Profile For goodtime

Fellas -- To everybody who replied, thanks for the great info. I really appreciate it. Now I have a good picture of what to expect in the beginning and later down the line, and I can make an informed decision.

Hello to everyone.

First of all, allow me to compliment the creators and contributors here on this forum. TT is a great resource. I've gotten a lot of very valuable information here, and I appreciate it.

A little bit about me: At age 45, I'm in the process to start a career as a driver. I can move forward with this process and commit, or pull out at this early stage. I was a cop working for a small department in Chicago for the past ten years, and I'll miss it tremendously, but I walked away a few months ago because I do not agree with the political influence exerted on the department. For years, I had been trying to leave to go another department, but finally, I simply walked away abruptly when I encountered the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I have very thick skin. I understand that the whole world is subject to political corruptness in varying degrees and I can live with that without losing sleep, but what the good guys and go-getters encounter at my former department is outrageous and unacceptable. Principle means a lot to me, and that's why I left; I couldn't be a part of it anymore. That's all another, long story. What's relevant here is that I have a great resume (I was a very valuable member of the department with a great professional reputation, and they invested in me and relied on me heavily. Also, I have a legal doctoral degree as well as a colorful background prior to serving in law enforcement.) Because of this, I am very employable in other fields.

So my question: If a guy demonstrates a great aptitude for all aspects of driving, works hard, and puts in as many miles as his employer will give him, how long will it take him to get to the point at which he's making a six figure salary? I ask this because I have a few different avenues I can pursue for employment, but none of them are going to pay me six figures any time within the next 5 years or so if ever. I had been making well into this range prior to resigning, and I see trucking as a way to get back into this kind of money. I want to provide for my family to the best of my ability, and I'd hate to take a huge let down in pay for too many years.

Now please don't get me wrong, I fully understand that driving a truck will be a gigantic challenge, and I have a mountain of information to learn. Furthermore, there's no guarantee that I will be good at it or even pass the CDL training, so please don't read this and think that I'm over confident, or too ****y or acting as if I have this thing mastered even before starting. I'm a very humble person, but by the same token, I've learned that in life you must set goals, and then work extremely hard to achieve them, while having the fortitude to stay on course through adversity.

If I work hard and long, play my cards right, and have a little bit of luck on my side, can I find an employer within five years or so that will pay me 100 grand or more if I do my part? And if so, will I have absolutely no family life? I'm fully prepared to sacrifice for a couple years by making $40 grand my first year and going from there, but am I out of bounds for hoping to make $100 grand any time within my first 5 years of driving? Are there specialties (tankers, oversize loads, etc.) that will allow this range of income? If so, does it take decades to earn the experience and seniority to land these types of jobs? I ask because I really don't know, but you guys do. I've been told things by people here and there, but they weren't career truck drivers and I think they were just perpetuating hearsay. Please advise. Any relevant, first-hand info is appreciated.