Trying To Decide On A Career Change In To Trucking

Long story short. I am a 52 year old married male looking at making a career change in to trucking. I have a frustrating job where it seems all I do is baby sit grownups! I supervise 25 -30 people on shift. There is always drama, whining and "thats not my job" everyday. Getting sick of hearing it everyday!! Ok, enough about poor me and my job. I am looking for some answers and not sure where to find them. I live in west central Illinois. I really don't want to relocate. Trying to find out what is available within the area. I will need to get my CDL. Researched many companies and their schools, but want to know if they operate in the area. I know I can't do a true OTR type trucking job. Wife would freak out at the mention of it. I'm sure I will take a pay cut if I do this, but I don't think I can put a dollar figure on my sanity. I have always wanted to give it a try.

Sam, welcome to the forum! You and I are in a similar situation in that I got into this trucking thing at the same age. I closed a business that I had run for most of my adult working life - the way the economy was I just couldn't keep doing it any more. So I jumped into a trucking school to get my CDL and now I'm working hard to close the deal on the job that I really want to land. Let me just say it's pretty hard to land a local driving job without at least one year of experience. Most people get that years experience in an over the road job. That means being away from your family for two or three weeks at a time, and to do that successfully a married man has to have a very supportive wife who's on the same page with him. Now, after that first year is done, there is a whole new horizon of jobs available to you. If your wife can be persuaded of the benefit of that first year paying off with all sorts of new opportunities opening up for you on a local basis she just might get on board and support you in this endeavor.

Don't be concerned about your age, trucking companies like people who are responsible and will take care of their equipment, and fortunately for you a lot of the time that's people in your age bracket.

I'm gonna give you a big tip on how to succeed in your pursuit of the CDL - start studying for the exams right here on this site at theHigh Road Training Program. Seriously if you apply yourself to this study guide you will be way ahead of everyone at the school or company you choose to get your training at. Also, don't miss out on reading the Trucker's Career Guide, it will help give you some real insight into the industry and might just help you choose what kind of job you want to pursue. I wish you the best, and want you to know you can ask all the questions you want to in here and somebody will have an answer for you. There are no dumb questions, and the whole purpose of the web site is to help new people jump into the trucking industry. So if your curious about something then ask us and we'll do our best to steer you in the right direction.

Again, welcome aboard and best of luck to ya!

Sam, I just realized I forgot to answer your concerns about relocating. There's no reason to relocate. All of these major trucking companies hire folks from all over the place. Some of them will show their "hiring area" on their website. I live in Texas, but am trying to get on with a company in Des Moines Iowa - they're needing drivers in my state. That just means they have freight moving in and out of this area. When they're ready to get you home they just assign you some freight that brings you close by your home. Some drivers spend their whole career and never work for a company that is any where near their home or their state.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Welcome aboard! Old School's replies were fantastic - as always.

I'm going to add this though...when it comes to getting a career started in trucking, I generally try to gently steer people away from the trucking industry if they're not interested in travelling. Why? Because the best part about trucking is the travelling. Getting to see all the beautiful scenery, meet a ton of interesting people, and spend some weekends running around in places like Vegas, New Orleans, and Miami - that's what is so special about trucking.

When you look at trucking as just another job (like if you're running local) as opposed to a lifestyle, it doesn't add up very well. You put in a ton of hours, you're dealing with piles of stress and headaches all the time, it's risky, it's frustrating, and overall it's more trouble than the pay is worth in my opinion. The perks from travelling are what make it unbeatable.

That being said, there are plenty of people who drive truck locally and enjoy it. So I'm not saying you should stay away from trucking, but I am saying that I think you'll be missing out on the best part of it by running local and you might find better opportunities in other fields.

One other huge thing to consider - if the people you're in charge of are driving you insane, how would you feel if the roles were reversed and those same people were now in charge of you? Here's what I'm getting at...

As a driver, you are at the mercy of everyone. You are low man on the totem pole everywhere you go at all times. You have no authority. You're going to be picking up and delivering at places all the time where the dock workers & shipping clerks & floor supervisors are the ones that are going to determine when you get loaded and unloaded. The office personnel at your company will determine what loads you'll be hauling. The DOT and other police forces will be inspecting you regularly to determine if you're legal to drive or not. The other drivers on the road will be driving like maniacs around you all the time. And God of course will send rain, snow, and wind at you relentlessly.

