BIG RIG Drivers, need input, Career change

[Newf Limo]

Well, I have decided to change careers to OTR in a bit bigger Turbo Diesel driven rig. I am planning to go to school to get my Class "A" and am pre applying to H. O. Wolding Transportation. I am of course applying to the "usual suspects" for trucking companies that hire students, but am leaning strongly towards H. O. W.



Any of you Truckers out there that are members, I could use your input and advise. Hopefully on the positive or informative side Thanks, Dennis

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Is it local hauling or long distance?



You'll get different answers based on that.....



Also - owner/operators, etc. will give you different input than regular employees.....



Matt

 

[DSteinel]

I hope you don't like to drive your Ram very much, you will prolly only be home 1-2 days a week if you are lucky. I drive local and it is still hard to get anything done, If you don't mind not being home for a week or two at a time, working 70 hrs a week and being stuck out on the roads with a bunch of a$$holes then I wish you luck. I would try to find something local, it is usually a little less money but it is worth it to be home everynight. Just my . 02

 

[Newf Limo]

well, without the OTR time, the local stuff is VERY low paying. I gotta "due" the time, so I will do long haul or regional. Long haul=out 2 to 3 weeks and home 1-2 days for each 7 away.



I could do a little better with a carrier that frequents my area though. Thanks D.

 

[catoiler]

Well after driving for 10 yrs. got out of trucking. both owner/opp,and driving for others, their is no pay and to much away time. plus to many rude and un trained drivers out there. nothing like going up a nice grade and have some under powered jocky cut in front of you only to inch up to the rig in front of him and be out of hp. meanwhile you go down a couple of gears and mph and are stuck behind him until they figure it out and slow down and get back where they were. gota stop there feel the pressure going up!!

 

[DSteinel]

Originally posted by catoiler

Well after driving for 10 yrs. got out of trucking. both owner/opp,and driving for others, their is no pay and to much away time. plus to many rude and un trained drivers out there. nothing like going up a nice grade and have some under powered jocky cut in front of you only to inch up to the rig in front of him and be out of hp. meanwhile you go down a couple of gears and mph and are stuck behind him until they figure it out and slow down and get back where they were. gota stop there feel the pressure going up!!

I completely agree, I pull a dump bucket local and I would not have done too bad last year but we hauled salt all winter and it didn't pay hardley anything. This winter I think we are going to try something else and I should make 35k and still be home every night and still have weekends off.

 

[Newf Limo]

Yup Catoiler :-laf I guess it was time! I know what you mean though. I have been coast to coast 4 times with 24' rentals, so I know about climbing grades and being in the way. I've also driven an L8ooo ford Dump, and had to run a 13 speed in town all day long. 6 months of that was enough. A little too much shiftin' and too little cruisin' for me. . . at least for the time being

 

[QRTRHRS]

I too am going to jump back into the frying pan. After 20 years making semiconductors, our work is heading for China so I need to find something else to do for a few years. It's all being paid for so I am going to class for the CDL June 16th.



My last job entailed running from New Jersey to near Ottawa, Ontario. It was an easy run of about 400 or so miles. I would run up, sleep, load in the am and return. Do a little gypsy work on the northbound trip on occasion. I did two-three turns a week depending on need with some occasional week long trips. I don't know but there should be something like that around.



Never thought I would have to go back to driving but it is either that or move. I really need the CDL to cover the grey areas of my farming activities anyway.



http://truck.net/bbs/ Check this forum out for some incite into what is going on out there.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

QRTRHRS makes a good point.



A lot of the tech industry is heading overseas.



I'm seeing it slowly happening here at work. That's why I'm working on my welding skills - gotta have something to fall back on when the tech industry cans you.



Matt

 

[timjones]

It's one of those jobs you love to hate. I spent 7 yrs OTR both as owner (pain in the wallet) and as a pilot ( pain in the head). I was normally out 3 weeks and back for 1, some times more some times less. Don't plan on getting rich. as owner yeah you make 150k a year, but oh yeah 100k +- goes to the truck. If your a pilot then dealing with the brain dead is totally politics. Pi$$ the bone head off your sitting around a lot and finger printing every load. I hated to be out there instead of home, but I loved to leave home to be out there.

