Profile For Retired Jersey Cop

I've been doing A LOT of research on this industry and I am 100% sure I am going to do this when my youngest graduates High School this coming June (2019). I am curious as to how to eat healthy and workout...

Is it possible to eat healthy and workout??

I "meal prep" all of my meals the day before work and I go to the gym 3-4 days per week.

Are there refrigerators in the trucks? If not, can one be installed?

My health is VERY important to me. I had let myself go at one point, going up to 260 lbs. (I'm only 5' 8") I am now back down to 180 lbs and I do not want to gain the weight back or lose any muscle.

Is this unrealistic?

Thank you...

Just wanted to thank everyone for your replies...

I've talked to several different companies. They all basically seem to offer the same things for the most part.

I guess my primary concern now is the pay. Unless I'm figuring the numbers incorrectly, My first year, I will only be making $350.00 to $600.00 (take home) per week... Can this be correct???

If so, I think that would help explain the "driver shortage" I keep reading/hearing about...

Brett: Thank you for the advice. I am reading the material and it has already answered a lot of my questions.

Old School: Thank you for your candor. I originally obtained my CDL as a back-up plan in case I ever lost my police job (Contrary to what people think, it is a very easy job to lose), as my kids were young than. They are now 21 and 18, I am recently divorced and I am able to and looking for a life change. I'm not so much looking for negatives, I just don't want to make a mistake by going with the wrong company. I am told that a lot of these companies recruiters will flat-out lie to you in order to get you (Don't know how true that could be).

I also don't understand a lot of how truckers are paid. Miles vs. down time, etc. It can be very confusing to someone like me where my pay was simple. (Hourly rate then, time-and-a-half for anything over 40 - very simple)

As with any career and being the new guy; I know that you have to prove yourself to your superiors and your co-workers. I understand that. I also understand that as the new guy, you get the sh*t details (runs) and I'm ok with that too. I just want ensure my success and represent whatever company I choose well.

So again, thank you for your candor and I appreciate the information.

Hello All,

I have been a member here for a couple of years. I am a retired Police Sergeant from NJ, still considering trucking as a second career. I am 46 and looking to work for 15 - 20 years, health permitting. I already have my Class A CDL with all endorsements, including HazMat. I have no experience. (I did drive for a local company as a yard kockey fpr the most part when I received my CDL in 2007.

Looking for advice as whether or not this career is with starting? Half the people I ask, say no and half the people I ask, say yes. It seems there a lot of inconsistency with opinions on this career (as with any career).

Also, looking for advice on how to properly vet the various trucking companies. What to ask, etc??

I'm looking to run OTR and would like to avoid the northeast, specifically North Jersey and New York City.

Also, would prefer to haul drop & hook and/or no touch freight...

Any advice and company recommendations would be appreciated...

Thank you...

Josh C.

I didn't read through all of the replies, but as a retired NJ Police Sergeant, I can tell you that any owner/tenant of any property, residential or commercial, has an absolute legal right to allow parking or not allow parking. No explanation is needed and no sings need to be posted. If a property owner or a person with "rights" to that property (ie. property tenant, manager, assistant manager, employee, etc) asks you to leave the property, legally, you must comply.

As others have stated, leave yourself enough time to go somewhere else and go inside and ask. The worst they can say is, No....

Hello All,

What are the health ramifications of an OTR trucking career?

Is it possible to work out and eat clean?

NO DISRESPECT to anyone, but I notice that the majority of truckers that I see are obese or at best, out of shape and I'm curious as to why this is.

Currently, I am 46 years old. I work out 5-6 days per week. A year ago, I was obese, 5' 8" and 260 lbs. In the past year, I started eating clean and work out. I am now 185 lbs. I want to continue on my path to healthy living, but I am considering a OTR trucking career.

Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.

A little about me. I joined this site about 10 months ago. I retired from a 26 year police career, January 1, 2017. I started my career at 19 years of age. I am now 45. My career was satisfying and I was able to do a lot of good in my time. I retired a Detective Sergeant, running the Internal Affairs Unit of my agency.

I obtained my Class A CDL in 2007 for two reasons. One, I wanted something to fall back onto, in case I ever lost my job and two, because I always wanted to drive a tractor trailer. Can't explain why, I just always did. At that time I only obtained my tanker endorsement because, honestly, it was the easiest one to obtain. I used my CDL for approximately 3 months, working part time as a yard jockey. I haven't driven since.

I have a 16 year old son and 19 year old daughter. I was going to wait until my son was out of high school before I began career #2, because I do not want to go over the road while he is still in school and it is very difficult to find a company to hire you with no experience, except for the OTR companies.

I recently obtained ,y "doubles & triples" and "Haz Mat" endorsement and began applying to local companies with local routes. I applied to a company called XPO Logistics and long story short, they agreed to hire me with no experience. The hiring manager said the company is more worried about the character of the employee, rather then experience.

I AM PUMPED!!!!

I just completed all the hiring requirements, including background, medical, drug screen, etc. I will be working monday through friday, home everyday and from what I have researched, a great starting rate. 51 cents per mile and $21.85 p/hour for loading and unloading, which is fine with me because it will keep me moving throughout my work shift. I have not yet met my trainer, but since I don't have to "live" with him, I don't foresee any issues.

So I will keep posting and asking for advice as issues arise.

"A little about me. I'm 49 years old, I'm married 19 years and have a 15 year old daughter, and a 18 year old son. I have a bachelor degree in culinary arts management and have been a restaurant manager for 20+ years, and in the business for far longer than that. Hospitality has proven to be too fickle over the years. I've gotten laid off from 3 different jobs on January 4th."

Hey Paul... I've read your entire thread. I'm very impressed with your journey. I am 45 and recently retired, after 26 years as a police officer. Retired a Detective Sergeant, supervising the Internal Affairs Unit of the agency. I have two children 16 and 19. I am waiting until my youngest is out of high school (2 years) to start my trucking career. I already have my Class A CDL, so that should help me get hired. The only part I'm dreading is the coach part. I can deal with all different kinds of personalities, but draw the line at cleanliness issues.

Keep posting...

IMO, I think you are severely over-thinking this. I don't know what company you work for, therefore I have not read your companies policies. That said, in most organizations, a trainer is a de facto supervisor. She has the responsibility to conduct herself professionally at all times while you are in her care. If the company finds out about this, SHE will definitely have more to answer for than you will. I would discuss this with her first and basically, and as nicely as you can put it, let her know that it's over and that she needs to get over it. I would also remind her of her responsibilities as a trainer/supervisor and remind her that this entire scenerio can adversely and possibly permanently affect her career. Again, as nicely as you can put it. If you can come to agreement to both act like professionals and adults, then just move on. I would then get off that truck. If you come to terms with her, then it's all good and she should sign off on you. If you cannot come to terms, then as soon as you get off the truck, let your supervisor know what happened and ride it out.

I would also record your conversation with her so that if she later tries to have you charged with misconduct or worse (rape), you'll have some proof to help you....

Wow,Teach... I'm sorry to hear that. I could never endure 4 showers in 4 weeks. That's disgusting. What was the justification for that? No food for 48 hours? Again, what was the justification for that?

To experienced truckers: Is this kind of thing normal?