Truck drivers are looked down upon as about the lowest level you can be in our society by most people - that's just how it is. Nobody is going to show you much respect - not the dock workers, office personnel, police forces, or other drivers on the road. That was one of the toughest aspects for me personally - being treated like junk a lot of times by people whom I'd never even met - simply because I was a truck driver.

I'd have to say that trucking will not be an escape from the people that are driving you insane. In fact, instead of being in charge of those people, you're now going to be at their mercy on a daily basis. Factor in the risk, the super long hours, the stress, and everything else - and believe me - trucking is no escape from anything other than the comfort of your own home.

I drove for 15 years and I absolutely cherished my years on the road. But that's because I was looking to travel and I wanted all of the adventures and challenges the world could throw at me - and man did I find that in spades.

So please understand - I'm not telling you to stay away from trucking. But what I am saying is that the problems you're hoping to escape from will likely be 10 times worse as a truck driver than they are now. You may enjoy the job - I don't know. I mean, driving a big rig is as cool as anything you can do. But the stress, pressure, and poor treatment you'll deal with are very difficult challenges, and they never let up. They're relentless.

So just keep reading through the links that Old School mentioned above and learn all you can about the job and lifestyle of a truck driver before making the leap. Otherwise, as Meatloaf sang so awesomely - you might be "Jumping out of the frying pan, and into the fire."

Thanks for the replies. Old School had me pumped up and ready to go and then Brett punched me in the stomach!! Brett, I know you were telling it like it is and everyone's situation is different. I just don't want to look back 10 years from now and say I never tried it.

I just don't want to look back 10 years from now and say I never tried it.

Hey, I'm totally cool with that. I've done a lot of things for that very reason.

I just wanted you to know that the reality of life in the trucking industry can be really harsh at times and I didn't want you harboring the idea that trucking will be some kind of escape from the knuckleheads you have to deal with in your everyday life right now, because it won't be. In fact, you're going to be at the mercy of 1000 times the number of knuckleheads you are now.

Tons of people get into trucking based on romantic ideas about the freedom and solitude of the open road. And on a beautiful sunny afternoon in July as you're cruising through the gorgeous mountains of Eastern Tennessee that's exactly what you'll find. But the next morning you might be taking a refrigerated load into a union-operated grocery warehouse and believe me when I say the reality of your standing as a truck driver is definitely going to punch you in the stomach. It's far from a picnic.

Like I said - I cherished my 15 years on the road. They were absolutely priceless! The adventures and challenges were fulfilling beyond my wildest dreams. But some of the downside was harsh - incredibly harsh. So I just try to make sure everyone knows all sides of it before making the decision to dive in.

You can break down truck driving in elements of which will help you succeed: #1. training: learn all you can while in school. You will use it all every day. #2. who you work for: this is a biggy. The first year you need to tolerate who you picked. But you have to do the 1 year in order to be in a position to be an asset to any other company you want to go to. #3. experience: you will learn about 75% of trucking AFTER you get out on your own. Remember this, since everyday will be a learning experience as long as you drive truck. #4. family backing: your family and friends should be your cheerleaders. They need to understand why you chose to drive truck. They also need to realize that when stuff happens at home, you can't be there to fix it. So they need to learn to be independent. Your family is your emotional life boat. And you are their life preserver. Both are needed for the family unit to survive the trucking life. If your family isn't behind you, your trucking career will be miserable, and probably short lived.

Its a balancing act to be a trucker. You will worry about what happens in your day to day life. And you will worry about things going on at home. Its a harsh existence, and many can't balance it out to everyone's enjoyment. So think long and hard about putting you and your family thru this. Its just not you who are going thru the change. Its your whole family.

I live in Texas, but am trying to get on with a company in Des Moines Iowa - they're needing drivers in my state.

Old School, you wouldn't be referring to TMC would ya?

That's right Chief, I'm working on landing a job with TMC.

That's right Chief, I'm working on landing a job with TMC.

Very nice. TMC is number 2 on my list! I may even be going to my CDL school just up the road in Fort Stewart.