Considering a career change
 

Hello to all...first time posting here and after reading for awhile, I think this might just be a great place to hang my hat. However I'm still somewhat of a rookie with these online forums, so excuse me if I posted this in the wrong place.

After almost 30 yrs busting my knuckles and taxing my brain for the General(GM), I want to hit the road...literally. I've always had an interest in driving, both local and long haul. In fact I've made the coast to coast trip several times during my life, but only with a 24' box truck or 32' motorhome. No doubt...this is my next passion!!!

What I would like to ask from the pros here is what are your opinions and pros/cons of the biz? Give it to me straight up...is it worthwhile to give this gig a shot? I'm 48 if it matters, but still feel as good as I did when I was 30-35 <G>

btw...This coming Monday, I have a rep from NETTS coming to make his presentation about their school. Based on what I've read, I believe getting the training on my own(versus company provided) would put me in a better position for when I start driving. Any comments about going this route?

Any and all comments would be appreciated...thanx

Since CDLs have turned into a student loan scam, I would say get your training as cheap as possible, whether its a company school, outside school, or on your own with a local tester. After 30 years in the plant, you need to get out and see some daylight and moonlight, and snow and sleet, and tornadoes, and oceans, and mountains, and sunrises, and sunsets, get the picture? Go for it!!!

No one will know if it's a good decision or not, but you. My advice would be to just be sure of what you're getting yourself into. It may be right up your alley or it could be the best decision you've ever made. IMO, the worst part if you have a family is being away from them for several days or weeks at a time.

I will say that in my opinion, you are better off to pay for the training yourself if you are in a position where you can afford it. No sense in being locked into one company for a year or two if you can avoid that. Other than that, the good and bad will vary from one individual to the next.

Good luck!

The main factor in driver success in my opinion, and I doubt others will disagree, is what is your home life like? If you have kids at home, or you really like being home, think of something else for a career. If you want to make good bucks, see the country, don't mind the hassles and filthy restrooms, hit the open road. Nearly everyone I have seen fail in trucking was because of a wife/girlfriend/kids at home and it is a killer to load your stuff after being home for 2 days and out the door for 3 weeks or more. If you have an ailing parent, remember, it will be tougher yet. Good luck.

LOAD IT

No doubt about the loan scams, I just discovered plenty about it. OUCH!! Any comments about going the local community college route instead?

I love the outdoors in ANY weather, but as for Tornadoes, not sure about them...do hurricanes qualify? Probably not

btw...I've been working at the dealership level, not in the Generals plant itself...even though it probably feels the same. :lol:


redsfan & joasis

Yes I have family, which consists of my wife and daughter. My daughter moved back home after college. Trust me...hitting the road would be a dream come true after living with 2 women all these years :wink: Seriously though, I am aware of the consequences of becoming a OTR driver. I've reached a point in my life that I need ~my space~ and the need to get away, and my other half does support the idea. Only way to find out if it will work for us is to go for it. I can always return to my current profession if it doesn't work out.

Sounds like you might be one to make it happen...good luck to you. BTW, if there is any way you can do your training on your own, through a state tech school or community college, do it...then you won't be scammed by Billy Bob's trucking school....and you can be selective about who you work for.

Just remember the main rules, never quit under load or abandon equipment! And don't jump company to company..stick with a company at least several months before deciding to leave.

Hi BA,

I see you are from New England. If you are close to Mass you can give Roadmaster a call. They are in Lawrence Mass. I went through there school part time at a cost of $3,600. They only teach you to drive and pass the driving test. You must get your permit before showing up.

The owner is Jim and his number is 978-683-7016

joasis
Thanks for the vote of confidence...this has been a life long passion for me, but I never persued it. My goal would be to become an O/O with a team player. Too bad my wife doesn't have any interest in driving one of these rigs. There is the possibilty that after I get my wheels in motion and start driving, she could travel with me and change her mind. Probably wishful thinking...but isn't that what dreams are all about?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SteveBooth

Hi BA,

I see you are from New England. If you are close to Mass you can give Roadmaster a call. They are in Lawrence Mass. I went through there school part time at a cost of $3,600. They only teach you to drive and pass the driving test. You must get your permit before showing up.

