Trucking Gadgets, GPS , Telephone Headset, Music ???

Dennis, I found it interesting that you are a pilot. When I think about flying compared to truck driving, the old saying comes to mind: "Hours and hours of boredom punctuated by moments of complete panic"

Sounds like you have thought this through and have a good plan. You should do very well at driving.

Thanks Bruce , I have always had a great interest in airplanes and I have been working on them for 25 years as a licensed mechanic and also can do the yearly inspections (annual ) on other pilots airplanes. I just figured out how to post a picture but don't know how to post other pics like some do. You wouldn't get bored with me , I like to do stalls and spins and low and slow :)

Took a guy for a ride once and he asked me how often do these things crash , I said just once lol

Good looking dog there :)

Dennis R.

Soloed in a J3 many years ago. Wife and I landed on N CAL beaches for picnics, etc., while the tide was out. Great fun. Like you, I have an A&P and other certificates, enjoy flying and working on light airplanes. The years of flying the DC 8 and DC 10 airplanes were the best years of my life. And like you, I am looking at otr trucking as a third or fourth LOL career. Right now downsizing and relocating to the Rockies are our immediate objectives.

Good luck down the road...

I have a Cobra CB with 2 great antennas, a SiriusXM radio, and a Rand McNally TND 740 truck GPS (and a spare backup for each) , and a RM trucking atlas that I use. I do not have a headset, nor do I use Bluetooth while driving as I feel it’s too much distraction. Knight uses a GPS built in the ELD system for company navigation. I also use Google Maps satellite view almost daily.

Dennis R.

Soloed in a J3 many years ago. Wife and I landed on N CAL beaches for picnics, etc., while the tide was out. Great fun. Like you, I have an A&P and other certificates, enjoy flying and working on light airplanes. The years of flying the DC 8 and DC 10 airplanes were the best years of my life. And like you, I am looking at otr trucking as a third or fourth LOL career. Right now downsizing and relocating to the Rockies are our immediate objectives.

Good luck down the road...

Hello Pete ,

I just love the J3, It is a 1947 all redone , no electrics , hand prop and 65 HP of screaming power lol I bought a house on a grass strip and had a 48x60 hangar built. I got my IA and am planning on doing annuals for friends around the airport and other close by airports. That is why I am looking for a lot of home time. I have worked on airplanes for 25 years so just looking for something different and have always been interested in driving. If the right job comes up I will take it but you never know. Can always pick up extra $$$ working in my hangar. I am also building a Sonex aircraft from blueprints, side by side tail dragger, aerobatic top speed 200 mph :) I have been working on sub assembly's and sending them back to Indiana and will assemble when I get home. As soon as I figure out how to post other pictures I will load some . DC 8 & DC 10 great airplanes , but I never flew them. Are you driving now ?

I have a Cobra CB with 2 great antennas, a SiriusXM radio, and a Rand McNally TND 740 truck GPS (and a spare backup for each) , and a RM trucking atlas that I use. I do not have a headset, nor do I use Bluetooth while driving as I feel it’s too much distraction. Knight uses a GPS built in the ELD system for company navigation. I also use Google Maps satellite view almost daily.

Sounds like a great set up !

Dennis you said this: " I bought a house on a grass strip and had a 48x60 hangar built. I got my IA and am planning on doing annuals for friends around the airport and other close by airports. That is why I am looking for a lot of home time."

Dennis, you might be disappointed if you expect a lot of home time. Most OTR drivers are out for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and then back home for only 2 or 3 days. Just enough time to do laundry, cut the grass, shovel snow, pay the bills, kiss the wife, pat the dog on the head and then you're back out.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but companies don't want their equipment sitting idle while the driver assigned to that truck spends a lot of time at home. You have all your stuff in that truck and it's not practical to have another driver take over when you are on home time. Now, I do know there are part-time driving jobs, but I don't think there are many in OTR trucking.

But I guess I should ask: What does "a lot of home time" mean to you?

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but companies don't want their equipment sitting idle while the driver assigned to that truck spends a lot of time at home. You have all your stuff in that truck and it's not practical to have another driver take over when you are on home time. Now, I do know there are part-time driving jobs, but I don't think there are many in OTR trucking.

Roehl sounds like it would fit Dennis home time desires with their flexible schedules such as 7 on 7 off, 14 on 7 off etc. HOWEVER with that type of scheduling your pay is going to substantially lower at the end of the year due to working less. Schneider also has something they call "jet set"where they fly you to where you're needed then 3(?) Weeks later fly you home for a week. Downside to both is you do not have an assigned truck and I'm guessing you'd need to live near a terminal for Roehl's flexible hometime.

I am just searching , nothing in stone. If I cant find a job I want that works for me then I will not get my cdl.

I have been in touch with Carter Express , 1 hour from my house. I think they get the weekends off and home time through the week some times. They have part time also without benefits. You can even work one day a month they say. This might work for me and I don't mind being gone through the week but need my weekends. I am semi retiring and don't really need to work so I am not going OTR and be out days, weeks at a time so maybe I cant be a driver but we shall see :)

Dennis you said this: " I bought a house on a grass strip and had a 48x60 hangar built. I got my IA and am planning on doing annuals for friends around the airport and other close by airports. That is why I am looking for a lot of home time."

Dennis, you might be disappointed if you expect a lot of home time. Most OTR drivers are out for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and then back home for only 2 or 3 days. Just enough time to do laundry, cut the grass, shovel snow, pay the bills, kiss the wife, pat the dog on the head and then you're back out.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but companies don't want their equipment sitting idle while the driver assigned to that truck spends a lot of time at home. You have all your stuff in that truck and it's not practical to have another driver take over when you are on home time. Now, I do know there are part-time driving jobs, but I don't think there are many in OTR trucking.

But I guess I should ask: What does "a lot of home time" mean to you?

Dennis not to be negative; but truck driving requires 100% full time commitment as you are learning. It seems like you want to short cut this...

The learning curve for everyone is about 1 Year. Although Carter has part time drivers, I have some doubt they’d allow an entry level driver to perform in a part time; 1-2 day per month job until you prove yourself a safe and efficient driver. This requires time and experience. No substitute.

I just don’t believe your expectations are realistic.

I am semi-retiring and don't really need to work so I am not going OTR and be out days, weeks at a time so maybe I can't be a driver but we shall see

Dennis had emailed me and I had suggested that Class A trucking would be far more demanding than what he seems to be looking for. Everyone - and I mean everyone underestimates how difficult and demanding trucking is. Everyone always thinks, "Heck, I could do some driving around a few days a week or something. Maybe just something local. That would be cool!"

Unfortunately, trucking is stressful, very demanding, almost always requires 60+ hours per week no matter what type of job you have, and far more complex than most people ever imagine.

I would recommend a Class B box truck delivery type job, maybe Propane delivery or local convenience store vending job, or something like that.

"Semi-retired looking for a bit of work to make the days interesting" is not the description of someone who is going to like Class A trucking.