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Considering a career change, any cdl drivers in here?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Wahayes, Jul 21, 2021.

  1. Jul 21, 2021 at 6:45 PM
    #31
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I don't mind , I'm in utah
     
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  2. Jul 21, 2021 at 7:01 PM
    #32
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    I'll share my thoughts as someone that used to mamage drivers and has worked in supply chain for 10 years. Driving can be a hard job but there is a huge shortage as previously stated. Once you get some experience you could have your pick of any driving job you want(I assume). Job security is a plus right now. UPS is probably the best but it's highly competitive. My step dad drove for UPS for over 40 years and made good money with a great pension.

    Downsides for the job can be pretty bad though. One thing to consider is your health. I have a friend that drives and in his first few years behind the wheel he gained 80lbs. Most of the drivers that I worked with were in really poor health. Truck stop food and sitting still all day is horrible for us. Because of this, many trucking companies have bad benefits including really expensive healthcare premiums.

    Overall it could be a job you love or you hate. You may not know until you get into it. If you have more questions let me know.
     
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  3. Jul 21, 2021 at 7:23 PM
    #33
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yea pretty much the same rule when I was riding motorcycles haha
     
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  4. Jul 21, 2021 at 7:24 PM
    #34
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    This is exactly what I wanted to hear. We have saia and old dominion both based out of slc
     
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  5. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:21 PM
    #35
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Your location will dictate whether or not you wanna pursue trucking. The bigger the city the better your chances are of walking into local work.

    In a tractor/trailer anyways.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2021
  6. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:36 PM
    #36
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    325/60r20 falken at3w, 2.25 dobinsons ,20x9 +20 fuel torque wheels, leer xr100, bmc
    I live right outside of salt lake valley, no shortage here of local jobs on indeed it does t seem. Salt Lake Valley is pretty much the business hub for all of utah
     
  7. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:54 PM
    #37
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    It doesn't pay enough for the stress and knowing you're on the hook for any mistakes or issues with the load. You'll take orders from asswipes that don't know the job, the trucks, or the realities of the job. They'll look at a route on Google maps and think that's how long it'll take. They'll expect you to abide by all the DOT rules, but still get a workload done that isn't realistic in the restricted hours.

    Just my experience with driving. Driving the trucks is a kick, for sure. Slinging through 18 gears rolling a big old truck is fun, but everything else kinda sucked.
     
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  8. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:58 PM
    #38
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Cant ask for a better location. SLC also supports alot of freight running up and down the entire I-15 corridor. I-80 is also supported by SLC.

    I see you want local work. Working holidays an issue?
    When you get into trucking,you wanna get into freight thats not affected by the economy. This is what I did.
     
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  9. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:05 PM
    #39
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    How long you sling 18 gears for? What did you haul? Just curious.:D
     
  10. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:06 PM
    #40
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Honestly I could care less about holidays these days. Sure they would be nice but not required. Also helps that we don't have huge family holidays, my mom and dad are both in nursing homes, her parents live in Texas. I've discussed with my wife and we both just want me to be happy.
     
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  11. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:08 PM
    #41
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Did it for three years before lucking into a job that was a 50% pay bump after 6 months. Drove for a telecom company delivering everything used for cellular sites everywhere from towns and cities to the tops of mountains. $22 an hour wasn't worth working for the garbage manager.
     
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  12. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:09 PM
    #42
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Mostly did class B straight trucks, but did some class A as well. Oversize loads pretty regularly too.
     
  13. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:14 PM
    #43
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    20180702_111852.jpg 20180702_111844.jpg

    Drove this a lot toward the end of it. It'd be loaded up with reels of fiber optic conduit that got plowed in all over the state of WY.
     
  14. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:18 PM
    #44
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    @Wahayes for all my whining there, I do keep my CDL current as a fall back option.
     
  15. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:32 PM
    #45
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Everything @AzureNightmare
    said in post #38 is true. I would say this goes for 98% of the trucking industry.

