Comments By T.W.

I feel like I am screwed on my CDL if I move to Illinois. This stinks.

I got my CDL in Arizona and ended up in Ohio for a job. Illinois is my home and haven't been back in 30 years. I guess I can go anywhere with my CDL --- except home.

Why do they make this so tough? I got my CDL and full endorsements. Can I get a DL license and put my CDL on hold and add it to my license after a later date?

I only got my CDL in case my job goes south. I will have a back up plan. A CDL is expensive and all 48 states should honor it. Its just a truck driving license. My gosh!

I have heard its tough to transfer a CDL license to Illinois. I may be moving to Illinois in the future for a sales position(not trucking related) and would like to keep my CDL active. Do I have to retest again in Illinois?

I do not want to throw my CDL away because it was expensive getting it and may use it again in the future.

Thanks.

Good points.

Errol,

No. I have worked alongside military soldiers in other occupations. Some were cool, others were too bossy and "hard-headed." Plus, I have family in the military and they have told me the same stories. Just not my thing.

The military is waiting for you.......

Put the brakes on....

Before you decide on the military ask yourself these things.....

Do you like being around strong-headed types most of the time. Some guys in the military are cool, but some can be downright arrogant(Think: Chet from Weird Science.) However in a battle they will have your back. Do you mind moving around the country when they ask you to? Upside you get to travel. Can you take orders and like being on a team? Some people like their independence. Can you handle shooting bullets and having bullets shot at you? It may sound badass, until you lose your legs from a grenade. Not cool. Upsides are a healthy pension, respect, and being set for your life if you can make it to your full 20.

My first response was: Because nobody wants to do it. That is partly true. You have a family and the last thing you want is to be away from them 24/7.

But after much thought....I think it boils down to...

1. Trains run a fixed route so a truck is still required to get the product from the train to its final destination unless the company has a train track beside the building.

2. Trains run a set time route. This means that some companies that are LEAN and JIT can not afford to stockpile large amounts of material as inventory on hand does cost money. ( Imagine purchasing $100,000 worth of material each day of the week and the very next day the material is turned into product and shipped as finished sold product, now imagine a train delivery every 10 days and sitting on $1,000,000 of material).

3. A truck can drop off its payload and reload with finished product withins an hour therefore moving material across the dock faster then preparing for a train.

Anyone want to add to this?

Daniel are you stalking me? lol

Yes, I read Brett's informational book. Good read. The 24/7 grind is more realistic for truckers. Teaching was similar. (Lesson plans, meetings, grading, coaching, etc) Pay is too low though.

I hear from others that trucking is a lifestyle and can be a headache. Sometimes you are better off working two part-time jobs. Trucking is for the right person who likes the lifestyle, adventure and independence. I like that part. But living in a truck 24/7 with no sink, no shower, smelling like diesel all day, and sleeping in the truck...its kind of like camping.(exchange diesel for woodfire smoke) Sharing a cab with a young guy who is twice my age for a month? Its not appropriate.

I work two independent part-time jobs( I am in control of my own schedule) after leaving teaching. It's really nice to not answer to anyone, no meetings, and can take any day off. I would love to start an online business---I tried 10 times and failed at every one of them. I do re-sell on eBay from time to time. The online market is saturated with competition.

I was thinking of getting on with US Express this summer. They offer good wages. The only part is I am not looking forward to the daily grind again. I like trucking part-time just not full-time. Staring at the highway and holding a steering wheel for long periods would bore me to death.

Anyone come to a crossroads where they place higher wages above a flexible, independent lifestyle?

I am giving up freedom to chase that carrot OTR.