight to the good local job.