Trucker Vs Mechanic

As I plan for my second career, I continue to have a very strong desire to be a professional truck driver. However, I have a young family and struggle with a positive way I could negate the away time. I also have a strong desire to experience OTR and would need to get that "out of my system" before moving to a more family friendly routine. That said, as a happy medium, I have been thinking about getting trained as a diesel mechanic, getting my CDL , then working at a large truck service center. This might allow me to be a part of the industry in a way that is family friendly. Then when the time is right, I'll drive OTR. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Yep, I started out my mechanic career on diesels, back in early 80s, good $$ in that too , if with the right company. Could even get your CDL there, if not required as employment. Although schooling would probably still be needed for OTR.

That just seems to me like a hugely expensive way to get into trucking. The cost of of becoming a diesel mechanic can be outrageous, believe me I went to a technical that offered it as a course and it wasn't cheap. That coupled with the fact you have to buy all your own tools, which diesel tools are usually a lot more expensive than your average auto mechanics you're going to be in deep with either loans of cash. All of that just to wait for your time to go OTR? For me it doesn't make much sense. Especially when you consider that you can go get your cdl and get trained for free by Company-Sponsored Training .

I would say if you are seriously interested in going into trucking that you not waste time and money by going the long way round. Go get your cdl straight out, get that all important experience, and find the job that best works for your family.

Good luck

Duhhh Good points Heavy C, Didn't think of needing schooling for mechanic spot. Since I didn't go to school for it, having a natural gift for wrenching. And yep them diesel tools, about 4x's the cost of normal auto tools, and bigger lol. That Snap-On chrome, don't come cheap!

Thanks. Great points. Plus, I would be just about 50 years old after all the schooling. Not sure if entering the field as an entry level mechanic at that age would be a good plan. On the other hand, trucking seems to favor my age.

Dave, it's something you and your wife should discuss together. OTR isn't an easy lifestyle for everyone. Some adapt to it better than others, but for a married person or a person with a family the decision to go over the road effects more than just themselves. It can often be much harder on the folks who are left to keep the home fires burning than it is on the breadwinner.

The thing about trucking is that if you want to have a local job it will usually require long hours with a good bit of physical labor mixed in with the driving. Local driving jobs often pay by the hour but usually provide top level blue collar wages. In fact they can be some of the highest paying truck driving jobs. Occasionally you can find a local job without prior experience, but it is rare. There are a lot of different types of truck driving jobs out there, but for the most part if you and your wife can commit to a one year stint of working over the road then you will have opened up a world of opportunity for yourself. You can always start now doing some research in your area for entry level local driving jobs, and sometimes if you are in the right place at the right time it will work out. We have a "line-haul" driver member here who has an extensive report on his experiences landing his local gig right out of school, you can check it out by reading Six strings Line Haul Job. He landed a sweet gig for a family man. His location was consequential to his success, but here and there you will find local jobs available.

The traditional path is to go OTR first, but there are other options out there. One good way to check on the availability of local driving jobs is to contact a local truck driving school and ask them if they have any local companies that hire from their school. You can also check Craigs list - many local truck driving jobs are advertised there. Even if an advertisement says they require one year experience it is worth giving theme a call and making a good impression while you are inquiring about the jobs - occasionally if they are in dire need they will pony up the extra insurance expense to take on an inexperienced driver.

Unlike "wrenching," you can get into the driving career with little or no expense, and in some cases have your CDL in as little as four weeks and then be on the way to a worthwhile and rewarding career.

Good luck, and feel free to ask as many questions in here as you like.

Thanks. Great points. Plus, I would be just about 50 years old after all the schooling. Not sure if entering the field as an entry level mechanic at that age would be a good plan. On the other hand, trucking seems to favor my age.

I would not let age deter you either way. As in driving, coming into any career with the life experience that you have equals value to an employer. You are sure to be more level headed than a 21 year old right out of school. I have also seen older folks come into a shop and they just have the brain power to troubleshoot something. They don't just want to find the problem, they want to find out what caused the problem so it does not happen again. After school you still have a good 15 -20 years of working but you are sleeping in your own bed, enjoying the wife, kids, grandkids etc.

Have you ever noticed older drivers in their 60-80s that are stooped over at the shoulder blades? I think it is from trying to see under those drop visors people seem to like that cuts out half of your windshield visibility. I personally know a young man that is 86 and still turning wrenches because that is what he likes to do. He may not be as fast as he once was but when you get something worked on by him, it is by god fixed.

