Profile For Gator F.

Thank you!!

I'm going to retire from Active Duty AF in a few years and want to get into trucking. I plan to start out as a company driver, learn the business a bit and then buy my own truck. If I play my cards right my military retirement will cover the truck payment. I'm looking at trucks a couple years old with around 250k miles and in the $60K- $70K range. What do you think? I really want to be my own boss and run as much or as little as I want. I feel like having a military retirement coming in and living within my means can make this possible. I would assume the biggest thing is making that payment each month which like I said that should be darn near made without even having to run a mile if I can strech my retirement money after I pay the morgage. Go ahead and pick apart my plan and tell me what I haven't thought of!!! I have no experience in this business so let me have it!

Thanks! The dedicated GP just posted today so I feel dumb now asking this question about Schneider. I've been checking the site frequently..promise. Well good to know.

Anyone by chance know anything about how busy Schneider is in North east Florida. They seem like a good company but the recruiter is beating around the bush a little.

They currently have an OTR and I think a team tanker job advertised. I tried to ask what else they have in the area that maybe isn't vacant/hiring currently but possibly for the future so I understand their operations tempo.

I'm wondering if they have any other accounts/divisions etc in the area. I know very little about trucking but I get he feeling Werner might have more going on with OTR, Regional and dedicated (I hear a lot about Werner and Dollar General/Family Dollar/Home Depot/Coke etc and may be my better choice.

The reason I ask is I would like to have options within a company. If they will pay as I gain experience and I have options I don't necessarily plan to jump companies.

What you pros think?

👍 Thanks as always for the info!!

Went through a transition assistance class for military members seperating. They place a heavy emphasis on resume writing. Do trucking companies require or like to see a resume?

That's E5 w/dependent for this program regardless of your actual rank correct?

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/pdcgi/bah/bahsrch.cgi

I just looked up 68007 for Omaha where Werner is and it's pretty good.

Sounds like an awesome plan! I think the money from that is going really help that first year. I see you are in Germany. Best 4 years of my career! I was at Vogelweh near Ramstein!! Freezing my butt off in Minot North Dakota for now.

Anyone used their post 911 GI Bill to do the Apprenticeship program? Would like to hear a few experiences. Looking at Werner and Schneider.

Makes perfect sense. Now say I do some time OTR and then go regional..that would work a little smoother as far as getting good miles and getting home?

Very informative Guy. Im trackin'...So basically if you work OTR freight, you want to work a solid OTR schedule that keeps you moving.

I meant to say I will look at Roehl and Knight.

Woody, I agree, one day off for every 7 out is a bit much and I would not want to put them or myself through that for an extended period of time.

Now the examples you gave would be excellent I think for me. 5 and 2 or 7-10 out with 2 off is very manageable for the family.

The 14 and 7 almost sounds like too much time off for me. That would be like a whole week without pay right? If I leave the military, I will certainly give Roehl a look.

As far as getting home more often, actually the schedules you mentioned are kind of what I meant. I just thought starting out I wouldn't have much of say and would be gone 6 weeks at time until I got experience to have more of a say.

Thanks all! Keep the info coming!

Will do, thanks!

Thanks for the advice. I'm presumed this was the case. Yes, trucking truth is amazing!

I have heard from a lot of folks that OTR is a really bad idea for family. However isn't doing my year or so OTR going to be about the only way to get into the industry before I can get somthing that gets me home more?

That said I have a fairly solid family. My wife gave birth to our son while I was deployed to Afghanistan and I didn't get to see them until he was 8 months old. To top it off this was while we were stationed in Germany away from her family.

My wife is supportive of me going into ddriving even though I am worried it may be unfair to them.

So my original question...is otr unofficially the only gateway in?

Wow Thx Daniel! This tells me you gotta put the money up when it's good cause you may need it next week to live.

Thanks! If I end up doing this, I think I'm gonna go with the one in Jacksonville.

I know you don't really recommend schools Brett but does Roadmaster have a solid reputation?

What I'm trying to figure out is do they have a school you attend or do they just help you find one? I'm leary about their promise of making 35k-45k$ first year...maybe they are including VA benifits you could be entitled to in that figure. I'm considering separating from the Air Force due to the massive cuts we are making (25K personnel over the next few years!) and considering a trucking career. I'm very cautious over a lot of schools and trucking companies that place and emphasis on "helping vets" and wonder if they are just after my Post 911 GI bill.