Questions Before Taking The Plunge

For the third time in my life, I'm considering taking the plunge, getting a CDL , learning to drive, and going OTR. The last time was about five years ago. I was all set to go to Roehl's school and got cold feet at the last minute. Since then, I went back into call center work, got promoted a couple of times, and now I'm making good money. I'm unhappy in this work (again), and feel like I'm ready to completely change my lifestyle.

I am old enough to know now that I have a habit of making bad decisions when I'm unhappy at work, so I want to bounce my plan off the people here before I jump in. (Once I'm into anything, I'm all the way in, so I have learned that it's better to ask questions first instead of after.) I have read a lot of stuff here, and you seem like a solid group to get good advice from. So, here goes:

1. I'm 52 and have been working desk jobs for the last 8 years. I'm really out of shape. I got fat sitting around. I recently dropped 20 pounds, but have another 20 or 30 to go to get to fighting weight. I am planning to step up my exercise plan. Any suggestions for what to focus on (strength vs. endurance, etc.)? How fit do I need to be if I want to pull a flatbed?

2. From what I've read, I can easily live off the average for a first-year driver. Although it will be quite a pay cut, money isn't everything. I rent now, and I'm thinking of giving up my apartment and storing the little bit of stuff I have with family. I have people in three states between Colorado and North Carolina where I can spend home time even if I don't have my own place. Will companies let me spend home time anywhere, or do I have to always be routed back to the same place?

3. I have a lot of stress in my job now, but it's the kind of stress that involves making sure 500 other people do what they're supposed to do. I'm thinking that the kind of stress I'll face in a truck is more controllable in the sense that if I make good decisions, I can at least take care of myself and my company without having to worry about developing or disciplining others. I get that others will do stupid things that will mess up my plans, but I won't be responsible for fixing them, just myself. Am I wrong about that? If you are a person with a strong sense of personal responsibility and a good work ethic, is the hassle of waiting for shippers and receivers and dealing with security guards and dispatchers and bad drivers and snowstorms as stressful as managing a workforce where a sizeable percentage of them don't want to work and don't care if they do it right?

I have more questions, but I've already written too much. I'm off to the salt mines. I'll be back in 8 or 10 or 12 hours, after hoping all day to find some help when I get back to check in again. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom you're willing to share.

Hi Bud,

I can't answer your questions, but I'll be looking for the same answers as I'm in a similar situation as you. I lost my job in February after working at a financial company for 13 years doing help desk support, desktop support, information security administration, and the like.

I had a bad car accident in January 2011, and I ended up with a surgically repaired left hip socket that I spent almost the whole year going through rehab to recover from. That led me to believe I wouldn't be able to consider this career anymore, but a school representative I talked to told me that I may qualify for some funding through the state. I'm hoping I can get this, because being in Chapt 13 is going to make it difficult to get the loan I need for a school.

I've always wanted to drive a truck since my teenage years, because my grandfather did it. He's the one who told me not to pursue it for his own reasons. But, without the ability to get an interview to get back into IT anywhere around Pittsburgh, I'm running out of time and options. I view this as my best option to support my family.

Hopefully Brett and the team can give us some good guidance. I wish you the best in what you choose to do.

Regards, -Ed S

Welcome aboard Bud!

Forgive me, but instead of answering your questions, I wanted to ask you some questions that might help you get your mind made up this time, but first let me tell you that about three days of working in a call center would have me ready to strangle someone - I am not cut out for that kind of work.

I think what I'm getting at is that I enjoy working with my hands, being out-doors, and finding solutions to my own problems without having to have a bunch of meetings with a bunch of people who over think everything. If I see a snake, I kill it - I don't need to ask a bunch of other people's opinions on what I should do. I'm very independent. I think that kind of personality will help you greatly in this field.

Do you consider yourself to be an independent self starter?

Will it bother you to work alone, with no one else to look to or to ask for help?

Will you mind being alone for weeks at a time, where the only friendly company you may have is the toothless waitress at the truck stop counter who only calls you "hon" and "sweet-heart" because she thinks she'll manage to get a bigger tip out of you that way?

Is it going to bother you to have to go to bed at five P.M. one day so you can get up and get started at three A.M. the next day, and then end up going to bed at noon that day, so you can get up and get started again at ten P.M. that night?

Truck driving is so radically different than any other job you've had - it's crazy schedules, frustrating regulations, and hurrying up to wait much of the time. It really takes an independent person to make a go of it. If you've done much research I know you've seen all the heart ache and misery the whiners and complainers are constantly regurgitating. For me it is a challenging career with many rewards.

If you think you are self motivated enough, and can deal with the loneliness and the erratic sleep patterns, then I think you should give it a try. If you are willing to make a firm one year commitment you could attend a Company-Sponsored Training program and get licensed at little or no up front cost and have a job waiting on you when you finish the training. If you decide after that first year it's not for you, then you could always go back to your cubicle in Hades, and blend right back into the fog. That call center is not going anywhere, there will always be another group of desperadoes working there.

Okay, now I'll give you a few answers.

