wanna be

[mdub972]

I found this site from gary's site. he posted a thread that could have been taken the wrong way with a link here.

Any way, about me. I will be retireing from the U. S. Navy SOON. I want to be an independant owner operator some day. I grew up in the passenger seat of a truck during the summers. Actually learned how to drive in a 80 or so international CABOVER.

The wife wants me to be a company driver for a while, and that was my plan, but i'm getting an itch to skip the company and start my own.

[short stack]

welcome aboard. i wish the best of luck to ya
mark

[cosgo]

Its a tough market out there right now. You may want to get a little experience working for someone else first before making the investment.

[Tosch88]

I agree with Cosgo, learn on someone's dime not your own. You make more money when you make a go of it. Welcome

[mdub972]

Thanks for the welcome. I had always planned to work for a company untill i had the money to pay cash for a truck. After finding the forums, I started getting the itch. got enough for a used 1 ton now, but no trailer, etc...

Guess I need to get some miles under my belt to see what I actually want to do. Only thing I know is I don't want to do dry van, and REALLY DON'T WANT REFER. I've thought cars, hotshot, big truck flat, and heavy haul.

[mdub972]

You guys got any sudgestions on a company to start. i've got a couple in mind, just wanted to see if anybody had any experience with them or their drivers.
TMC, McElroy, Boyd, Maverick

[haulin rv]

Well our experience here is going to be cars, and mostly 3-4 car loads. There are also some rv haulers here too, a used truck and a trip to Elkhart, In and you could get your feet wet hauling rv's too. It'd be a cheap way to see if you really want to drive for a living.

[blacktruck]

Hey there mdub972
Welcome to the group. Good to see another retired or retiring military guy here. There is a lot of good information on here. What the guys have said so far about getting your feet wet with a company is good advice. Don't be afraid to ask or comment on here.
Stay safe out there.
Ken (1SG ret)

[pmmjarrett]

Welcome back to reality:D

Going from R.O.A.D. to OTR is gonna be a big change.

There's a HUGE difference from being in the jump seat to the drivers seat. Get your feet wet on somebody elses dime first before you dive in head first. The first 50 miles are fun, after that, it's a job. Trucking ain't what it was 20+ years ago, not even close.

If you try hauling RV's for a bit to get a taste of hot shotting, it's about the cheapest way to get started and see if you like it without doing time as a company man. Look for a used 2004 - 2007 Dodge dually or mabey a chebby but not a Ford. Something cheap you can pay CASH for and unload if needed and not be buried in it.

[ra57.2008]

Welcome aboard,

Glad to see another retired serviceman, I did my twenty, still say it was the best move for me. The guys are right try the rv transport, would be the least expensive way to go. Best of luck.


Rick