I spoke with my niece the recruiter today and apparently they have lowered the requirements and you can now get an RN with an associates degree, at least in some colleges. There is still a disparity of income between someone with an AS compared to the BSN and there is more opportunity with the BSN, but it is possible to get the RN with only a AS. So I stand corrected. According to my niece preference is still given to those who have the BSN.

Most trucking companies do not check your credit report. They will pull a DAC which is your driving and criminal records. DAC is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that is the reason they have you sign the release. They could pull a credit report should they wish, but most will not do it. If you need to get a security clearance then they will likely run a credit check on you. There are some jobs that do credit checks on as a matter of policy but trucking is not one of them, at least not yet. I don't think that a foreclosure or bankruptcy will have the same impact on background checks today than only a year ago. I heard figures that stated that 1 in 9 are in foreclosure. Some of these things have less impact when the economy tanks. I expect more to go into foreclosure and many more to file bankruptcy before this economy starts to turn around. When people are out of work they cannot pay their bills.

I would agree that preference is given to those with a higher degree of education, and rightly so. They have paid their dues and been motivated to be better than just the minimum. But it is a starting point and a way to break into the medical field. Granted those who are committed and driven will go on to advance their education. I believe that in California there is such a shortage of nurses that the standards may have been adjusted to meet the need for the industry. I have spoken withe several LVn's who are getting higher pay due to the fact that the shortage is critical an dthey have been given more resposibility based on their scope of practice. Alocal job has just opened up where they are advertising for LVn's with 6 months experience starting at $38.00 per hour, good wages for a step below an RN. I appreciate the fact that you looked at the information I linked for you and saw that I was not trying to give misinformation but a legitimate source. Thank you.

Trolls on trucking boards too - who'd a thunk?

1/2 the houses on my block are in foreclosure, and all my neighbors are heading for bankruptcy court too (and no, I don't live "in the hood").

I had already checked with a few people (that have been in the business LONGER than your "vast" experience of 1 year), and most companies don't even look at the credit reports. I'm told, the ones that DO - are actually more relieved to see that someone has DISCHARGED their debts in a bankruptcy - than having a bunch of active collections.

Folks coming out of a Chapter 7, are actually a fairly decent risk - since they DON'T have the pressure of having to come up with $$'s to keep creditors off their *****. People WITH a bunch of collections are WORSE RISKS, as they are going to end having to go to court for the civil suits (or end up with default judgements), end up having garnishment orders from judgements (which are a PITA for the payroll department of ANY COMPANY), and are at much greater risk of STEALING to satisfy their debtors and make ends meet. Chapter 7's are actually as clean as a newborns buttocks (post-baby-wipes at least).

Admittedly, I attempted to do a startup in a really bad economy for that particular segment of the market. Really kind of a "last ditch effort" to get this business going, while I still had the credit and savings to launch it. While I built a very good resume, made excellent contacts and gained the respect of folks in that industry (as a RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSMAN), sadly, it was just the WRONG TIME TO DO IT. Believe me, I'd rather be driving my own private tour bus, and doing sound and road management for Rock bands then starting out at the bottom in yet ANOTHER CAREER PATH.

You are a simple-minded, short-sighted - ANGRY - EX-TRUCK DRIVER. As your trolling history amply shows. If I was the ONLY PERSON in this country to get caught up in a foreclosure/bankruptcy, I probably WOULD be the "irresponsible buffoon" you alluded to in your latest troll. Since I find myself in VERY GOOD COMPANY with the other poor schmucks that got caught up in the Real Estate/Credit debacle - that is still a LONG WAY OFF from peaking (and it's gonna get WAY WORSE - before it gets REMOTELY BETTER), I doubt that my negative credit history (which, until 1/08 had me at an 835 credit score - sadly a 520 now) is really going to have an impact in my finding an entry level truck driving position.

Oh, and backgraound is spelled BACKGROUND...

FOAD...

Rick

When I signed on with SNI I was told that they would be doing a consumer credit report, but that did come from the recruiter, and we know how up front recruirters are. So you are probably right, I only know what I was told. I also ran teams and handled high value loads and perhaps that was the reason. Now as far as forclosures go, you re correct to a point, but lets face the fact that many people bought more home than they could realistically affordm due to low interest rates, ARM's at unheard of lows, unscrupulous RE agents, predatory lenders and greedy buyers. Many were more than happy to ride the wave of prosperity that was going on at the time. As a RE Broker I saw many come into my office who had purchased low and were upside down in some cases more than double the original purchase price. Equity was their downfall, their $150,000 home was now worth $350,000 and they had used up all that equity in refi's, some that I personally worked with had refinanced 3 times or more as the equity had risen in their homes. Some of the blame has to fall on the buyer, as well as lenders, and in some cases RE agents.

