truck drivers need some help

[woodsracer144]

well for starters Im 19 and drive yard horse at a local lumber yard ( menards ) and I grew up on a farm and dad had a trucking business and he just sold his last dump truck last month.

I start school for welding this fall and machine tool next year....


I live in a small town and its just the same old ****, day in and day out and want something new, a way out of here ( reason i posted about airforce a while back) I kinda want to go to Alaska but I would need to be done welding and all that.

due to my dads connections i can get a 72 kenworth W900A with a 400 BC cummins really cheap and run the road, but how much would have to put in it if i wanted to make money from doing it?

i work nights at menards stat about 3pm and work as late as a feel after 12 am. normally its 130- 2 in the morning when im done unless i have something to do the next day...

I was talking with a buddys dad about doing something cause he is from North Dakota and when he was 19 he worked at a car dealer part time and was renting a place with a buddy and was like " what you go, nothing, what i got? nothing where we going in life? no where!" he went to alaska and make alot of money! and he can show for it the guy has more snap on tools and chested then I've ever seen one man have. theres a wall about 30 feet long with just chest the whole way, FULL of tools. I about creamed my self to say the least....

so if i buy that truck would i be retarded?

[derekhonda]

so if i buy that truck would i be retarded?


Yes, trucking sucks.

[Tommy Warren]

well buying an old rig like that will bring you nothing but problems. The parts are expensive, they are unreliable, and if you want a part for a 71 KW its probably not going to be in stock. which means more down time. To be an o/o you have to have a lot of money stashed away for unexpected mishaps. I would just try to get on with a long haul company for the time being. Save up a bunch then put a down payment on a newer rig. you still get to see the world if your in someone elses truck. and its a lot more relaxing knowing that someone else will flip the bill if anything goes wrong.

[slightlybent47]

Owner operator is a hard row to hoe.
With the economy the way it is I would not do that, there are thousands of owner operators with trucks parked because there is no work. Then when there is work drivers are working for nothing just to keep from going under.

Old trucks are not worth the money, they will cost you a fortune to keep running.
That’s why there for sale and cheap.
I have been driving for 25 years and like the old Arllo Guthrie song goes “I’ve driven every rig that’s ever been made” (boy that dated me!)

If you go over the road be prepared to stay gone all the time and you’ll never get to ride much since you’ll be gone all the time.

Oh and you’ll feel like your working 24-7 even though you only get paid for the miles you travel. And you think you’re making good money till you find out how much money it takes to stay out on the road.

You think you are doing great till you get to an appointment to load or unload and you fine out you have to sit in your truck with nothing to do for the weekend till they can get to you.
Not to mention trying to sleep at a truck stop with the hookers knocking on your door asking you if you want a date!
It is fun watching them go from truck to truck and betting on witch trucker will let her in.lol

They don’t call it “hurry up and wait for nothing”

Then there is D.O.T. to worry about.

[woodsracer144]

Yeah, i just talked with the guy i guess he just sold the truck... so now i think im gonna go through welding and go to alaska then.... I told my mom tonight when i stopped in to get a hair cut and she took it alot better than i thought i would... just time to move to a new part of the states and meet new people...

[Pipeless416]

i think that may be a good option for you.. i don't really ever have input for your threads, but i noticed that you regularly post about trying out something new and something different, but you never seem to really pull the trigger on anything. i'm not saying this to be rude, but rather to offer support.. maybe you really do just need a change of pace.. you're young, so there's no better time.

[Tommy Warren]

Originally posted by Pipeless416
i think that may be a good option for you.. i don't really ever have input for your threads, but i noticed that you regularly post about trying out something new and something different, but you never seem to really pull the trigger on anything. i'm not saying this to be rude, but rather to offer support.. maybe you really do just need a change of pace.. you're young, so there's no better time.
x2 if your unhappy its time to make a move and get your butt in gear. Its better to try and fail then to sit at home wondering what if...

[CJM]

Not worth it, I echo bents advice here.

