Introduction, Followed By A Million Questions

Hey folks! I've been lurking for about six months, I figure it's time to say hey. I'm JZ, (you can call me Z, I feel like JZ is too formal), I'm currently a police Sergeant in NW Florida. I'm about a year from the point in my career where I can start burning leave, with an eventual retirement date of July of 2020. I'm considering an "encore career" as a truck driver. My two main questions are 1-can you do a ride-along with a driver, to see if this line of work is something you might really want to do? And 2-if you're burning terminal leave with your current employer, will companies hire you or would they want to wait until you're completely done? More questions will follow. It has been fun watching everyone's journeys, btw. There's a lot of wisdom in these masses.

Hi Z,

I think you can find someone to give you a ride-along if you ask around.

I would take you if you wish, but I don't have a top bunk anymore, so you'd have to get motel rooms. I am working the south and southeast this time of year and will be passing through the Orlando area shortly.

You might also ask a recruiter at a company you're considering if they could find someone to take you out for a week or so. I don't know whether that would work or not but it's worth a try.

I'm somewhat surprised that others haven't responded to you here.

Hey folks! I've been lurking for about six months, I figure it's time to say hey. I'm JZ, (you can call me Z, I feel like JZ is too formal), I'm currently a police Sergeant in NW Florida. I'm about a year from the point in my career where I can start burning leave, with an eventual retirement date of July of 2020. I'm considering an "encore career" as a truck driver. My two main questions are 1-can you do a ride-along with a driver, to see if this line of work is something you might really want to do? And 2-if you're burning terminal leave with your current employer, will companies hire you or would they want to wait until you're completely done? More questions will follow. It has been fun watching everyone's journeys, btw. There's a lot of wisdom in these masses.

Hello and welcome!

Yes im sure you can find a ride along. Some companies do not allow passengers and others do. So it could depend on the company. I habe a trainee for the next 6 weeks or so.or i would offer.

Some companies do not hire out of FL or parts of it, so do your research. Its funny cause some people who claim to want to get into trucking say they cant find a company to hire them from FL but my boyfriend is from Miami. So people do get hired and others lie to cober their indecision

Secondly, it might depend on both the employers. Someone who worked with me at the USPS went to Swift while using his annual leave before retiring. The USPS sent him a letter stating he was violating his terms of service and needed to return to work within X number of days or be terminated. He was OTR and tried to get the union to fight it, but wound up going back. By the time his retirement was up, his 160 hour certificate was stale and he had to do school all over again. This dissuaded him and he never returned. Now he has a CDL he cant use.

Hope this helps. Ask your union rep.

Welcome Z, first of all thank you for your service, and congrats on making it to retirement. I too am a retired Sgt. I retired after 28.5 yrs from a pd in central ca. Last question first, you will most likely not find a company willing to hire you while your still employed at the pd. When I got out of the service I took 90 days terminal leave and the city refused to hire me full time until I was discharged. They did put me on as a reserve though. As for your leave time, does your agency allow you to turn it back in leiu to actually retire earlier. I turned back 3 months of leave and about 9 months of sick leave for service credit. I live in NE Ga and could probably figure something out after the holidays to give you a taste of what your looking at getting into. My company normally doesn’t allow riders, however there are exceptions. I could try and arrange something to stay local going to customers that don’t mind if we have a rider. Also my truck is single bunk, so a long trip would not work very well. Just my thoughts. Stay safe out there Sarge!!!