"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/21/2018 at 19:42 • Filed to: None
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"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/21/2018 at 19:42 • Filed to: None | 0
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I feel like I’ve kind of reached a dead end job wise and have never really been able to stick with something long enough to get off the ground floor, but I’ve been considering getting a CDL in the next year or so. So if any of you truck professionally I’d be very interested to hear what it’s like as a career. I’ve heard the job outlook is good and I’ve also heard of people’s partners riding with them or even dogs, is that really a thing? I’ve also heard of predatory company leases, is it better to own your own truck then? I think I’d be interested in long haul trucking to satisfy my wanderlust/hatred of Chicago, but being away from my wife would be hard. So how’s trucking OPPO?
wafflesnfalafel
> Khalbali
06/21/2018 at 21:14 |
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My little brother did long haul for a number of years for a good sized carrier before his health got so bad he need to change careers. He really liked seeing bunches of different places around the country - we frequently got pics of wherever he was at . But it likely hastened his divorce as well...
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Khalbali
> wafflesnfalafel
06/21/2018 at 21:58 |
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Yeah I wouldn't even consider it if I couldn't bring my wife, but aside from each other we don't really have much friends or family so I don't think it would be too bad.
nermal
> Khalbali
06/21/2018 at 22:53 |
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Have you looked into hauling RVs? They’re all built in Indiana, and need shipped all over the country. You’ll need a diesel pickup for it. Margins are thin since a lot of trips are one-way.
I just checked and the current rate is $1.29 / mile. Figure $0.50 / mile for fuel and maintenance, $1k truck payment, and $300 insurance. I
f you drive 8000 loaded miles / month you’ll make $50k / yr.
So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
> Khalbali
06/22/2018 at 09:18 |
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My Step F ather is a trucker. Mostly gravel but he use to do long haul. I can tell you that most peoples wanderlust is gone after a year or 2 on the road. I you own your own truck you can bring the wife, a dog, whoever but just the heavy use road tax in IL is like $3k a year last time I checked so the taxes, insurance, fuel, and mainte nance costs are probably not something you would want to tackle right out of the gate . Bekins the moving company is always hiring but you sometimes end up helping to unload the stuff yourself because the movers don’t show and you have a schedule to keep so you may want to avoid movers.
If you are unsure if the time away will be too much you could look for a regular l onger distance route that would have you gone for something like 3 days, then home, then 3 days, ect. My Step-Dad hauled corn from just outside Milwaukee to Ann Arbor, MI and with loading and unloading it was a 2 day run each time so he would do 2-3 a week. The same route does get boring but it would be a way to try out the lifestyle and get some more predictable miles under your belt.
The best paying jobs he had were paving (hauling hot asphalt) because it requires you to dump the hot rock into the paver while moving along in tight spaces in coordination with the paving machine. It’s a skill. The down side is the work only lasts 7-8 months of the year and it’s 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week, but he got the winters off more or less.
That got a little long winded but I hope that helps.
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Khalbali
> nermal
06/22/2018 at 17:26 |
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I nteresting idea, hadn’t thought of that. Any idea where I start to find out more? I have a lot of questions lol.
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Khalbali
> So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
06/22/2018 at 17:27 |
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It does, thanks!
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nermal
> Khalbali
06/24/2018 at 22:54 |
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Here’s where I got the info:
https://horizontransport.co/tow-away-details/
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Khalbali
> nermal
06/25/2018 at 20:12 |
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Thanks for the info, it’s definitely something I’m looking into, trucks are just expensive lol, even a base 3/4 ton work truck is 50k msrp now with a diesel. I saw 2 rams hauling RVs on 90 West today though so it’s definitely a thing.