Strong demand for trucking jobs

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teh_skeeze

Pelican
Dump truck is something I have strongly considered since it seems the only job I'm good at is picking things up and putting them down. Dump truck driving is just picking things up and putting them down on a large scale. Getting laid off in the winter would only be bad because I'd have to keep my demons in check during the most difficult time of the year.
 
Teddykgb

Teddykgb

Pelican
Gold Member
teh_skeeze said:
Dump truck is something I have strongly considered since it seems the only job I'm good at is picking things up and putting them down. Dump truck driving is just picking things up and putting them down on a large scale. Getting laid off in the winter would only be bad because I'd have to keep my demons in check during the most difficult time of the year.
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It's a pretty gravy job from what I've heard. Most of the guys usually just pull up to the job site and let the excavator load them and drive off. Half the time I don't think they even have to get out of their truck unless they are checking to make sure they don't have rocks on the tailgate.

The only other time I think you would have to get out is when you are pulling a transfer trailer and you would have to get out and unhook. Sometimes it can be a pain the ass trying to find a spot to park your transfer trailer while you're dump your first load.
 
The Beast1

The Beast1

Peacock
Orthodox Inquirer
Gold Member
teh_skeeze said:
Dump truck is something I have strongly considered since it seems the only job I'm good at is picking things up and putting them down. Dump truck driving is just picking things up and putting them down on a large scale. Getting laid off in the winter would only be bad because I'd have to keep my demons in check during the most difficult time of the year.
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I always wondered how much those snow plow guys in the snowy states make each year. Going around and plowing people's drive ways.
 
Basil Ransom

Basil Ransom

Crow
Gold Member
Not that it's relevant to trucking as a career per se, but trucking is mostly a bullshit job created by inept government policy. Wear and tear on roads is proportional to the weight on an axle, to the fourth power. So if you double the weight borne by an axle, the road damage goes up by SIXTEEN times. Work the numbers out, and 99.9% of highway wear and tear is from trucks. If trucks had to pay for the damage they cause, most of the trucking industry would disappear. Put differently, if the roads were privatized, the road owners would tell truckers to GTFO. Compare with trains, where such costs are covered by users.

Oh and when trucks do crash, it is far more catastrophic, as frequently happens.

For more info (not my blog): http://truecostblog.com/2009/06/02/the-hidden-trucking-industry-subsidy/

Or just google the topic.
 
Basil Ransom

Basil Ransom

Crow
Gold Member
By train. There'd still be trucks of course, especially for the last few miles of a route but most of the industry would get vaporized if they weren't freeloading.
 
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Vuk

Pigeon
Still a lot of money to be made for drivers in the industry. I work for a small/medium trucking company in Chicago and can help anyone that needs more info. If you come in with a solid goal and are smart with your money you can save up a very nice chunk of cash in 18-24 months. Anyone who is hungry and ready to work let me know I can get you a job.
 
polar

polar

Pelican
Gold Member
Vuk said:
Still a lot of money to be made for drivers in the industry. I work for a small/medium trucking company in Chicago and can help anyone that needs more info. If you come in with a solid goal and are smart with your money you can save up a very nice chunk of cash in 18-24 months. Anyone who is hungry and ready to work let me know I can get you a job.
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I can refer people to someone similar for New England
 
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teh_skeeze

Pelican
Just realized something as I was reading the process of getting a CDL in New Jersey. I was arrested for misdemeanor possession some 7-8 years ago. I was given a conditional discharge and as far as I know, the case was dismissed. Is this something I'm going to need to clean up before getting my permit?
 
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Veni Vidi Pimpi

Pigeon
I deal a lot with logistics on my job and if you look into trucking, check out some of the specialized stuff like flatbeds, reefer (refrigerated), etc. Shortages of drivers/trucks are sometimes much greater in certain areas but I'm not sure how much more they pay than plain vanilla 53' trucks.
 
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Bad Hussar

Pelican
In Canada I know there are all sorts of regulations that protect Canadian drivers from cheap competition. One being that if an American rig delivers a load to Vancouver, he has to head back to the states empty. Was told it is their particularly prevent Mexican drivers from undercutting prices. What is the situation in the US? Do the Teamsters still have any clout?

Anyway, some of the cabs these guys fit out are quite comfortable. Here's an article and pic form a Bloomberg article from last week:

1200x-1.jpg


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...g-room-vibe-to-help-truckers-close-driver-gap
 
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Intuitive

Sparrow
I have 3 years of long haul trucking experience with a large carrier from 2008-2011. Wages are up considerably since I drove, and I made pretty good money (54k my first year) for having a 4 week education. Long haul truckers also receive huge tax breaks. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has in this thread or via PM.
 
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Oneitis

Pigeon
I would definitely consider this in Europe. Driving between different Eastern European cities in your own little mobile bed could have its benefits...
 
J

jj90

 
Banned
Won't apply to the guys already working in this industry for awhile, but for newbies that aren't into the tech space: Google has driverless cars already roadtested. FYI, draw your own conclusions.
 
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