    If you decide to truck go in with both feet! The goal is to be part of that 2%.
    Nothing wrong with being part of the 98%. If you can put up with the BS! I cant handle BS so I got into hauling cryogenic liquids which is hazmat. I wouldnt go back to hauling general freight. Some people wont touch hazmat. Thats somethong you'll have to give some thought.

    As far as ELD's,they dont bother me. Ive done paper logs too. I prefer ELD.
     
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  16. Jul 21, 2021 at 10:58 PM
    #46
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Come out here with me.....
    Where everydays a holiday and every meals a picnic. :D
     
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  17. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:04 PM
    #47
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Tempting, but I never did get my hazmat. My employer abused anyone with it.

    Besides, I essentially work 6 months of the year, make $33+ an hour, and have a 3 mile commute. :burp:
     
    GNTundra[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:16 PM
    #48
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Its not for everyone. Truckings not a job its a lifestyle. I cant imagine doin anything else.I work 7 days and off 2 at home. Work 9.5 months a year.


    I can transfer out of this division anytime and be home everynight.
    Not happening though :D
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2021
    GODZILLA[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:25 PM
    #49
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I figure I may just get my cdl if nothing else for this very reason. Finance /banking has been a non stop layoff factory ever since the first recession in 2008. I got into the industry in 06, and aside from that first year I think I have feared the layoffs ever since. I actually dodged a layoff in 2011 when my dept closed 2 months after I left the company.
     
  20. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:30 PM
    #50
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Post 38 doesn't bother me. Tbh most of the same can be said about my current current job. Our leadership doesn't understand my employees job on an operational level, they don't ask Frontline and mid level managers for solutions to problems and so you end up with upper management knowing nothing about the Frontline job passing down rules and demands that make no sense , and leave mid and Frontline managers to figure out how to put a square peg in a round hole...... at least with trucking, I know I enjoy driving, rowing gears , and trucks in general which is more than I can say for my current job
     
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  21. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:31 PM
    #51
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Join this app. Browse around and talk to truckers in the industry. You'll run into truckers hauling everything. Flatbed, heavy haul,car haulers etc etc...

    App CDLLIFE

    Concrete mixer driving is a killer local job too. 50k to 70k a year.
     
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  22. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:42 PM
    #52
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    Good luck either way! Contact me anytime for questions or advice.
     
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  23. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:46 PM
    #53
    1lowlife

    1lowlife Toxic prick and pavement princess..

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    ^ I agree with this.
    I've been driving for UPS for 35 years, 9 years of package cars (delivery vehicles), and semis (feeders) for the last 26 of those years.
    It may suck at first being low seniority, not being able to work the hours you want.
    I was literally on call for 5 years when I went into feeders, but it's not like that anymore.
    Many new guys are on call about 6 months then they can get a bid job/run.
    The longer you stay and build up seniority the more options you have.

    I'm home every night, but that stated, right now I start work at 10:45 AM and get off at 11:00 PM.
    I run from Dallas to Waverly LA ( just short of Vicksburg MS) and back every day.

    I don't see my wife during the week, but it works for us.
    Kids are grown, we just have 3 pups.
    She loves coming home from work to an empty house, taking care of the pups, having a glass a wine and going to bed..
    I like getting up in the morning, walking the pups, make my lunch, and go to work.
    We aren't touchy feely need to be together 24/7 like some couples.
    There are some weeks we literally don't talk Monday thru Friday, we will text and if something to be taken care of we will talk.
    But she's on the phone all day at work and last thing she (or I) want is to talk on the phone every night.
    We hang on the weekends and that works for us.

    I pull single 53' trailers and doubles, no triples in Texas, not sure I'd want to do it.
    I've run in 4 states the last 26 years, TX, OK, AR, and LA.
    I've run Oklahoma and see them pulling triple 28's and double 45's, f*ck that.

    But it's nice to be out on your own on daily basis with no one looking over your shoulder.
    I come in, do my run, and management pretty much leaves me alone.
    I don't steal time, I don't drag my ass, I do my run according to schedule, and I go home.

    UPS has sleeper runs (OTR) but I want no part of it.
    I want to come home every night and sleep in my own bed, take a shower in my own shower, and take a sh!t in my own bathroom..
    Call me crazy, but I don't want to share a small space with another man for 5 days in a row.