I saw prices rise to in some cases to 3 times the original the amount paid for the home originally, for example, I had a vacation home in Bass Lake, CA, I sold it in 1999 for $375,000, in 2004 it was back on the market for $950,000 and sold for $850,000. That is a huge increase in value in a short period of time. Many took advantage of that and made wise investments and many made poor choices with their equity, cars, vacations, and such. Many used equity to buy other properties, and those usually did well, We used the proceeds from our vacation home to purchase a foreclosed commercial building for $175,000 and resold it last year for $975,000. So opportunities are/were there but some diod not use them wisely.

I thought you were not going to argue anymore, I can see that you are not a man of your word. Troll, please, you have no idea who I am and a troll is not it. Remember you chimed in on advice that was given to another, and volunteered your stellar financial savvy. Yes there are many who have lost much, and there are those who haven't, you would like others that you are in the majority, wake up you are not. Most could be in your situation, if they made poor choices in their direction in life, but many people stay within their means and don't lose everything, GMAN sited that 1 in 9 are in forclosure, that means 90% of homeowners are not, grim reality. I have been responsible for my finances and made good decisions and am not in your situation, generally we are a product of our own doing.

And "FOAD" c'mon is your vocabulary really that lacking that you have to resort to that kind of talk to get your point across. Given your situation and that crack, I can see that you are truely a victim of your own ignorance, and lack of character. You have sunk to the level of name calling not me, I stated facts based on your posting, you have called me simple-minded, and a troll, I did not call you an irresponsible "buffoon" that was your terminology. You like others are quick to blame someone else for your problems, and until you are willing to face the truth you will always be where you are. It is just too easy to blame the "credit/Real estate" industry for everything, it somehow deflects responsibility onto others for our own shortcomings.

So call me all the names you want, I am not losing my house, in BK or in a position where I have to look for a job, I can work because I want to and not have to, I have made good choices in my life faced up to my responsibilities, taken credit for my failures, and those choices have come to fruition.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

I bow to your incredible wit and wisdom. I am truly unworthy to even post on the same discussion thread as you. Maybe even, on the same internet as you.

Please accept my humblest of heartfelt apologies...

R

You are probably right, and I accept your apology.

I am not a driver, I am one of the people reading forums like this because I am thinking about getting into driving. I was a mechanic for 20 years before getting layed off last September. Every new car dealer that shuts down just puts more techs on the street looking for work. Just like every trucking company that shuts down puts more drivers on the street.......without a truck though.
I am still on the fence, taking everything into consideration and talking it over with my wife. I already knew I would have to do OTR before finding a local job, just like I know I will be away from home for weeks at a time. I also know the pay will not make me rich. I am thinking about this because I am sick of cars and would enjoy working alone. Sure, I might not find a job after going through the school, at least it will be one more skill on my resume. I am not doing any better finding a job as a tech. Believe me, techs do not make as much money as you might think. These days, there pay is about equal to drivers and they still have to buy their own tools.
My point is, there are a lot of negative people telling others not to be a driver. You can go to a forum for mechanics, plumbers, electricians or a Wal Mart greeter and see the same stuff. Guys that have been doing it for a long time and wish they had done something else.
Example, guys become mechanics because they loved cars in high school. I now hate changing my own oil and my wife drives a 2 year old car with a warranty. You never hear from guys that actually like their job, you ALWAYS hear from guys that hate it.

Funny you mention that - it's an issue I have with most of these trucker boards. I think maybe alot of these guys just don't want the extra competition in the market-place. While there's a lot of wrong things that go down in the trucking industry (and they pull that crap on newbies cause they think we don't KNOW ANY BETTER), if you like the work, can deal with the away time, and don't mind being alone - it still might be worth checking out - regardless of what the nay-sayers are selling...

Perfect example; the most DEMONIZED of ALL TRUCKING COMPANIES (especially for newbies) is Swift. I just spent the last hour talking with a Swift company driver, as he was unloading at a local bedding store (incidentally, he told me in 3 years, it was the FIRST TIME he had to hand unload the truck himself). He liked working for them, gets the miles he's looking for, has a good DM, trained in their school as a newb, and had nothing bad to say about them. He stressed ATTITUDE as the KEY INGREDIENT at "making it" with ANY COMPANY. A willingness to work, a healthy/positive attitude, and the ability to learn from your mistakes are the things he stressed to me. He started out with a 600K mi/2005 Freightshaker, and after 6 months got into a new '08 Volvo 780. I thanked him for the time he spent with me.

