It’s December and they are again saying it will only be three weeks.
We were open for 2 weeks when I went back to work, but then we closed again.
I can move to another state like Texas, try continuing at least one of the jobs I know they have there. Or I was thinking of getting a CDL Lisence and driving for at least a year and hoping we get back to normal.
The only thing with being a truck driver, is I know I will hate it for a while. But at this point I need to make money.
Interested in becoming a truck driver myself I just don't wanna leave my wife though. We're only 26
I’m single so that wouldn’t be a problem.
Take her with you and get rid of your apartment once you can afford your own truck. Sell everything else and try to limit your reoccurring bills.
If you know you will hate it, you won't last a month. The turnover in the industry, especially the first year, is beyond insane. Like in the 70 to 90% range. 30%ish quit in the first couple months.
...and most of these people want to like the job.
Also, first year can be hard to make money as you do not know the freight lines and your dispatcher will screw you on loads until you know what you are doing.
Trust me. If you think it is not for you, then it is really not for you.
Btw, I am a truck driver. I love my job. Absolutely love it. First year was hell, but I got through it. By the end of 2 years, I only knew of 5 people left from my 90+ person starting group. Most I had talked to left the industry entirely.
Damn. My dad drove for twenty years, and he said the first year he hated it until he finally got use to it. I was hoping I could do the same.
This is interesting. I'm not a trucker, but I had a job that involved me being behind a wheel for 6-10 hours a day. I had the same experience where hated every moment for the first 6 months to a year, but then it's like you just learn to zone out to it, and it ends up being not that bad. It was sort of like meditation, and it sort if becomes your thing.
Sounds like that first year hump is what gets people.
That is exactly what it is. First year is hell. Full stop.
Get past that (with a safe and clean record), learn your stuff, well.. I love my life.
It is possible that you could, but this is a job that I would never suggest someone go into if they know they will not like it. You have to be stubborn and driven (no pun intended) to pull yourself through. Most don't.
I mean you can always try it, since you have nothing else to do. Don't let him discourage you, worst case scenario you make a few bucks and go back to the drawing board. Worst case you keep sitting around for a reopening that's not coming. If there's things you'd prefer to do try those first but trucking is always hiring and the money is good, you get to travel and a lot of people like the peace of the open road. This is America, you are free to do as you please.
Can you explain to me what you mean by: "Also, first year can be hard to make money as you do not know the freight lines and your dispatcher will screw you on loads until you know what you are doing."
I'm just curious.
Not all loads are created equal. Some are a lot more hassle to get loaded up and you don't get paid by the hour, you get paid by the mile.
Stuff like that. My step father is a trucker and I have never seen anyone complain more about what they do.
Mandatory stops, mandatory speed limits, waiting for loads, waiting to unload, you name it. You only get paid when you are moving and it seems like everything is conspiring against you doing just that some days.
Thanks!
Glad to. I am going to base my reply on the reefer (refrigerated trailers) hauling as I am most familiar with that. Keep in mind this is when your earnings are paid by the load, not by the mile.
The country is broken up in certain areas. Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, ect...
If you run loads from mid west to east, you get paid more as you are going from a lower population density to a higher one. Since there are fewer trucks in the midwest compared to outgoing freight, there is less competition for loads so they pay more.
Going from east to midwest you get paid less. More trucks are there compared to outgoing freight. Many of us hate running the east and want out, so competition for loads is higher. They pay less. Sometimes less than it costs to run the truck. Why do it then? To try to get a good load going back.
If you stay within the different zones within the north east... Within the midwest... you have short runs, which means more unpaid time worked and cut off your legal clock at shippers and receivers. More time wasted waiting for loads. It does, however pay more overall than going from zone to zone
Aside from that, different types of loads pay more.
Meat loads pay well, they are mostly in the midwest. Juice loads are heavy and annoying and do not pay much.
You have to accept your loads based, not only on what that load is paying, but where it will take you and what loads come out of that area.
A dispatcher will take advantage of someone by sending them a low paying load east to midwest but then have them run a low paying product run from midwest back to east making the whole thing barely break even. They will save the highest paying loads for people they like or who push back on them when it comes to undesirable loads. They will take advantage in other ways also, but this is a good example.
Did I answer your question?
If you long haul and are smart and efficient you can make 6 figures easily but you will be living in your truck 3 weeks a month or so.
I would say it's kind of a hard life for most people and eating at truck stops or whatever gets old fast too and expensive.
Then when you are home you busy doing laundry and stocking up your truck and whatever you really have very little time to yourself. It's kind of a lonely existence unless you have a family and then you are just missing them a lot.
Depends on the type of work you do and the hours you put in. A trucker's legal max work week is 70 hours. Not all of it is driving time. Also, much of the time you do not get paid for the many hours that you work that are not behind the wheel driving. You also may not get paid your actual miles. Some companies pay estimated zip code to zip code miles. That can often be 10% off. Never in the driver's favour Most companies aim to use that entire 70 hours.
If you work under a company, you get paid by the mile. .40 to .50ish is starting.
Many companies will govern the truck around the 65mph mark, so that cuts into how much you can make per hour. That is why trucks can be going so slow on interstates with high speed limits.
