Need A Bit Of Encouragement Today

Hello,

I joined the forum a few months ago, I am trying still to get into CDL school. Currently the biggest hurdle has been getting the necessary funding together to make this happen. It has been taking me sometime to get the applications in with the state for grant money, be approved (possibly, still in the deciding phase) for a loan. This has been the longest process I have gone through for anything thus far the last few years (I hate to sound dramatic, I guess I am just a bit down today) .

I hate to sound like a debbie downer, but I have been struggling with the "stinkin thinkin" alot lately in regards to changing to a new career ( I do have depression) . The time its taking me to get everything together (the financial aid stuff) and the amount of time taking to find out if i qualify has been taxing me as of late. I do work full time currently and i make above what would be considered the "qualifying poverty" line in my state. The thing is the state dosent see the whole picture. They just see, hey you make 40k a year gross , you dont need our help. The problem is the state (much like most of our society, and I try not to sound too bitter) does not do the math in regards to gross vs take home net difference and average living expenses. At the end of every month after paying food , rent, heat (and this has been a long winter) , phone etc. I am lucky to have a couple hundred bucks left over ( that should change in the summer months when heat bills wont suck up a good majority of my income). So you can imagine trying to fork over half of the cost of school (trucker loan is outrageous on the interest rate, something like 18%) is darn near cost prohibitive for me.

I am not trying to sound like a debbie downer today people, I really am not. I would like to make the change and get over the road , but I am going through the process right now and its weighing me a bit, have any of you ever gone through something similar to me?

Any words of encouragement? Even a big, hang in there and persevere I guess would encourage me. It encourages me ot read the stories on this site and see how so many of you hung in there and got it done while facing life's challenges.

alright I have to get back to my day job (for now) - thank you for letting me vent a little this morning

Have you thought about going to a company that will train you to get your CDL? A lot of companies will do this but you have to work for them for a year. I’m sure someone will chime in soon and explain this route more thourghly. Good luck!

Moses

Well we all go thru times when depressed thoughts or as you put it Debbie downer thoughts creep in.....I am going to be transitioning from my current job where I make decent money to getting a CDL and truck driving (prolly at 50% pay cut). Remember if you are really wanting a new career, look like I am at a company that pays your school cost for a 1 year commitment.(not that out of pocket costs) I am sure many folks after me will include links and such, but the biggest hurdle will be making that first move. I have been doing the same thing for 18 years on the 26th of this month. I have HUGE concerns and reservations, but I know nothing easy is worth the time, so sit back, look at where you want to be in 1-3-5 years from and remember this can be thought of as a marathon, not a short sprint.....

Keep your head up.

Why not apply to a COMPANY SPONSORED SCHOOL?

Apply For Paid CDL Training

Couldn't agree more with what's already been posted... Company sponsored training removes both financial burden and the job-hunt burden.

But to offer you some other words... Keep your focus, brother!

Fate whispers to the warrior,
"You cannot withstand the storm."
The warrior whispers back...
"I am the storm."

Hang in there. I went company sponsored and it was awesome.

However, before you leave a job for driving, consider your depression. will the lonliness of being on the truck 20+ hours a day make you worse? many people get home sick.

what about your meds if you are on them. some companies do not allow certain meds.

would you be able to switch meds if a company asked?

how severe is your depression and under control? companies cant have suicidal drivers.

Not everyone gets hired at company orientations so do you have money to get home?

really analyze everything before you make some decisions.

Hang in there. I went company sponsored and it was awesome.

However, before you leave a job for driving, consider your depression. will the lonliness of being on the truck 20+ hours a day make you worse? many people get home sick.

what about your meds if you are on them. some companies do not allow certain meds.

would you be able to switch meds if a company asked?

how severe is your depression and under control? companies cant have suicidal drivers.

Not everyone gets hired at company orientations so do you have money to get home?

really analyze everything before you make some decisions.

Thank you for that advice. Currently I am not on any medication, my depression is not so severe that I can not function or do daily living or find myself unable to hold a job. Most of my depression stems from life circumstances (previous parental abuse -verbal and physical, peer bullying growing up and a couple of nasty relationship breakups). I really don't want to focus on the negatives of life , I have done that too much. However I am also as you suggest analyzing this and seeing if I am making the right call by doing this. I have never been in a job where it's literally "all on you" - from the waking up (not hard for me), to the trip planning , to the dealing with problems and concerns. Almost all of my jobs have been office gigs with plenty of support staff around and at least one direct supervisor i could always go to if I have questions, concerns or stuck on what decision to make.

I know trucking is truly a resilient , independent lifestyle and a part of all of this is me wondering if I have what it takes to hang with the professionals.

As TobyMac says; this is not a test! This is the real thing and there are no practice runs in life.

You sound like you’re experiencing LIFE. Not depression. And it’s okay to be a little scared. Just don’t move in and live in that state of mind.

If you’ve got strong work ethic, a burning desire to do well and a track record of being a good employee, there IS HOPE!

Consider company-sponsored training. And smile! You’ve got a paycheck coming in. Some people don’t even have that.

You sound like you’re experiencing LIFE. Not depression. And it’s okay to be a little scared.

I was thinking the samething. everything just stated sounds like the poor me, i'm a victim mentality of people who truly don't fair well in trucking. it is everyone elses fault, my parents, my peers... out here on the road there is no one to.blame, but people still do.

there is a difference between being negative and being realistic. realistically, if you can't handle abusive people, forget trucking. Diver Driver gets the finger thrown at him constantly on the road. it doesn't bother him.

Guys used to yell and blow the horn at me and ask me when i got my license. i just yelled back and blew my horn too. if someone is going to get deeper into a depressed state by feeling like a failure, then trucking isn't for them.

realistically, you don't feel confident in trucking for months, maybe even the one year mark. if not feeling truly confident is going to affect one mentality, then don't risk your own health and that of others.

im not a doctor, but i seriously don't think anyone should put themselves or others at risk. it is irresponsible. trucking is hard enough in the beginning. you fail over and over. then when you think you got it, and everything is great...you screw up again. that is trucking. if you can't deal with life already, adding trucking won't help.

I agree with the going to a company sponsored training program. I would suggest researching different companies to find one that offers the type of trucks, cargo, training, environment as well as commitment. It is always best to not leave your first company within the first year some may have less commitment than others. Also you may look for hidden expenses and training pay. For example I drive flatbed. The company I work for provides drivers with everything they need to properly secure a load. I have been told that is not always the case with all companies. Also, keep in mind not all companies require training as a team driver (where one sleeps while the other drives).

Best of luck be safe