The owner is Jim and his number is 978-683-7016

---

Yes, I'm in CT, could you elaborate about the permit part? What is involved in getting one?

It's the written test you take at the DMV. You can get the book to study from there or go to your states DMV online and the book will be there. Read it like 5 times then take the test.

Thanks steve. I did come across CT's manual online somewhere. I'll go back and find it and start reading.


edited to say...ctrl H works great. I found it!! Thanx again!!

Good gosh man, I didn't know were living with two grown women! Forget any other advice I gave you, just run! Don't worry about whether you pay, they pay or if the school is worth a hoot or not, just get out while you can!!! :wink:

Hello fellow auto tech turning trucker!!! Damn, remember not too long ago, money was nice fixing cars, now, it just sucks. Either the shops are dead, or they don't want to pay squat anymore, sometimes it's poor pay and poor work. I decided to go to trucking school because it was a good career to get into, plus it has always been an interest, but I have always been so into the technician thing.

I am going to America's Driving Force, in Georgia. $2,400 if you pay up front, but yeah, if you finance it, it's $4,800. They do it because so often people don't pay it back, but I think it is unfair to make the responsible one's pay. Even if you have to use a credit card, your better off. Watch out for these companies that will send you to school, it sounds nice but you have to sign a contract with them, and it comes out of your paycheck and when it is all said and done, you paid twice if not much more. Some companies will reimberse you, which is somewhat better, but it's best to not be obligated.

BTW: your knowlege of automotive helps a lot for CDL testing.

if you dont mind flatbedding then you might want to consider Maverick they pay for school and you are only obligated for 6 months. 1500 bucks and that is pro rated so if you stay 3 months then you only owe half. and they get you home nearly every weekend. the pay isnt to bad either. They start you out at .35 a mile.

BA, welcome to CAD. I build 'em and you fix 'em :wink: It'll be 30 years come Feb. that i've been working on the General's assembly line, and i'll tell you what, i'm getting pretty darn tired of it. It's time for a change for me also, and truck driving is something that I have wanted to do for a long time. It will be a perfect time for me to enter the profession. Still fairly young...i'll be 50 next year, and from what I have read, age has nothing to do with it, just as long as you can pass the physical. As a matter of fact, us "older" guys who have a squeeky clean driving record and a stable work history, have a much better chance of being hired on by companies, rather then someone who is in their early 20's and just entering the job market. And money will not be an option for me either, since I will be collecting a pension from the General. So if trucking doesn't work out for me...i'm confident that it will...I can just move on to something else.

I am going to go through a community college for my training. There is one here in DE...Del Tech...about an hour from my home. One of the perks for working for the General, is that they will pay $1,500 towards the tuition. That's a good thing :wink:

I am also married, but no children, and my wife supports my decision 100%. Heck, I work 2nd shift now and only see here on weekends, because she leaves for work before I wake up, and I leave before she comes home. So even if I just see her every other week is no big problem for us. We both realize that the first year will probably be the toughest. After that, she should be able to come along with me...and maybe get her to drive also.

So come here often, ask questions and do your homework, before you decide on which company to drive for. You will learn real fast on here, which companies to stay away from. Best of luck to you...Dave

Hey Jason...yeah the $$$ was nice, in fact it still is if you can tolerate all the BS and work 3 times as hard as you used to. I'm 6'2"/230# and it's a flaming bitch for me to even fit in some of these tin cans, never mind get my hands into places to test or change a part. Worse part though is the warranty crap. Now that the General is going with the 100K warranty, added to the fact that half the public thinks EVERYTHING is covered by warranty, it's time to move on. Here in the northeast the pay is great, but so what!! Pay is about $30 per hr(you need that to survive around here!!) for top notch techs, but if you only get paid half the time(warranty times) needed to diag and fix these rolling elec sh!t boxes, why bother. At times I feel like just going to MickeyD's and flip burgers. ;)

When you say "if you don't mind flatbedding" is there any reason I shouldn't? Other than having to worry about losing a load off a flat due to carelessness, what are the differences between flat and box?

