Question for Career Changers
 

Of all the career changers who left better paying jobs to drive a truck cause its something you always wanted to do, how many of you would go back to your old job or one similar if it was offered? Why?
Just pondering...

I left a much better paying job, but I wouldn't go back at this point in time. I've only been at this gig for a little over a year, but so far it's been an experience I'm glad to have. I can't say for certain that I want to do this forever, but the time out here on the road has been very rewarding for me. I guess I don't fit the profile of someone who always wanted to drive a truck, but anyway...

I worked as a restaurant manager, then as a financial advisor before doing this. Both jobs, each in its own way, involved me telling other people what to do and then holding their hands to make sure they did it correctly. After a while, enough was enough. I was just out of patience for people.

So, I ran away and started driving a truck. Now I still have to deal with people to a small extent, but most of my time is free from annoyances. When other drivers get on my nerves, I just turn the radio up louder.

I've been to places that I otherwise never would have seen. I've caught up with old friends from college around the country, the ones you always mean to visit but just never seem to find the time. As long as I pick up and deliver on time, nobody has to know who I am. When I want to take a week off, I take a week off. If I don't feel like shaving for a few days or a few weeks, I don't. If I get tired in the middle of a work day, more often than not I can take a nap. I choose my own routes and my own driving schedule so I can tailor the job to my liking, at least as far as the dispatches allow.

If the bug to do something else were to bite me right now, I could walk away knowing that I am glad I decided to go over the road and drive a truck.

I used to make more money, in I.T. but would never go back. I am just MUCH more suited to truck driving than the tech world. I thought about truck driving for years. Everyone said I was crazy to want to become a trucker, that it is such an awful job. But I've been doing it for 10 months now, and it is still good to me. I drive line haul, sleep at home every morning. Not sure if I would like OTR as much. I checked out about 50 different companies before settling on this one.

I left a govt job to go into trucking and I was making more money there.
Trucking aint much of a better option but as I told someone before If the only other job I got in life was cleaning the urinals at a Greyhound bus station....with my tongue, I'd never say "I wish I was still working for the county".

Vito, Trucker4life If you guys don't mind me asking , who do you drive for? I just got my permit today and am currently in school . I am looking
at different truck companies and would appreciate any leads or advise .
Thanks Darin

I drive for CFI. I got my CDL on my own in Detroit last June. Occasionally, I want to beat a dispatcher about the face, breast, chest, neck, and head, but otherwise it's been a pretty fun ride so far.

I was making $53,000 + bonus at the job I did before I went OTR. My first year in trucking blew financially but I was prepared due to my savings so I did not skip a beat.

I am no longer OTR and am now getting ready to start with UPS Freight. I worked for Sysco briefly for 4 months. Money rocked but hated the job. I can see more money with this UPS gig long term than I would of made doing what I did before and the benes are way better.

I owned three businesses, had 37 employees.... made more money then, had one helluva lot more headaches. Wife had heart attack, got tired of all the bs, sold businesses....hit the road, wife better, me happier. People suck. Employees really can suck. Am I negative...no, just honest. I guess I just got really tired of whiny customers who wanted something free all the time and also got tired of over paid employees stealing all the toilet paper.

I can definitely relate to Vito....now I only deal with a few people, and keep the cb off, and the XM "jamming" 8) I don't regret my decision for one second. Now if I could just win the freakin' Mega Millions....and I even bought tickets!! 8)

Thanks Vito, CFI was at our school yesterday Also my brother inlaws
cousin drives with them and seems content . Darin

Spent a decade in radio. Loved it, but job security was limited.

Drove OTR for eight years. Loved it, but got divorced, and decided to leave trucking to spend more time with my kids.

Managed a bowling center for about 3 years. Loved the job, hated the babysitting and hand-holding, not just of the employees, but of the patrons! People warned me that the biggest pain of the position would be personnel, and man were they correct.

I made about 40k before bonuses...not bad, but not terrific for the headaches.

I return to OTR in a week.