Question:
I need some input here. First., let me start by giving a little info on myself and then I will get to the point.
I am 42 years old, married with one 15 year old son. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to drive a big rig. To this day, I still do and more than ever. I am employed full time with the same company for over 23 years in management. MY salary is outstanding and has afforded me the opporunity to move on to something I like to do, versus something I have to do. We have NO bills to pay other than the mortgage, utility and food bills.
To put it simply, I absolutly have come to hate my job in the office. And I'm really not interested in going to another company to do the same BS.
This is how I get to the call of the open road. How many of you folks have had this calling and still love it and how many had it and now either dislike driving or just see it as a another job ?
My goal is to drive for a company for a year or 2. If I like it, buy my own rig and either lease on or try going totally independant. I think I can really go independant with the brokers, load pick sites and such, it seems doable. Of course, leasing on is a no brainer but I struggle with how the numbers look in these leasing deals. I will be fortunate enough to buy a rig for cash which will make owning/operating a bit easier financially.
Am I nuts ?? I,m alos very interested in the lure of the open road that you driver have I like driving on long road trips in either our crew cab pick up or van to visit family around the country. I pretend I'm driving a rig with my CB always on talking to the truckers and getting and giving road info out. My wife and kid think I'm kinda crazy. Wife reads books and son listens to sony walkman while I go "trucker" on the CB.Hunt, Fish, Shoot

Answer:
Go For It!!!

Answer:


Who keeps telling these people that the road is "open"?
What gives these people the idea that the road is "open"?
What makes these people think that it is nothing but "wide open spaces" out there?
I belive this is the number one mistake people seem to make when considering a job in trucking, don't you all?
First of all let me tell you and all that read this. There is no such thing as the "open road" anymore.
We are VERY, VERY over-populated, and as a result the "open road" has become congested and obnouxiously over run and stressful.
The docks for the most part never did change with the length of the trucks and trailers, and are very tight and stressful.
Trailers went from 24' to 53', and tractors went from 110" wheel base to 260" wheel base, but the docks are still designed for the old style, and you are expected to stick a trailer in it that is twice as long with a tractor that has a wheel base twice as long----(yet all the "old boys" say they are better drivers )---does that seem "open" enough for you?
Just 8 to 10 years ago, a guy could have the road to himself as early as 10-11 at night.......now a-days 3 or 4 in the morning on a no-name highway in the middle of nowhere it is not uncommon to stretches of constant traffic and brake lights as far as you can see----does that seem "open" enough for you?
Ice Man; you may be able to convince me that you want to drive truck by using another lure----but I will never buy it from you or anyone else that "the call of the "open road" has found it's way to your day dreams", because the open road does not exsist any more.
Do yourself a favor, find someone to ride with for about 3-4 weeks. Live life on the road for that long, and if you still want to drive for a living knock yourself out.It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:

Given time, you may come to hate trucking as well.
Fortunately for the trucking industry, there are always folks like you and others to replace the many drivers that get out every year.
When doing your research determine what the turnover rate of drivers in trucking is and what the reasons are they leave. If you think you can deal with the reasons those before you have left then by all means jump in and give it a go.

Answer:
Stay where you are. What WhiteDog said is the best. Try it on for size before you buy. Do you now have good benefits, retirement build up, chance for advancement ? Won't see much of that in trucking. It's not a very healthy job either. You also could loose everything you've worked for in one single screw up. It's not worth it, believe me. Rewards (return, devotion (of)) for your time doesn't add up.Whoa is me. Yup, put the brakes on the trucking crapola and haven't looked back.


Answer:
xx

Answer:
A person really should try to follow their dreams and try to find something that will make them happy.
Will driving a truck provide you with that happiness? Who knows, and to be honest it does not really matter at this point. If this is something you really want to do then go for it. If you find it not to your liking then you can always try something else.
A few words of advice though. Get your family involved in this decision and make sure that you have their support. Having a loving, supportive family at home is just as important to a driver as it is to a soldier.
Do not rush into anything before you are truly ready. This goes for everything from attending a driving school to purchasing a truck and everything in between. There is much to learn and consider at each step, and if you move too fast you just increase your chances for frustration and failure.
Answer:
Are you sure that it's the office in general that you are trying to escape, or is it specifically related to the place you're working now? The reason I ask is because there are a good number of jobs in the transportation industry besides driving. Have you considered an office job in the transportation industry? That would be a change, but not be a completely new lifestyle that you'll have to get used to if you started driving.
I don't know what company you are currently working for, but office environments in the transportation industry can be much more laid back than you'll find working in other fields. I, too am attracted to the transportation industry, but I knew fairly quickly that the driving or train service lifestyle wasn't for me. Maybe you can take interest in you work without having to drive the rig.
While it may be "fun" on long trips in the van now, when that fun wears off, will it just be another job? You might find yourself missing your "old routine."
Then again, if this is something you have always wanted to do as a kid, maybe it is your calling. But also keep in mind there are other types of jobs within the industry which might be the type of change you are seeking.

