Getting into driving truck??

[Jered1987]

Ok guys , so I've worked jobs that didn't pay the best $10-12hr
Which was fine when it was just me alone.
I now have a wife and new baby so needless to say that doesn't work.
The only logical solution I've come up with is driving truck.
I'm sick of never having any money and being buried in debt.
My question is what hauling business is the best game, companies etc,
Just any type of advice some truckers could offer. I'd like to be home each day
Because of the baby and to see my wife. Thanks in advance

[harpo231]

Google "route driver jobs in georgia" .

[old Rusty C10]

if you don't have truck experience youre going to have to work cheap for at least 3-5 years you may check into JB Hunt they have local jobs but im not sure about experience requirements

[truckster]

Most local routes don't pay very much - probably not much more than you're used to making.

You might also consider a trade school or an apprenticeship.

[mongocanfly]

^^^ "You might also consider a trade school or an apprenticeship." ^^^

my thoughts exactly.....
local truck driving jobs are normally low paying..

UPS may be something to check into....I've heard they have good pay and benefits

[alsriv2]

I thought about that shortly after I was forced out of the USAF during the first "BRAC" back in the early '90's. Was hired by JB Hunt, Schneider, and PAM all at the same time. I was supposed to meet a trucker at a truck stop to catch a ride to the JB training center and at the last minute, I backed out realizing that I would never see my family and even though the "money" seemed to be OK, I also realized that I would need to be supporting the equivalent of 2 families on my check...me while living on the road, needing to eat, shower and have some basics to survive on. and my family home that had the same needs. My wife was already working, so that meant I would not be able to assist with day to day child needs, (day care) and a sick child staying home from school. TO me, the truckers life was just not worth the headaches. I do admire the truckers out there who work hard and are safe in what they do. I did drive professionally for 6 years, but it was only part of what I did for a living, and I was home most of the time. However, my salary was derived from my job, not the amount of hours or miles spent driving so I was lucky.

Think carefully and do take a look at videos posted on Youtube regarding beginner full time truck drivers. There are many videos posted there giving you an insiders perspective that is realtime without the fluff.

Good luck in whatever you decide, but I am thinking getting a good trade school education might be the best long term solution for your needs.

[GOPAPA]

There are lots of in the city driving trucks such as Beer .Soda and others , ,you need to know how to drive to start with ,,but there are driving schools and after you learn ,you will find that a lot of the stops trucks like this make are double parking in front of the taverns ,, that cant be to hard to do , ,you need a good back too.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

...you need a good back too.

Trust me, driving truck is eventually going to mess up your back no matter how good it is to begin with.

[PanelDeland]

Originally Posted by truckster

Trust me, driving truck is eventually going to mess up your back no matter how good it is to begin with.

And your marriage. If you're a bit older and settled into your marriage, maybe not but I don't recall ever meeting a Truck driver who wasn't divorced at least once and most 2-3 times. Local haul will be maybe what you make now or maybe more with OT and hardly worth it. I'm dodged that bullet but know it well since My dad and Stepdad were both drivers and both divorced at least twice.

[61_FL_Apache]

Do you have your Class A CDL license?

What kinda local hauling do you have up there? Logging, sand, rock.. Those would keep you home at night. What about a wrecker driver?

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

^^^ "You might also consider a trade school or an apprenticeship." ^^^

my thoughts exactly.....
local truck driving jobs are normally low paying..

UPS may be something to check into....I've heard they have good pay and benefits

The problem with UPS, you have to spend years loading trucks for the money he is making now before you ever drive a truck.. That's a coveted job there.

[harpo231]

It is difficult to jump right into a top paying job right away,, shop for benefits[a good company with vac.ins.and holidays will spend 20k a year in benefits] , shorter commute , perfect shift for your needs etc:

[mongocanfly]

well it may be different in different areas but a buddy of mines drives for UPS...it wasn't overnight success from loading to driving but I know he worked part time thru Christmas loading...he made a good impression...they hired him full time and about a year later he got a truck route....hes been driving now for several years and loves it...gotta start somewhere though

I went thru 2 different trade schools in different crafts and worked piddly jobs in what I trained for for about 10 yrs before a really good job came along..

[Coley]

If you drive a truck for a living...you will always be 'on the bubble' in hopes of actually getting ahead and its highly unlikely you will see any real financial return that allows you to turn your life forward for you and your family.
As a result, I seriously recommend considering a certified/ticketed trade....
You could do a lot of this prep in the evenings and it would take a couple of years unless you work to challenge any written exams....but...in 10, 15 or 20 years you will not regret it.
There are thousands of quality jobs out there that require certified technical skill, that are going unfilled....from mechanics, to carpenters, to electricians, HVAC (air conditioning, etc) technicians, etc, etc, etc.
There is an entire generation of young people who barely know a hammer from a screwdriver...and seem to have almost no real perception or interest in anything other than a digital job.....this is their loss.
This means there is opportunity for any man or woman who is willing to step in and learn the craft.
Many of these jobs, unlikely digital jobs, can not ever be outsourced to india or china....and as I said, they are going unfilled.
This is an opportunity......but you get what you give.....there is no 15 minute or 2 week training solution to financial success.
Quality skill and craft takes a little more time and a little more effort....but it pays back in spades and is worth the risk.

Good luck either way.
Coley

[flashed]

The Budweiser plant is not far from you and they are hiring .You may work part time for a long while before you go full time but the pay is good .

[PanelDeland]

Here's a suggestion if you can swing it. Industrial mechanics make decent money as do weldors. Both are trades taught at a lot of tech schools. It's pretty obvious what weldors do but maintenance Mechanics do a lot of different things and can jump up the $$ and work ladder quickly if they learn and build the skills to program PLC's and VFD's since a lot of newer equipment uses them, that and computer integration would make a skill set to keep you working for the rest of your years. Most of those schools offer night classes and the cost is much less than college. There are other trades taught but I'm most familiar with those.

[mongocanfly]

Coleys statement [There is an entire generation of young people who barely know a hammer from a screwdriver]
makes me think of the liberty mutual commercial...
is this a lugwrench?

[Desert_Eagle02]

For good pay it depends on what you want to do. Local driving or OTR (over the road). Do you have your CDL A? If not you are going to have to take the classes which cost money. Some company's will only accept new drivers from certain schools that can cost a couple thousand dollars. Of course they will accept experienced drivers. Or you can get your CDL A and work for lower wage to get experience to get into the bigger companies. There are a lot of factors that go into driving. It's not just a job. And certainly not a 9-5 weekends off job with great pay, unless you have many years under your belt and a good resume, and that also depends on what type of trucker job you have. In the end it all depends on what type of trucking you want to do, and if you are willing to commit to it.