As much GOOD INFO as I get from the internet discussion boards - there's nothing that beats talking to a LIVE DRIVER, face-2-face. This doesn't mean I don't believe some of the things I read on the boards - just that you have to temper the good with the bad - and NO ONE seems to have ANYTHING GOOD to say about ANY COMPANY or the industry in general...

Rick

Wait....wait.....wait.....You think that guys tell you the good and bad of this industry because we dont want the competition? Competition is what makes us better. To all the guys who want to drive a truck. Go on and go to school or sign up with a company who will train you.

I think most of us try to sway newbs away for 2 simple reasons, 1: At this moment in time it is very damn difficult to break into this industry, and 2: Their preconceived notions of what it is and will be like are so off base.

Personally I wouldn't try to sway anyone away, but I will tell you the facts, which to newbs will seem very negative, but that is simply because the facts are so far off from what they THINK, it is all about how you look at things.

I will give a great example! Let's assume your friend sets you up on a blind date, and tells you all these wonderful things about the person, so you go and do the blind date, and find out this person is nothing like your friend told you. Now this person isn't all that bad, but just pales in comparison to what you where told, sorry but now your view of them has been tarnished. But let's assume you had a second friend, who tells you the reality of what this person is like, so you go on the date, and find out you like the person, because your point of view has been changed.

A lot of people read the advertisements from the trucking companies and CDL mills... err schools ;) that advertise all these wonderful things about a career in trucking, how you could make all this money, how you could be your own boss, the charm and magic in traveling the country, etc etc. You have been setup with a certain point of view, that you will find is very very off from reality. But you come here, and everyone tells you the facts, it seems very negative, because the point of view is from a realistic perspective, you take in what the people on here tell you, and go and get yourself a career in trucking, and realize it isn't that bad, again, because your point of view was now influenced by reality of what everyone told you.

Point is, if you have this big fancyful view of something, and someone tells you otherwise it will appear negative. If you go into this career knowing and understanding what it is really like, you have a much better chance of actually liking it because you have an idea of what to expect that is closer to reality.

Like my boy tried to hook me up with this so called fine chick.. man he had me all hype and pumped up.. man i was shocked at what i seen!!! I thought she was a college linebacker.. But Matcat that post couldn't be more correct!!

What co does your wife work for in Stockton?

How much experience do you need to have a chance of getting hired on there?

You live in a really good location for a trucking job. There are a lot of ggod regional carriers in the area- Reeve, Teresi, Cherokee and lots of Mega types have terminals nearby. 36K might be tough your first year, and it's hard to say which way the economy will go, but with a few years exp you should be able to get to 50K and decent home time.

Part of the problem is that when someone comes here seeking advice the posts seem to go south quick, but that is how it goes. The OP asked if, given his circumstances and criteria, whether his expectations were too high. And yes, they were, the salary he was originally looking for is probably not attainable in the current trucking economy. He was then given some advice in regard to people with families, many drivers with families have a tough time on the road. That was the message that some were trying to get across, it is now up to him whether he accepts it or not. I think if you will research, you will find many drivers who like driving trucks, who are active on this board. I for one have said many times that I loved my time OTR, but it did not mix with my current home sitiuation. As stated before, when the kids are out and on their own, I will go back OTR. I enjoyed getting paid to deliver frieght all over the country. There are many beautiful places to see, and nothing beats crankin' 80's metal and cruisin the countyside. The solutide for me was great, I never had any problems with my DBL, I just delivered on time and took every load without question. I ran teams and the wheels were always moving, we ate well and had fun. But my family had to come first, and so I resigned and came home.

For some people it is a great way of life, a guy like "SickRick" it will fit his lifestyle, he has few obligations that would keep him tied to a home or family. For him trucking is a great way to make a living, and he will probably do well. It sounds as though he has done his homework, and that is important. Getting information from an online forum is good, but going to the T/S and where ever drivers gather, and talking to them is the best way to get first hand information. Butbe careful, many of the guys complaining about miles, or lack of work, are the same ones who spend way too much time at the T/S. They will sit for hours wondering why they are not moving, well they want to sit and BS show off their chrome, and brag about how much money they used to make. I saw many of the same guys in the same places over and over again. As far as the training companies, they are what they are, good to start with, but you will want to move on after a year or so, you WILL NOT make a good living with them. I liked SNI and would have probably stayed with them, but again I ran teams, and teams were treated better than solo drivers at the time, but i hear that is changing now.

"SickRick" if you are reading this, I owe you an apology, I ran my mouth off and should have not said the things to you I did. I was wrong, I try not to be like that, and i had no excuse to get onto you. You have a right to express your opinion just as anyone else here does. Just because you are new, does not mean your opinion is not valid. So i threw it out there, if you take it, great, if not you have the right to do so, I was out of line.