Answer:
Amazes me how many people come on here talking about taking up driving and they're in their 40's.
The term "mid-life crisis" comes to mind.
Like a couple have said already, better take a good hard look before you jump.
I've done this almost all my working life, almost driven as many years as you are old.
For every one I've seen jump in at your age and make it I've probably seen 50 that went crashing down.
It's no way to regain your youth.

Answer:

Good point. I currently work as a Procurement Manager. Procurement is the contracts side of purchasing were the large deals between to companies are negotiated. I have also worked as a Transportation manager responsable for a $30m annual transportation budget and had 9 office people working for me and 2 local van drviers. I did like this job the best. Working with the trucking companies, air frieght and expedite outfits. We were in our own little world, did our thing for a large global logistics group.
But I always here that call !!!! There are a couple of semi tractor dealers not far from were I live. We have KW and a Volvo dealer. They usually leave most of the used rigs doors unlocked on the lot. I go there once in a while and climb on in them. The kw dealer always has the most used stuff. Everything from Petes, KW's, Macks and Frieghtliners. Man, is it cool up in there !!
About 2 years ago I attended a local Vo-Tech school that offers CDL training. I took just the class room portion were they teach you text book stuff on being able to pass the tests to get your permit. I did it just to learn some and get he feel of what a driver needs to know in this area. I liked it alot and we even got to drive some of the tractors out on the driving range. That was great as well. Loved it.
What can I say.Hunt, Fish, Shoot

Answer:

Sitting in them and fantasizing is a lot different than living in them and the reallity of actually having to operate them in traffic. (not saying you don't already know that)
I must say; you do sound giddy. I remember sitting in a car as a kid pretending to drive and dreaming of the day I could get my lisence---well; sixteen came and I got my lisence. I loved driving a car until the "cruiseing" fantasy became a "job related" reallity.
Trucking was no different. Loved it during "fantasy" stage, and then the "reallity" set in.
You're are going to do what you're going to do---I'm just trying to bring you down off that cloud you're floating on, and get you to see the reallity, before the fantasy drives you to what may be the biggest mistake of your life.
Let me ask you this: Did you previously have a dream of being a Procurement Manager? Because now you hate it. Right?
If you liked being Transportation manager; why not look to switch back to that field? You may have to relocate---but you would be relocating (in a way) day by day if you drove truck.
You can be in the trucking industry and have a life.It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
sinse you can afford to,go play pretend truck driver for a week
contact me and I'll play dispatch
let me know when you can take a week off and I'll help you find a nice u-haul just under 26,000lbs so you are legal to drive it and I'll get you some miles for the week and dispatch you on a typical week like a real trucker
after the week is over you will still have you job to go back to and whatever it cost you will be way cheaper than driving school just to find out trucking ain't something you want to run away to.
rule number one for dispatch
we ain't travel agents
Answer:

Truck drivers, who else would lie like that.
Zigzag wont do, he knows to much. You'll need to find some 22 year old new graduate that thinks he knows more than you for the full effect. Beside Zigzag talks to himself. I have proof.


Answer:

I studied under a 20 year old,taught me everything he knows
He's from PA so a trip to chicago,than down to GA. and I'll send him to long Island for a finishing touch and tell him to call back in an hour untill he gets feed up and stops calling,than I'll know his week is over and he went home
cicero ave 4am monday,than call back in and hour all day and at 3pm send him to the convention center and at 4:30 I'll tell him he is loaded and has to be if tifton Ga at 5am weds,than I'll screw him around all day and load him out of the fulton industrial park at 4pm and tell him he is loaded at 5pm and be out on long island for 6am friday,than play the call back in an hour game all day,by noon he will tell me to go (edited) myself,he's going home.
Answer:
you got some feed back, know its your choice, you can listen to them or follow your dream, you may love it, but I honestly believe if you dont give it a try, you will be kicking yourself in your a$$ for never trying , you may be one of the guys who love it, I was given the same advise 11/2000, and i'm so glad I followed my dreams. But, I never been nor will I ever be a follower I still drive otr . take care and good luck with the choice you make