Yeah... I know....

There was a time. back when I was young... I liked the Navy Uniform....

Then, they gave me one.....

A lot of guys seem to think that driving a truck will keep their income going. Then, they get into a truck and learn the truth. With all the drivers that are finding themselves out of work, this industry isn't doing much better than anyone else.

 

i know around here in jersey desiel mechanics is always in the paper or online. pay its pretty respectable too. as for driving jobs. very slim. with no exp. non existant

 

Here's a option you might consider.

I would think about Job Corps. It's not the military, and the age you can join is 16-24. They would give you food and shelter, but most importantly, FREE training in a trade that you like. Graduate from the trade training with high enough scores, and they will continue your training with 2 years of college for FREE.....

Now I realize that most people look negatively toward job corps...but my son is going thru it now, and he will take all of the free training he can.

The down side is they don't pay you worth a crap. The up side is that it's FREE!!!!

Welcome to Job Corps

http://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/benefits/careers.aspx (this part of their site is the different careers...including heavy truck driving???)

In this economy, there are alot of people who would have taken advantage of this if they knew....sadly, it's not well advertised.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

If you're seriously considering going into trucking, just make sure you think about why you're going into it.

When I first decided to obtain my CDL, I was 21 and knew that my social-ackwardness was making it hard for me to fit in anywhere it was necessary for career-survival.
I would usually be the guy that would not talk to anyone in class, or engage in "get-to-knows" at a party.
Seeing as how most jobs with degree-requirements meant for you to be diplomatic and formal in all aspects of work, I quickly lost interest.
Not to mention after three years of attempting college, I only pulled in 30 units after attempting 80 over those years.
Then there was also the aspect of wanting to really, get out on my own in whatever form possible.

The first time I got my CDL, it was with a team-oriented company and I quickly found I did not like that.

Two years later, I found my niche with Swift as a solo-OTR and enjoyed every, single minute of it up until I was done dirty on the 70 near Richfield, UT.

So, the key thing from me would be to get yourself in there, then find the niche of the industry that suits you best.

 

As intelligent as this young man sounds.... I would suggest to him that he get with a military recruiter, the branch of his choice, take some vocational aptitude tests, join, and who knows, he may even qualify for OCS or a WOC program.... but in any event it will give him time to figure out what he really wants to do, he can go to school while he's in, and also get the new GI Bill and get his college degree.

Who knows, he may even like the service and make it a career. The pay is better in the long run, the benefits are good, and the retirement beats the crap out of 401k's....

 

So you think the OP will ever come back to see his topic and post???

 

Who knows.
I've read threads from guys, looking for work in this industry, or what have ya. They have a few posts, and then you don't see hide nor hair of them.