I'm a flat-bedder, and there are plenty of overweight flat-bed drivers out here - you will be the only person that knows that you are out of shape.

You could keep a lot more of your earnings by giving up that apartment, and yes you can take home-time in different parts of the country - as long as it is in an area that is included in your chosen companies hiring area.

I seriously think you already answered your third question all by yourself, and you gave it just the right answer!

Hopefully Brett and the team can give us some good guidance. I wish you the best in what you choose to do.

Regards, -Ed S

Thanks Ed! I wish you the best too!

I think what I'm getting at is that I enjoy working with my hands, being out-doors, and finding solutions to my own problems without having to have a bunch of meetings with a bunch of people who over think everything. If I see a snake, I kill it - I don't need to ask a bunch of other people's opinions on what I should do. I'm very independent. I think that kind of personality will help you greatly in this field.

Do you consider yourself to be an independent self starter?

I love working with my hands and working outdoors - those are things I miss most in this job. I have done farm work, maintenance, short-order cooking, and manufacturing. I grew up outdoors. In this job I find solutions to my own problems - but then have others who work from their living room and don't know anything about what's going on here override my decisions too often for my taste. Then I have to live with the consequences of their decisions while they go to their wine tasting events. (No offense intended, Wine Taster!)

Will it bother you to work alone, with no one else to look to or to ask for help?

Nope...unless I get into a situation where I have absolutely no clue what to do. But I've been reading about these trainers and qualcomms and you all talking to each other, so I figure at worst I'll have to wait a few hours for someone to give me a clue.

Will you mind being alone for weeks at a time, where the only friendly company you may have is the toothless waitress at the truck stop counter who only calls you "hon" and "sweet-heart" because she thinks she'll manage to get a bigger tip out of you that way?

I've been living alone now for eight years, I've worked with lots of waitresses in the past, and I'm toothless. If she calls me "hon" and "sweet-heart" and refills my coffee without asking, I guarantee she's getting a 25% tip.

Is it going to bother you to have to go to bed at five P.M. one day so you can get up and get started at three A.M. the next day, and then end up going to bed at noon that day, so you can get up and get started again at ten P.M. that night?

I got up today two hours earlier so I can get something done at work that someone else didn't want to do. I am a little concerned about rotating my sleep cycle, but after reading Daniel B.'s entire longest-ever thread, at least I know there are strategies for managing that.

Gotta run now, or people at work will be wasting their time waiting on me. I'll answer more tonight or tomorrow - I got the Fourth off!

OK, it's probably bad to reply to myself, but I did promise to answer more and want to give an update on where I'm at as well.

Actually, I think I answered everything that Old School asked...but the short version is, yeah, I've wanted to drive a truck for a long time, and I think I can do it, I'm mostly just anxious about being older and more out of shape than when I first considered it. Can't roll the years back though, and wouldn't if I could anyway. I learned too much along the way.

I'm at that point in my current job where the money they're paying me isn't worth the stress - and they're paying me pretty good. I don't really get a day off since my phone goes off every day and I have to deal with something - even when I've been on a week vacation a few times. I'm ready to get out of there quick. I just have to figure out the finances. Since I've been helping support my daughter and the ex, I don't have any savings despite making more money than I ever have. Plus my apartment just jacked up the rent and double-billed me - but that makes the decision easier really.

I had applied to Roehl and didn't get any response for a couple weeks, so I called them. The recruiter I spoke to told me they weren't taking students from NC right now, so I should go to a local school and get my CDL and then call them back.

I visited a local school last week (snuck out of work early - it's good to be the boss sometimes!) and got a good vibe from them. It takes four weeks and the up front cost is around $3000. Still trying to figure out if I can swing that, considering I'll be unemployed while going to school full time.

I read a lot more here, and talked to my big brother who got his CDL-A this spring. He's driving local tankers in the midwest. His buddy from school went to Prime, and he suggested I check them out, so I did yesterday and applied today for their school.

So now I'm debating whether to go to Prime or another company-sponsored school (plan to apply to a few others at least), or suck it up and figure out a way to finance the local school. Either way, I have made a decision to pursue this career. I figure I have always worked harder than those around me which is why I've always gotten regular promotions in the call center world, and everything I've read here leads me to believe that I'll do well in trucking. Dealing with people comes naturally to me. The only concerns I have are adjusting to weird sleep cycles and getting in good enough shape to throw tarps every day. (I'm drawn to flatbedding - I don't really know why.)

I got my permit five years ago, but plan to go through the High Road training next and get my permit again.

I am wondering if it's worth it to get a DOT medical certification before going to school (if I go out of state)?

Another question I have is whether companies look at credit scores. I have a credit score of 0. I haven't used credit since I went through a Chapter 7 almost 10 years ago. I have a good rental history and pay my bills on time. Anyone know whether companies rate higher with better credit, or are they just looking for lots of debt? (I have no debt since the Chapter 7.)

Anyway, thanks to everyone who posts here - even those who post and get no reply. I've been reading them and it helps. I don't usually have anything to add, so I keep quiet. I'm sure there are others like me here.