I think I have decided on a new career!!!!!!!!!!

[DalesCarpentry]

I think I have decided on a new career!!!!!!!!! I have been a carpenter for 23 years now. I have had my own thing going for about 6 years now but I am a one man band. Except for my wife when she can give me a few hours. The economy is bad and I am having a real hard time selling any work in my area. I have very serious back problems so I am somewhat limited to what I can do. Well I think I have decided to drive a truck. I can start training on 3-17 or 3-24. I told the guy I would have to wait till the 24TH because my daughter's birthday is on the 20TH. I had to lie a little say I could lift 60 pounds many times and carry it 53 feet. I could not do this all day long every day but I can do it for shot periods. If need be. They claim that their cargo is 85% touch free. It is the other 15% I am worried about. I really can't see it being any worse than I am doing now as far as labor goes. The way I figure it most times they would have a pallet jack to unload a truck. I don't know this is a big step and right now $40,000 a year sounds good compared to what I have made the last couple years. Did I mention I am 41 years!!!!!!!! I would love to hook up with a company here local and do trim work. I am a trimming fool and I am good at what I do but things are real slow and we are even having problems eating now. I would have to go to Indiana for three weeks for training. I have to come up with the money just to get there and eat for three weeks. I don't know, what do you guy's think. I sure as hell am not supporting my family now. I think I need to take a chance. Dale

[Siskiyou]

Dale,

You might want to think about it a little, I realize that some outfits have big rigs with good seats but others do not.  Driving a truck can beat you to death.  Most people in passenger cars avoid the slow lane on a freeway because of the beating they take.  Think about being restricted to that lane for much of you travels in heavily suspend truck. 

You might see if you can arrange a ride along and see how you handle it before investing a lot of cash.

The crashing economy is also affecting drivers because there are fewer loads being hauled.  A number of independents are folding because they cannot get loads and the Repo Man is having an easy day at truck stops.  The situation is rapidly declining in what was a high demand market.  The experienced independent driver who loses his truck will get the call from the big companies.

When it comes to truck driving schools I suggest buyer beware.  Remember the guy who is selling you the training makes his living off of selling you on the school.

I am not trying to discourage you, but just providing a little information.  It might be a perfect fit for you.  Remember driving down the freeway is easy, but once you get on to City streets in can be a tough fit. 

[DalesCarpentry]

Dale,

You might want to think about it a little, I realize that some outfits have big rigs with good seats but others do not.  Driving a truck can beat you to death.  Most people in passenger cars avoid the slow lane on a freeway because of the beating they take.  Think about being restricted to that lane for much of you travels in heavily suspend truck. 

You might see if you can arrange a ride along and see how you handle it before investing a lot of cash.

The crashing economy is also affecting drivers because there are fewer loads being hauled.  A number of independents are folding because they cannot get loads and the Repo Man is having an easy day at truck stops.  The situation is rapidly declining in what was a high demand market.  The experienced independent driver who loses his truck will get the call from the big companies.

When it comes to truck driving schools I suggest buyer beware.  Remember the guy who is selling you the training makes his living off of selling you on the school.

I am not trying to discourage you, but just providing a little information.  It might be a perfect fit for you.  Remember driving down the freeway is easy, but once you get on to City streets in can be a tough fit. 

Yes I have been thinking about this for close to a year now. My wife is none to happy but on the other hand she knows we need to make some money. Dale

[zombiewolf]

Hey,Dale...

I'm with ya man.
I'm a carpenter too,but I aint had one of those "cushy" trim jobs for awhile now either!
I thought about the driving thing too.(there are a lot of opportunities in my area)
But I have two cousins that drive, one had a hip replaced,and the other had disks fused!
I already have a bad hip so,I ended up thinking the better of it.
All that inactivity is hard for me to take anyway.
The money thing I understand though.
All that time away from the wife could be risky for you right now, from what I have read.

Good luck on your decision! 