The cost for either direction is what it is but you have to do what will make you and more importantly the MRS happy. Because if she is not happy you will not be. If you do go to a shop, it would be nice to have a CDL in hand because you are now more valuable to them as a test driver and possibly a heavy wrecker driver.

Dave, it's something you and your wife should discuss together. OTR isn't an easy lifestyle for everyone. Some adapt to it better than others, but for a married person or a person with a family the decision to go over the road effects more than just themselves. It can often be much harder on the folks who are left to keep the home fires burning than it is on the breadwinner.

The thing about trucking is that if you want to have a local job it will usually require long hours with a good bit of physical labor mixed in with the driving. Local driving jobs often pay by the hour but usually provide top level blue collar wages. In fact they can be some of the highest paying truck driving jobs. Occasionally you can find a local job without prior experience, but it is rare. There are a lot of different types of truck driving jobs out there, but for the most part if you and your wife can commit to a one year stint of working over the road then you will have opened up a world of opportunity for yourself. You can always start now doing some research in your area for entry level local driving jobs, and sometimes if you are in the right place at the right time it will work out. We have a "line-haul" driver member here who has an extensive report on his experiences landing his local gig right out of school, you can check it out by reading Six strings Line Haul Job. He landed a sweet gig for a family man. His location was consequential to his success, but here and there you will find local jobs available.

The traditional path is to go OTR first, but there are other options out there. One good way to check on the availability of local driving jobs is to contact a local truck driving school and ask them if they have any local companies that hire from their school. You can also check Craigs list - many local truck driving jobs are advertised there. Even if an advertisement says they require one year experience it is worth giving theme a call and making a good impression while you are inquiring about the jobs - occasionally if they are in dire need they will pony up the extra insurance expense to take on an inexperienced driver.

Unlike "wrenching," you can get into the driving career with little or no expense, and in some cases have your CDL in as little as four weeks and then be on the way to a worthwhile and rewarding career.

Good luck, and feel free to ask as many questions in here as you like.

Old School,

Thanks for the guidance. My wife and I sat down, put everything on the table and decided to commit to OTR for a year. Because of yourself and all the contributing members of this site, I feel we were able to make the most informed decision possible. It's going to be a wild ride!

Thanks. Great points. Plus, I would be just about 50 years old after all the schooling. Not sure if entering the field as an entry level mechanic at that age would be a good plan. On the other hand, trucking seems to favor my age.

I would not let age deter you either way. As in driving, coming into any career with the life experience that you have equals value to an employer. You are sure to be more level headed than a 21 year old right out of school. I have also seen older folks come into a shop and they just have the brain power to troubleshoot something. They don't just want to find the problem, they want to find out what caused the problem so it does not happen again. After school you still have a good 15 -20 years of working but you are sleeping in your own bed, enjoying the wife, kids, grandkids etc.

Have you ever noticed older drivers in their 60-80s that are stooped over at the shoulder blades? I think it is from trying to see under those drop visors people seem to like that cuts out half of your windshield visibility. I personally know a young man that is 86 and still turning wrenches because that is what he likes to do. He may not be as fast as he once was but when you get something worked on by him, it is by god fixed.

The cost for either direction is what it is but you have to do what will make you and more importantly the MRS happy. Because if she is not happy you will not be. If you do go to a shop, it would be nice to have a CDL in hand because you are now more valuable to them as a test driver and possibly a heavy wrecker driver.

Pat,

The wife is on board with the trucking plan. Here we go!

Well I am currently a diesel technician and I can tell you a few facts. First the two do go hand in hand one always makes the other look attractive on a resume. I am currently working on getting my cdls. I myself have a family starting and I know well the pressure of traveling Due to previous jobs. heavy duty mechanics do spend more in tools I have accumulated enough that would have paid for cdl training a couple times over. I like being a mechanic however as it used to be my hobby after doing it every day that desire to work on anything tends to fade away. I do know that both fields change every day so once your in one you have to stay on top of your game to keep up with both. Not only am I trying to get my cdls but I'm also working on ase certification just so I can keep my options open. So in all that I just think of something dad always told me (after driving 22 years ending only bc of medical) always have a backup plan.