 

[catoiler]

Matt,you got the right idea!next move will be welding,can't get enough of it. If you got big cahonies try hi rise welding got a friend that does it makes big $$$. Me I don't like hights to much so i'll fly low!Time to break out the tig and make a new dash for my 47 Plymouth!



Mike

 

[The patriot]

I was an owner operator for about 10 years. I did a bit of everything, but mostly coal bucket work.

You can make money running a coal bucket local. When I got out I was making $600. 00-$800. 00 a day in peak season. Winters were another story.

Owner operators dont get time off per say. My weekends were spent fixing/cleaning the truck.

Insurance was over 5K a year at the time, and I had a good record.

Nice thing is you could be somewhat creative with doing your taxes. I did quarterly reporting.

If I were you, I'd think about a dump truck, if your plan is to purchase your own.

You can make money delivering stone, sand, asphalt in the summer, and plow with it in the winter.



I hear JB Hunt pays decently for drivers. I dont know if they require experience.

Maybe if you can live on the start out rate, a state, county, or town job? Starts out cheap, but good benefits, and retirement.



I got out of it. I get payed over 1/2 of what I'd do on a good summer day, and I sit in a steam plant. I get time off (well... some), benefits, pension, 401K etc. etc. Guess you can say I burnt out.

Being hit head on by another TT may have contributed to this too.

Eric



PS Youre not located in the best part of the country for this either.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Mike - I'm not a huge fan of heights, so I guess I had better look for a lower altitude welding gig if I get canned here at work.



Matt

 

[Newf Limo]

You are right Patriot about location, that's for sure! Everyone hates running NE, of course that does make it easier to find work as a Regional driver. I don't plan to do this for the rest of my life. We are going to mark a calender three years from my first Solo run. That is my walk away date. Unless I really love it, of course. We are both going to work our butts off during that period to pay everything off (except the mortgage) and put ourselves into a financial position to start our own buisness near home. Possibly an Animal Hospital (wife is a Vet. ) It is also a bit of a bug I have to get out of my system. 3 years ago I was reminded by my younger brother that I owed him $5. 00 if I didn't have my own Kenworth - Black - Conventional by the time I reached 35. $5. 00 was a hell of a big bet for a ten year old 28 years ago It really isn't something I am doing on a whim though, I have tried to avoid it knowing that it really IS a hard way to make a living.

I don't think I will need to be hit on the head by an oncoming tractor trailer to know it is time to walk away, but I have to admit, I can see your motivation

My aunt and uncle are Team O/O's on a dedicated run and have driven their proverbial butts off for a couple decades. Ga. -Ca. -Fl. -Ga. Every week. That would kill me. One day off. They have to buy a new Freight Shaker every couple years along with a reefer. They have made A LOT of money, but they have given up alot of their life for it. Strange though. . . every time I talk to them. . . They seem real happy hmmm

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Having your wife along if you're an O/O could cut down on the need to look for 'lot lizards'... . LOL



Matt - I WILL own a Peterbilt with a K-series Cummins before I kick it... ...

 

[The patriot]

Newf, Dad told me to look at Dysarts, Pottle, NEMF, and Schnyder.

He said theyre always hiring in Maine, and said theyre not afraid of new lienses.

Mom and Dad are located in Albion.

He'll be heading up next week.

I think he'll be in his 1st gen blue over silver D250 CTD. If you see him, feel free to stop and chat. They do most of their errands in Waterville, and sometimes Bangor.

When I left trucking, I slammed the door. He's much more knowlegable on these things than I am anymore.

Eric

 

[Newf Limo]

Cool, Thanks for the info. Do you or he know anything about H. O. Wolding out of Wisconsin? I understand they do alot of running through Maine.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

FWIW:

I've been to Dysarts in Bangor quite a few years ago - Man, what a happening truckstop that is!! Food/ice-cream/service was really good... .



I see their trucks/trailers all over the country.....



Matt

 

[Mtngoat]

Gainey Trucking (trucks all over the US) hires new guys, but plan on not seeing you wife grow old. The woman who works for me, her husband works for them and loves it. But he is gone 7- 14 days, will get 1 day, 2 if he's lucky at home. Longest he's been gone was 29 days before he got home. Good job if you like to travel, he bounces from coast to coast WEEKLY!. .

When I retire (in 4 yrs, 9 months and 27 days, I'll be 52), I am thinking about driving, but not 24 hrs a day. We'll see.



Robin