Thanks for the tip about Maverick...I'll search for some info about them later today.

So your the guy whose building these nightmares that I have to fix <G> Where the he!! do these engineers get the idea that stuffing everything into the tightest possible place is the answer. Especially when they bury a part that you have to tear half the vehicle apart just to test it? These clowns need to come out into the field and fix, never mind diag all the headaches they design.

Yeah you guys have some pretty good perks working at the plant. Too bad they don't exist at the dealership level. We do get our perks, but not the type you get...pension, tuition reimbursement, 'No' flatrate...to name a few.

Thanks for the welcome

Well, gotta make this quick as I have to head to the salt mines shortly. Thanks for the welcome guys. It's been a rough couple of days after the nasty storm we had this past weekend. We lost power for most of Sunday and part of Monday. My house survived with minimal damage, but I had one he!! of a mess ouside due to the high winds. Living on a hill top does have it's problems.

Just a quick update...last night the rep from NETTTS came and spelled out there program. Up front it sounds great, but $6800 for a 20 week program? OUCH!!! I didn't make any commitment yet, since there are finacial aid benifits available. Thursday night I'll find out the details. I seriously doubt I'm gonna have to cough up that kind of coin. What I like about going this route is I can take the training on weekends and still keep my current job...which I need to do in order to survive. The bad part is losing 20 weekends.

Gotta run now, but I'll post more about it later tonight.

Re: Considering a career change
 

Driving has given me a very good standard of living and I,ve seen most of Europe during my time on the road.
It,s an unforgettable experience when you set out on your own for the first time,nerve-wracking,daunting and yet, at the same time, exhilarating
Go follow your dream :wink:

Well BA flatbedding requires load securement. Chaining or strapping down the loads and tarping. Sometimes in inclimate weather. Usualy Van work is MOSTLY done indoors. But usualy less backing is requierd in flatbeding. There is probably alot more to both but I am just getting started myself. Maybe some of the others may have more info that they would be willing to give. Maverick pays for tarping. And Like I said they pay for your training and it only takes 6 months to fullfill your obligation. While other companys require a year or more. and if you do leave early its only a pro rated amount of $1500.00. If you would like more info PM me or check the maverickusa.com site.

Thanks for the encouragement, I want to do this so bad I can taste it already!! The desire is so strong, I know I'll succeed. Spent alot of time recently just reading about all the different topics here. Tons of real world info and a great site it is!!

Tonight I'm off to NETTTS to see if I qualify for any financial aid for their school. Gonna be tough to swallow $6895 and lose 20 weekends for training. I want to find ALL my options for training before I commit to anyone. No doubt...I'll be joining you guys soon enough.

I do have many questions still, some I've found answers here and some I haven't. As I explore more and more about this, the more I want to go for it. My schedule is quite busy currently, but as winter approaches I hope to spend more time here and post more.

Thanx everyone
BA

What a major disappointment...last nights appt was mostly a waste of time. IMO $$$ is all their interested in. $7K just to teach me all the rules and how to drive a truck? Can't qualify for any grant money either...I made too much last year. Cripes...it's not like their teaching me how to fly the space shuttlle. Maybe the price is typical for the northeast, I don't know. But a friend of mine lives in Michigan and just graduated from a school that only cost him $4K.