[30-06man]

Dale you won't make any money doing this. I have my CDL's and I do drive some from job site to job site and I am currently working in the mountains and I hate driving. These companies are going to put you in their worst trucks and you have to sign a contract to work for them for very little money just to pay for them to send you to school. You will need all a bunch of certifications and you will need these depending on what you haul. You will make very little and have no time at home. Their off time is sitting in your truck at a stop in some town that you don't know and will have to be in the back of the truck for your off time for sleep or else you are not sleeping and if you are just stopped for the night after you leave your truck for supplies this is still not off time and you have to sleep a certain amount of time. I doubt you will make more than you do now and you will be away from your family for long amounts of time. To make  decent money such as $900 every two weeks or so you may see your family 2 days out of the whole month. Dale I suggest you to look into other jobs or at least get your business of the ground more. I drive some and I work with Heavy Equipment and that's were I have been for a while but I have been local.

[d_hiker]

In our area there are a couple of the junior colleges that have truck driving classes.  You might check your area and ask to talk with a staff member to see what opportunities are available.  Also, they might be able to tell you their placement rate with companies.  One of my sons did a similar thing with the heating and cooling trade.

[DalesCarpentry]

When I do work I can make between $700 and $1,000 a  week easy but for a long time now it has not been that way. We are literally about to starve here. I can't can't take waiting around the house for someone to call me for a job anymore. I have called about everyone I know and everyone is slow and can not even use me for a couple days. I have a buddy that is going to do a Cedar sidding job and I am in on it with him but he is going wait for the weather to warm up to at least 40 degrees. At this time of year we might reach 40 one day every week. The rest of the days start at 18 to 20 degrees. When he does decide to do it I will make $1,000 that week. I also have some work waiting till spring. It is funny how people don't want you working around their house when it is cold. I really can't wait any longer. Dale

[Don Fischer]

Dale, I drove trucks for 30 yrs, 49 states and Canada. Take my advice, don't do it! You will give up your life to drive one, you'll be hassled by cops' you'll be hassled by the DOT and you'll have to lie all you can just to make a living. Keep your family, don't do it! It will be the bigggest mistake you ever made.

[bubba]

As a person who drove for quite a few years I am with you Dale. You have to do what you have to do to feed your family.  I have followed some of your recent posts and I am glad to see you are pulling yourself up by the boot straps and trying to do something to get you and your family going.  Are you going to a driving school, or for a company with on the job training?  I fit is a school lots of times they help with job placement.  Even if you do not do this full time, you will still have the license which opens doors for you.  It is not all glory, it is hard work no doubt, but it is work.  I for one say go for it.  Everyone you ask will have an opinion, however the bottom line is it is up to you. 

[Doublebass73]

I have a CDL B and drove for the first 8 years of my working career. Had a beer delivery route, delivered home heating oil and propane also.
These jobs beat the crap out of my body and I have back and neck problems because of doing them.

That being said I do wish you luck and I do miss driving once in a while. It's nice not having a boss loking over your shoulder. I ended up going to tech school and became an electronics technician.
It's much easier on my body and I make more money doing it. I ALWAYS renew my CDL whenever I have to renew my driver's license. It's a good fall back in case I were to ever get laid off.

I recommend trying to find a local delivery job rather than OTR. It's nice to come home every night and being away from home that long will get old fast. You can always go back to carpentry when the housing market improves.

[Hairtrigger]

85% touch free
Think of it this way.
30,000lbs of cargo *.15 = 4500lbs per truck average HANDS ON

[williamlayton]

You do what you must and put it all in the hands of the Lord.
Blessings

[Questor]

I agree with WilliamLayton. If it's your best option, then you just need to do what you have to do. Good luck.

[PartsMan]

I have found that supporting my family is reward enough.
I can do what I want on my days off.
Never said I wanted to be a parts man.
It's an check every week for honest weeks work.
That's what you need to pay bills.

If truck driving is all you can find do it.

[myronman3]

the last 3 responses are good ones.  another said...

You have to do what you have to do to feed your family.

which is also great advise.   


 

it's much easier on my body and I make more money doing it. I ALWAYS renew my CDL whenever I have to renew my driver's license. It's a good fall back in case I were to ever get laid off.

 
i do the same thing, it is my backup plan.  i,ve done it before to get through tough times. 