Going company to start out is safest, money wise. You are stuck doing every job you are given. Don't want to go to Chicago? If you are company, you are doing it anyway.
Maybe 50k take home +- 10k depending on what type of freight you haul.
But keep in mind, you are also spending more to live out on the road, and you are paying all the bills back home.
If you lease a truck, you can make 3 to 3.5k a week, but you have to subtract 1.5k to 2k per week (even when you are on vacation or broken down, so yes, a negative check.) You have more freedom as a lease driver, but if you do not know your freight line and are not willing to stand up for yourself, you can easily go a month without making anything.
I did this for a while. The truck they leased me broke down multiple times, and I paid them for weeks for me to have the honor of working for them to make up the negative check from it being in the shop.
If you know what you are doing, 75 to 100k... also more tax breaks.
If you own your own truck. You are your own boss. You do not have the large weekly cost, you still have insurance and fuel and repairs. You also have more choice of higher paying jobs.
Some places, however, require trucks that are under 5 years old. Some places have specific specs you have to have.
Want to buy a truck.
20 to 30k for an older truck that large fleets will not accept. Also no warranty and high likelihood of breakdown.
60 to 80k for a <5 year old fleet truck. May still have warranty on it.
130 to 180k for a decent new truck. Comes with a warranty.
You want a warranty.
I cannot give you an estimate on owner operator pay as it had a lot of variables, but it can get pretty high if you are in the right parts of the industry.
Does that answer your question?
Same was working 50 hours a week and now I have to check on my boss to see if he didn't hurt himself. Had to sell his restaurant.
Move to Nevada and hire on at the Gigafactory, they’ll hire anyone with a pulse right now and that place is immune to lockdowns because Elon doesn’t fuck around.
tesla is building a factory about 15 or 20mins from Austin also
Yeah, I’ll probably spend a few years working out of that place when it gets up and going.
Gigafactory is invincible. It is officially confirmed.
I was planning on putting my stuff in storage.
Did someone say yard sale?
Reno has a shitton of new businesses going up becouse California is going full Commie...
i drove over the road for almoast 8 years for several carriers....demand is insane pay is realy good especially if your willing to drive team.you can make 1,500 solo with some experiance...however all carriers are different some suck and leave you sitting! Very Lonely! but the pay is killer right now just make sure they guarantee to keep you moving or only accept a dedicated route
There's a lot of places hiring in AZ right now but be warned, we've got a piss poor attitude about people from CA.
A Pede refugee would certainly be welcomed.
There's a huge plant going in down by Casa Grande, electric cars I believe. Summers suck but rents affordable down there.
117F. You hide out in the summer just like northerners hide out in the winter.
We gain weight in the summer and lose it in the winter.
Truck drivers will always have work.
What’s your background pede? I’m in CA. Let us help you.
What do you do for a living? What skills do you have. Some pedes might be looking to hire a patriot with some skills.
Hang in there.
You have to have a skill you can do from your computer
See if there is something you can do on Upwork or a similar online service platform.
You can get through this!
OTR is tough As the other have said. Talked to lots of truckers and the issues are always long hours / loneliness / depression (usually from the solitude and lots of OTR drivers gain a lot of weight because of the poor food options and the lack of activity. So make sure you’re taking care of yourself if you do go that route.)
God speed, Pede!
if only you're non white there's many diversity jobs open esp if you're a blm fan :)
I would have been a good trucker. I love traveling. They are probably really in demand too
Do something, I'm headed to Texas very soon.
Kind of held back with current lease, but won't be here any longer than June.
I recommend security guard. So far I've had luck with them. Fell asleep in their hour long required racism and sexual training bullshit but once you get passed that you are good. Depending on your location you more than likely will be alone. So mask off when you are in.
If you can, military and then move out of that shit hole
Move to Texas and become a Truck driver. Nothing good can come from living in CA.
Move to a non Communist state that isn't a statewide gulag.
Same boat I'm in.
Try going to Texas or somewhere in the West (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) or South for cheaper living.
Move out of California if you can.
I live in New York and if I could move away I would.
I never thought I’d hate New York but the City is DEAD and you can already tell it’s NOT coming back.
How do I know? Born in Manhattan and lived in Bronx my entire life. I kinda know the City.
Run if you can - and god bless if you have that as an option!
fight the commies!
I'm sorry you're in this position. Hopefully you will get back to work soon. Good luck!
Don't go to Texas. Californians moving there from their shithole and turning it into a neo-california. Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Wyoming the best for republicans. Especially Wyoming
Dude, just effing leave California. Stop waiting for it to get better. Its liberal swamp, LEAVE!
Try Williston ND or Sidney MT! I worked up there for 6 years after highschool. You can make 150k+ easily with a CDL and a Hazmat or just a CDL. Colder than a witches tit 6 months of the year and not a great choice for a family man. But, talk about a place filled with pedes
Texas is great. Get out of CA!
You can thank all of us for your situation.
We didn't, and are still not, standing up to the bullshit. We allowed this. I am sorry.
We are surrendering while pretending we are not. It's scary. Trump can't save us, only we THE PEOPLE can