Since this threads not intended to be about bashing schools, I'll just keep the negative comments to myself. I self taught myself how to turn wrenches and made a career out of it. Maybe that's the route I should go for a CDL. I know I could get the permit on my own, so maybe that might be the first step I'll take. But seeing how most companies want schooling on a rookies record, I'll probably have to keep looking. Too bad Maverick is not local around here.

Where there's a will, there's a way...and I'll find it too!!

$3,600 for a school in Mass and they will cater to whatever hours you want.
You would have to make arraignments to rent a truck and trailer back in your state to take the driving test though.

I called NETTTS in the beginning and they wanted me to come in for an interview. I said, what, are you kidding me, you'll take anyone that has money and breaths. They agreed and said I was approved over the phone.

Steve
With this new passion consuming most of my thoughts, and getting caught up in NETTTS sales pitch :roll: , I forgot about the place you previously mentioned in MA. I'll have to give them a call. The price sounds a he!! of a lot better but why don't they assist/offer the testing for the CDL. NETTTS did, but then again at the kind of $$$ they are charging :shock: ...it should be

I wasn't aware that Maverick hires in BA's area. TMC does, especially with their new dedicated accounts springing up in the Northeast.

BA, if you want some insight into what I did (and do) at TMC check out my website below. Any questions feel free to PM me of call me at the 800- number below.

Best of Luck to you and WELCOME to CAD!

I was in your position.
I went to American truck driving school and had half paid for by WIA , the work force investment act.
I work for Falcon now and like it.
I average 1 k a week flatbedding and am home every weekend.
Falcon has a two week traing course after you get out of your own school and 4 weeks on thew road but they shorten it for those who do good.
I run a covered wagon and would never use jst a flatbed because to much work and time to tarp up loads,lol.
6 months and now have an 07 automatic and I love it.
It can be a lot of work and some times a lot of waiting at some places but it's not as hard as wrenching.
The work part don't last long loading and unloading but some places are very hot inside,lol.
The worst part to me is the crappy truck stos and bathrooms,lol.
I park at Walmarts a alot.
I got home Friday at 7pm and don't leave till Monday at 5 am.
It can get lonely at times but I stay busy driving alot and am tired when I stop so not much wasted time, no time for me to play games and watch movies etc., week goes by fairly fast.
Wife just bought me a laptop so I can do stuff while I set and places waitying,lol.
I talk to my wife and son and two daughters and a couple friends on the cell to pass time some.
I should have done this sooner but wanted to get my kids through school first.
This is alot nless stressful than wrenching.
Give Falcon a call, 6 months and I'm still happy with them.
Like anything else, it's what you make of it.
P.S., no matter how bitchy others are be nice, it goes a long ways and has gotten me unloaded and loaded quiker than any one who fusses.
Take this seriously as some can make you wait forever,lol.

Thanks for the welcome and the offer to answer any Q's on a personal level. I may just take you up on that if the need arises 8)

The first day I visited this forum, I saw your link and took a look around. I'll have to revisit and spend a little more time there.

Hey dragracer
I'd like to know more about this WIA program. First time I've heard of it. I just did a quick google for it and see that it's a federal program. But I'm not sure if I would qualify for any benefits. I've never been laid off and my current income might be an issue. I'll have to look into it more. Also, any chance you have a link for the American truck driving school you mentioned?

As for the stress...no doubt I need to eliminate it or reduce it at the minimum. My current job puts far more stress on me than I'm paid for...IMO, and in this trade it seems the more you know, the more you get sh!t on. Hopefully trucking, particularly OTR isn't as bad.

If you average 1K a week at Falcon, I'll have to add them to my list of possible prospectives.

Thanks for the positive post, I still have a few concerns about making the change($$ & stress mostly), but posts like yours reaffirm my decision to go for it.