When it comes to truck driving schools I suggest buyer beware.  Remember the guy who is selling you the training makes his living off of selling you on the school.

also sage advise.   stick with the bigger companies that are going to pay for your training, i feel they are more legitimate and on the up and up.  also,  if you take a driving job,  use time home to search vigorously for a better job.  best of luck to you.

[ms]

Dale save your money don't do it . If you want to drive go on fedex web sight drive one of the little white trucks. You will be home every night .

[DalesCarpentry]

This company will pay for my school. I also have to sign a one year contract to drive for them. One worry I had was my perscription pain meds for my back. I take Vicodin and it looks like it only stays in your system for 5 to 7 days so if I stop taking my pain meds 10 to 12 days before the drug test I should be ok. Dale

[rex6666]

Dale
I drove for 12years, and loved it but that was in the 60s-70s things are dif. now
If you want to drive, get in touch with J.B. Hunt trucking or some one like them, watch on the
hwy write down # for hunt can't remember some of the others tey have their on driver training
and put you to work after. don't know what some of these guys are talking about but it sounds
more like route sales than truck driving. 30k a year is fairly common, but you will be gone a lot.
I was lucky to get into truck and trailer sales in 1980, so i talk to drivers and co. on a daily basis.
Will come up with some other places. A driver training school is the last place you want to go.
J.B. Hunt gets paid by the Gov. to train drivers, so you get paid while you train. they are one of, if not the biggest trucking co in the US.
If you can get on with fed-x, that would be good, but it think that is going to be hard.

[PartsMan]

One worry I had was my perscription pain meds for my back. I take Vicodin and it looks like it only stays in your system for 5 to 7 days so if I stop taking my pain meds 10 to 12 days before the drug test I should be ok. Dale

I don't think you should mix Vicodin and heavy trucks.
If you keep it a secret and they find out you may get fired and owe for the schooling.

[rex6666]

Federal law says you can take any precption drug that does not impare you thinking or movement

[Siskiyou]

23152.  (a) It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence
of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence
of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.

23153.  (a) It is unlawful for any person, while under the influence
of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence
of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle and
concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed
by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately

The California Highway Patrol and the District Attorneys have made it clear that drivers operation under the “influence of prescription drugs or over counter drugs” will be prosecuted.  Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a prescription narcotic is not a defense.  There are many prescription medications that are not narcotic or cause drowsiness.

“This company will pay for my school. I also have to sign a one-year contract to drive for them. One worry I had was my prescription pain meds for my back. I take Vicodin and it looks like it only stays in your system for 5 to 7 days so if I stop taking my pain meds 10 to 12 days before the drug test I should be ok. Dale”

1.   Do not be naive when it comes to drug testing.  In the job I retired from the standard was that you had to be at the drug testing location within two hours of notification.  In a post retirement driving job, the company tester would contact the driver on the road without notification.  The driver would be given a breathalyzer test, and provide a urine simple.  There was no putting it off for a week to get the drugs out of ones system.  Frankly the company was more worried about the insurance company than DOT.

Federal money has been going to the States for special enforcement of trucking violations.  Most truckers are safe drivers but the problem is that the energy produced by the monster they are driving normally results in a death if an accident happens on the road.  The result is a lot of trucks are being stopped, the equipment and log books inspected and some drivers are being hauled to jail for being under the influence.

I am guessing your back is not going to hold up when you arrive at a warehouse with a load and they point out to you that the load is not delivered until “you” unloaded it.

[quickdtoo]

Dale, that would be very irresponsible of you and illegal in many if not most states to drive while taking prescription drugs of that nature. It would be no different than driving drunk and you should be well aware of how many people are killed/injured by drunk drivers.

Please think about this before you commit to the training and new career.

