I can retire from my present job of 28 plus years. I want to do another 10 years or so of driving a Semi. I know that some guys do this, does this seem nuts to you or is this something somewhat down to earth. I make a nice living doing what I am doing now, 40 hours a week Mon-Fri.
26 days of vacation a year and many paid holidays. Just the same I hate it. Tell me what you think?

 

A little "history" of yourself would be helpful. Married/Single/Kids etc. What does family think? Are you financial stable? What career are you retiring from? Would it be worth a financial change?
Yes, alot retire from a previous career and go into trucking. Dont know if its right for you or not. This is something you and your family must decide on.

 

Kids all grown and moved on. Many grandkids. Mrs says okay. I worked in a job no way related to trucking. does that help.

 

I'm in a similar situation. All I have ever wanted to do is drive a truck. My dad was a multiple o/o and so are my brothers.

I want to start OTR to gain the experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

Stay at the job you have now.

 

If it's something you want to do and you have your wifes support ,go for it. I worked at a job --A really good job with all the perks including job security ( unless the place closed ) but the last couple of years I was there the challenge wasn't there and started to really hate going . I always wanted to drive otr but it was not an option when the kids were still young, but a year ago I got a decent otr job and I'm still at it . There are days though I wonder what the #%! did I do but over all I like what i'm doing ,almost every day a new challenge. what is good is that my wife can come with me whenever she wants when she can get 5 days in a row off .I could repeat all the ugly and bad things along with the good but only you can decide what's right for you. If you do go for it and find it's for you, great , if not , you can always try something else. we're never to old to move on to something else.Good luck on whatever you decide, read what the na sayers say but don't base your overall descion on them

 

Mackman....Do you like truckin'??? From what Ive read you seem to. Also if I remember you are very young and only know truckin' and its your only perpective. Reference: "Mackman needs advise" Dont presume to tell another to stay in their current job, if they are ready to retire from it capable of a "second" career doing something they may actually enjoy.
Youve been drinking to much of CFM's "cool aid".

 

If your ready to semi retire (sorry, couldn't help it) truckin may be the way to go, BUT be prepared, start looking around this site and make a list of questions and you'll find most have allready been asked and ansewered.
Hows the family REALLY going to take you being away for 2 weeks or more? Thats a big one (it's easy to say we can handle it) Also how are you going to feel when you miss the grandkids birthday and the 4 of July picnic ect?? It can get real lonely out there
Your pay will not be what your used to and alot of co. don't pay for holidays either.
If you can handle that for at least a year then you stand a much better chance of a local or even a part time gig. Jobs are like women you just have to keep looking till you find the right one

 

You are right i do like truckin and it is all i know. 4th gen. driver in my family of all O/O. But it sounds like he has a nice job. 40hrs a week. all that vac. time. He wont get that in truckin. If he can live with the job he has now i think he should stick it out. But if he really really hates it then i guess he has to do something.

 

I did the same thing......Kind of.....After 31 years in the Painters Union,earning $30 per hour plus the last few years,I made the switch...

My main motivation was $$$ and my pension,though...My wifes job offered her the opportunity to head up a new office in Colorado,where we'd wanted to return after a 25 year absence,the last 2 in Las Vegas,which we both hated....

Once moved,I contacted the Union Hall in Denver to "clear in" and learned the scale here is $17.10 per hour,little more than half what I'd been making,and all the work was in or near Denver,over 150 miles from where we lived,near Aspen..

The kicker was the pension....I'd been putting in $5.25 an hour and here was (is) $1.45.....The rate you contribute the last year worked carries all the way back for you,affecting the amount I'd recieve each month.....I couldn't take that hit...

I got the CDL and went OTR long enough to know I didn't like it,actually longer,and long enough to get a local run that has me home every night and weekends....

It worked out good for me...I run from Grand Junction to Denver and back 3 days a week,40k a year,and will start my pension in November,at 55..

No more painting....No more trucking....

I hope your circumstances work out for you as well as mine did......Good luck......