BA,

Have you tried searching any of the community colleges in your surrounding area? I just finished up, and the program that I took was 5 weeks full time during the day and 9 weeks if you took the night class (4 hours). The cost was a little over $3,900 and was worth it. The added benefit for those who were paying out of pocket was the school was willing to work out a payment plan with the understanding that they would hold your paperwork once you passed until they got their money. I didn't see a difference in driving between the day or night class either (we all tested out together). Also, depending on the school that you attend, they have job placement. So, most likely you'll have a job lined up by the time you graduate from the program. I would suggest before attending any school, get your permit first. It will save you a lot of pressure and you can use the time in class to study for your endorsements if you don't get those before class starts as well. By the way, I had a couple of guys in my class that worked in the Ford plant. They're getting laid off on average 2 wks. out of the month, and Ford is still playing games with their lives. Good luck to you, I sincerely hope that everything works out in your favor.

The only real obstacle that I can see regarding this career change is $$. I've seen the .25-.30 cpm rate for rookies and by doing the math...that raises a flag. Then I see what dragracer makes after 6 mos, and that is about what I would need to survive. Living in CT is wicked expensive!! Last year I made $60K and can live 'somewhat comfortably'(does that even exist anymore?) for the most part. After a year or so driving, I'm sure I'll earn enough, but until I get there I might be stuck feeding my family PB & jelly sandwiches...minus the PB & jelly :wink:


Here's what my problem is and I was wondering if any of you faced a similar challenge and what you did...

I still have about 12 yrs left on my mortgage, but I do have some serious equity. I've been at my current employer for about 14yrs and have a decent 401K, but no pension. I also have about 8 or 9 yrs left on 2 student loans for my daughters college education. That cost me almost as much as what I paid for my house :shock:

So...those 2 debts alone run about 2K a month. Glad I don't have any CC or car payments any more. I have a little in savings, but it takes a hit twice a year when I pay my property taxes. With the high energy costs currently in place, $$ doesn't go as far as it used too. The way I see it is I might have to take as much as a 50% pay cut to make the career change. That's the only concern I face. I think it would be foolish if I hit up my equity to help make ends meet, and I'd also have another payment to make. I could always tap into my 401 after I leave my current employer, but the tax and penality hit are going to take a hefty chunk out of it. And since I have no pension, it too would be another foolish mistake.

I really want to change careers...so bad that it seems 24/7 all I think about is driving a rig OTR. There has to be a way I can make this work, but I'm not about to jeopardize what I've achieved so far in life.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm sure there must be a few folks here that were in a similar position at one time or another...

TIA

Yes I did check with a local school...they don't offer anything. There are a couple more I can check with, but they are about an hour+ away. I'll have to see what they offer. I also plan to contact the place in MA that steve suggested.

Thanks

goodluck
 

goodluck

Re: you will probably have 2 relocate if you drive
 

Oh really? This is my first year with TMC and I'm on track to make OVER $60,000. Maverick drivers too routinely make close to $60,000 their first year. It is EASILY "do-able".

Re: you will probably have 2 relocate if you drive
 

Not if you live in the northeast, like in CT, MA or NY and want to own a home. Take a look at CA...how far will $60K get you?

I'm not saying I need $60K to start...$40-50 would probably work. But based on what I've read, many rookies start off around $30K. I may just have to set aside away about 6 months or so of my current income before I make the switch to driving. The problem there is I DON"T want to wait that long. I'd like to start training right after the holidays.

Re: you will probably have 2 relocate if you drive
 

That sounds more like it...but you've been driving for quite awhile, correct?
I just looked at your site again...I'll HAVE to find some time tonight when I get home to check it completely. It sounds like TMC might be the ticket for me. Maverick also sounds good, but it sounds like you got to bust a nut everyday.

Anyone have any comments about CFI and their training program?

Re: you will probably have 2 relocate if you drive
 

Nope, I've been driving for just 7 months. TMC offers cpm pay or percentage pay. Percentage pays on percentage of the load. Rookies can (and do) make as much as veteran drivers.
Yes you DO have to bust your butt. But only for an hour to and hour and a half per day.
Call or write if you have any questions.