Tim

http://www.nsc.org/issues/drugimpaireddriving/index.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/460765/facts_about_driving_under_the_influence.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/driving.html

[DalesCarpentry]

Did you guys not get the part about me stop taking my pain meds. Dale

[Don Fischer]

I have written this post and deleted it several times now. Your 41 and have a family and a bad back. There has to be another way. If your lucky, your pain meds will disqualify you. I don't know what entry level pay is any more but I doubt you'll make 40k per year starting. At .40 per mi you'd have to drive 100k per year. Not a big thing to do unless you want to do it legally. Now there is legal and the appearence of leagl. Creative loging gives the appearence of legal. Nobody will look that deep unless your in a wreak or get pulled into an inspection facility. You either log creatively or don't make money.

Driving trucks is not a job, its a life style.

[moxgrove]

Dale, can you sit in one position with your back?  I know you said you were going to go off the Vicodin for the test, but can you do it long term?  I am not against you doing it, Do you drive long distances now without a break? If you do and it's no problem. then I say go for it. One thing to remember is that if you falsify the application, the company can fire you at any time and if you further injure yourself, their lawyers would have an easy time denying you any comp or benefits. You might want to check out you state's jobs and training website and see if they might be able to help you with a new career. Healthcare is a good field. there are a lot of options. As a nurse it isn't hard to earn a lot more than 40k a year. I work 12 hour days, but it also isn't as physically demanding as construction.

[beemanbeme]

Male nurses are in great demand and many (most) hospitals will pay for your training.  There, of course, is an employment contract involved.
Sitting in a fixed position is hard on your back. The constant vibrations of driving is hard on your back. As posted, one failed drug test and you're out the door and since you had a prior existing condition, no bennies and the company has no liability since you lied. Don't think you're the first one to think this ploy up.
Vicadin, isn't that one of the ones that say: " don't drive or operate machinery while using"? 

[30-06man]

Did you guys not get the part about me stop taking my pain meds. Dale

Hell Dale you can't take any medication when driving and can't have any in your truck unless you have a note from a doctor. You defiantly cannot take any  pain pills at all. You will make about as much as working at Lowe's or Home Depot. I would say it is stupid to go to any driving schools that you have to sign a contract with. If someone in your family is down and bad sick you can't be there and you have NO days off and may work on all Holidays. It won't work and they will con you into it and out of it if they can just to screw you over. I keep my CDL's as back up and I use them also. I know 2 guys who lost their CDL's for powered candy and BC Power aspirin because they looked like cocaine. Its stupid.

[DalesCarpentry]

30-06 Man. I really don't see how. I know 2 guys who lost their CDL's for powered candy and BC Power aspirin because they looked like cocaine. Its stupid. I would think that the state police would test the substance and if I were them I would have demanded it. As far as my pain meds go I have not been off of them in sometime and will have to see if I can deal with the pain. I might be able to if I am not climbing 40' ladders and throwing heavy lumber and plywood all day long as I do now. Dale

[Heavy C]

You do what you must and put it all in the hands of the Lord.
Blessings

+1

Dale I believe you're selling yourself short on what else you can do, and you're over-estimating what you'll be able to do in your physical condition.  As someone else mentioned, nurses are in high demand.  It would be worth looking into going to school for nursing.  Finance it with student loans.  You can get enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees as well as help offset your living expenses.  As far as the loans go, think of it as an investment.  The salaries and signing bonuses being offered in this field are bordering on ridiculous. 

At the end of the day it won't matter what we all have to say about it.  You have to do what you have to do.  I wish you the very best of luck and God's blessings.

Chuck

[victorcharlie]

The local news ran a story about an independent operator..........seems the price of fuel and such dropped his pay from $55,000 the year before last to $11,000 last year.

He's parked his rig.......

I worked 18 months in the Chinese oil fields many years ago......it was very hard on my relationship.......I suspect truck driving would put you away from home for prolonged periods of time.......

If you value your relationship with your wife then you might consider how never being home would affect that relationship.

Money comes and goes.....people come and go......things of this world never last.....so don't allow things of this world to break your spirit.  Keep the faith.......

In the mean time........find something....even if its a job for a couple of hundred a week.......you'll feel better about your situation and my guess is in a few months another better job will come along......

Success isn't in playing a good hand well.....but rather it's playing a poor hand good.......