    I don't want to get into how much I make, keep in mind I'm a 35 year Teamster, but when you get to top pay, @six7zero is correct.
    I make good money and have excellent benefits.

    But don't get me started on the union.
    I've paid my dues the last 35 years for the national level, I wouldn't have the pay and benefits without them.
    But on a local level, our Local sucks balls being they don't have any balls.
    They are riding the Union like with pay and car allowances, but do very little to represent the actual members that pay dues.
    The local union (and their useless staff) are worthless in a right to work state like Texas.
    At least with the current staff that are in there now that the mindless part timers voted in.
    Sound familiar?

    I didn't really choose this career path.
    I lucked into this job in 1986 when Texas got the rights to ship within the state.
    I was working in a Mom and Pop Affiliated food grocery store and still living at home.
    The job with UPS got me out of my parents house and on the way to being on my own.
    While I don't regret it, I'm not sure if it was what I really wanted to do with my life.
    Just kinda been going with the flow since 1986 and looking forward to retiring and (hopefully) receiving a pension unless the new woke CEO trys to bust the union and give our pension $$ to the stockholders....
    UPS is all about stock holder dividends now, not employees, not customers, and not service.

    Hope this helps...
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2021
  24. Jul 22, 2021 at 1:04 AM
    #54
    GNTundra

    GNTundra The Notorious Troll Sniper

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    :101010: :devil:
     
  25. Jul 22, 2021 at 5:23 AM
    #55
    DaBoro54

    DaBoro54 Beach Fisher

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    Leveling kit, 285/70R18 EXOs
    I have my class A. I got it when I was working on a beach crew for the state putting up beach fence. Good times to be in a party town at noon seeing the sights

    I keep it current and now accepted a job working at a national seashore for the dept of interior. The pay isn’t super huge but benefits are great and strictly Monday-Friday. Might be looking into for your state or federal government. They are always hurting for someone for a CDL in the parks system
     
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  26. Sep 20, 2022 at 3:53 PM
    #56
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Well thought I would update this post. Last week I got my CDL permit ! I'm starting cdl school on Oct 10th. The layoff hammer finally dropped on my dept , the first layoffs happened sept last year and wiped out 4 of 7 managers. I survived that and then a few weeks ago, while I didn't get laid off , our department did get closed and I was reassigned with a 10k a year pay cut. That finally put me over the edge. So new chapter here i come.
     
  27. Sep 20, 2022 at 4:05 PM
    #57
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Also due to some kind of grant our county does , my schooling is free :bananadance:
     
  28. Sep 20, 2022 at 4:07 PM
    #58
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    I feel for ya. I'm sort of in the same boat. I'm feeling the urge to get out of teaching. The strain on those of us left with many positions going unfilled is getting to where I can't keep ignoring it.
     
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  29. Sep 20, 2022 at 4:09 PM
    #59
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I know the feeling. I'm excited to close this chapter. I haven't officially left and am doing so strategically to minimize my risk but there is a bit of relief. Also already have a company lined up I'm working with and if all goes to plan will be 40k more a year than my current job.
     
  30. Sep 20, 2022 at 4:20 PM
    #60
    BlackSheep

    BlackSheep caffeinated member

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    Just now seeing this thread for the first time, and it resonates with me a lot. Good luck in your future endeavors, @Wahayes. I hope your plan works out. I am impressed...you are one of the only people about my age I've ever heard of with kids older than mine. People like us live differently than the ones who wait until late 20s or 30s to have kids. It's hard to find people who understand life the way we've lived it, or how hard it can be to start new things even though we're pretty young. I have spent my entire 15 year career in consulting, with civil engineering firms, and I hate it just like you hate banking. It sucks the life right out of me. It is not very rewarding work and is constantly up and down with the economy. I have survived several periods of downsizing, and got caught up in one, back in 2009. I would love to start something new also, perhaps welding/fabrication, though the initial pay cut I'd have to absorb for that would suck, especially as my kids start high school.
     
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