Accepted...

No problem brother. We all get "entrenched" in attempting to get our points across. I'm often-times guilty of being "over-enthusiastic" myself.

Just trying to get/convey the best information. I have no illusions as to what I'm looking at out there as a newb - in fact, I have extremely LOW EXPECTATIONS. That way, anything better than "the pits of hell" that I encounter, will be a pleasant SURPRISE. Since I've read pretty much "worst case scenarios" on the boards I read - the only thing I'm expecting is to get wheel time and experience my first year - everything above that will be GRAVY.

School starts tomorrow (local Vo-Tech), 9 weeks of 7-2:30. I've already been through the textbook - and from what I've learned from this site and others, have a pretty good idea about a lot of things. Now it's time to get out there, learn how to back/dock/run in the yard and on the road - and start looking for my first gig. I'm pretty psyched about school - but I'm also a little older (48), and haven't had to sit in a classroom or be somewhere on anyone's schedule other than my own. Gonna be an interesting transition...

Rick

I appreciate the straight forward response. Like someone said, after the original post all the comments start to head toward the negative side. If anybody (including me) sets out to make a career change without doing as much research as possible, they are asking for trouble in any field. They also should be able to filter out the guys that apparently hate their job for more reasons than we probably know.

I am sure many guys already driving are like me in my current job. You want a change because you are burned out, what are you going to do? I am 42 and should have listened to my dad and went to college. I have been layed off from turning wrenches twice in the last 20 years. Like I said before, every new car dealer that closes puts more techs out of work. I am collecting umemployment and can still collect if I go to driving school. I am applying for jobs as a grocery store clerk and I dont even get an interview. There are not many jobs that will take a guy my age as an entry level position. I almost started driving when I was 22, then got married and had a kid. I wanted to be home. I used to make good money wrenching, not in the last few years. I worked for Ford, the reason they dont need bail out money is because they started paying guys less per job to save money. I was making 50k at age 35, at age 40 I was making 30k.

So after that story...........I have thought long and hard about the pros and cons of driving. I am starting at the bottom, keep your mouth shut and your ears open. I have seen too many kids start as techs out of school doing the exact opposite, I always wanted to hit them. New guys get the garbage and rightly so, they are rookies. My daughter is 16 and what a surprise, really does not want me around too much. I am not going to have much work if any at first, I still have to feed myself on the road, I dont know how long I will be gone etc. The conversations I have had with my wife always comes back to, we wont see each other much. We are both willing to accept it, we hope. My hope is, after 12-18 months and I keep a good record, I can find a local job. Maybe by then the economy will have picked up and I will be in a good position. Even with all that said, I have still not made my final decision. I am still researching schools in my area and asking questions and reading storied online.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes you just need a different shade of brown and if you jump the fence without a plan, you land in s**t.

You will probably find you are the rule not the exception. Most of the guys I went to school with were over the age of 40, including myself. We drove Freightliner Century Class tractors, and the one thing that helped me more than anything else was memorizing the shifting speeds. Once those were memorized, I could concentrate on the mechanics of double clutching. The other thing that helped me is to remember you are pulling a trailer, not driving a truck. Good luck and have fun in school, it is a lot to take in, but it is fun as well.

Lucky you, I learned on Freightliner Classics with the most worn out clutches you will ever find.

My instructor was pretty anal about his truck, it was always in top condition. Clean and everything in good working condition. Some of the other instructors trucks were nasty, and had so many mechanical problems. We could always spot our training truck, it was spotless and shiney clean all the time.

If you made 800K on this one property, whatever possessed you to want to drive a truck, and why bother with nursing?

Just curious. I only came back to trucking out of pure financial desperation.....weird thing is I really like it.

It does look like you all succeeded in driving the OP away. CAD wins again!

I had to invest most of it into more property, and pay taxes. Uncle Sam does not like for you to keep all the money you make. So very little of it became spendable capital. Think Capital Gains Taxes. I am 44 and still like to work, there is only so much you can do, until boredom sets in. Most of my friends work, I took some time off after I closed my business, rode my motorcycle all over the country, and decided that retirement at my age just did not work out. I like to travel and figured why not get paid to cruise across the country, I, like you, really liked driving a truck.

One thing to remember, all that money is taxed again and again year after year. I still pay taxes on the properties I bought, and pay taxes on the income from my investments, when they make any money. Our current system can eat up your gains very quick, if you are not careful. Uncle sam does not like for you to keep alot of the money you make, he likes to get his "fair" share.