Welding is a good skill and pays quite well, alaskas ok tho, not great by any means. Buddy of mine went there and said worst thing were the bugs-10x the size of normal ones and 100x as many.

[woodsracer144]

guys i totally hear ya out. The atv stuff i post ( walsh build it is happening, the polanda is happening at shop getting a plate made, 330 sparks is getting sent out next week) but at the same time i will agree some of the post are unneeded.

this may sound a little gushy or mushy what ever.

when i started riding i was about 9 or so when a new kid at my school moved in just up the road from me and i started riding with them and then when i 12 i got a blaster for 600 bucks and got it rebuilt for 100 ( split the cost with the guy i got it from cause i knew him) and from then i've had alot of different quads nothing i was really to the dot what i wanted but i was happy to be able to ride,

about a year ago now i started dating a girl or was dating a girl about this time of the year and her dad is one person that has helped me the most with keeping me going with alot of stuff.. she ended things and her parents looked at me from being a to be son-in-law to being a son... really long story not getting in to it cause its done and over but long story short im really close with them to this day. her dad raced a sparks 250x when he was my age and then had kids and he had to get out and raise his family and i've told him ever since i've known that im gonna help him run at lease one race with me.... and im working on it.
and almost there
im not saying this to dis my parents cause i love them but when i said i wanted to ride/ race they did say 'ok heres a blank check go ride" it was " its on your own bill" and the whole time we would bud heads they say it as a waste of time and money and didnt understand the joy i had from doing it and how it relax me. I've been working on farms and stuff since i was 12 or so... and everything I own has been on my bill with out loans.

the one person that I learned the most from has passed already and thats my gramp. he taught me about honesty, being loyal and just say what has to be said and doing every thing you believe in.... (if you were a friend of mine on face book you would see me voicing my mind all the time and people telling me to shut up...) I may be a dick but im saying the truth... and i respect it when someone says the truth back towards me and he also taught me to help others.

I help all my buddys i rode with or guys at the track i dont know untill they burn me then im done unless they make an effort and fix things. I'm always willing to help the small underdog guy who's on his own cause thats where I've been and I still kinda am, I don't drive a brand new diesel with rims and built motor and twin turbo's I have a 93 ranger as a DD and a ford F350 with a cummins in it that i got really cheap from a cousin of mine and I use it just when i need to haul things...


this is all the reason im looking for a new way out, I am the one man show, I'm doing what i can with what i got but im tired of the day in day out bull crap i deal with all the same people from high school think we're in high school and we're not, they want to hang out all the time and get pissed cause i work all night and can't afford it, thus another reason I want a new change of seens.... im sorry if theres typos and stuff i posted this on my droid and im not re reading all this cause its forever long as is, anyone with tips or help is greatly appreciated

[finsteratv]

you sound like the kinda kid that can really do somthing if you put your head to it. Go out and make a life for yourself, its not gonna happen by sitting around where you're unhappy.

[woodsracer144]

Originally posted by finsteratv
you sound like the kinda kid that can really do somthing if you put your head to it. Go out and make a life for yourself, its not gonna happen by sitting around where you're unhappy.

yeah i know what you mean but at the same time I don't what to hang it all out there that I don't have a can to piss in if i loose it all...

I've always told people " mind over matter, if you wanna do something bad enough you'll be able to do it" and now i see where i kinda fault in my own saying...

[slightlybent47]

Ok it sounds like you are no stranger to hard work, now you need to learn patients. Unless you’re in a very small town things will change, friends will move away, some will stay; some will go and come back. There’s nothing wrong with sticking with something that makes you happy. Moving away is not always the answer, but hating something is hard to deal with and feeling like you’re in a rut sucks as well.

Try getting on with a trucking company and see how you like it, it wont take long before you’ll know if you like it or not.

At your age I would look into one of the armed forces. It’s not for everyone but 95% of everyone I have ever known has said they are glad they served. And every one of them has done well for themselves later in life. Something to think about!

[woodsracer144]

I've thought about it just dont really know if its for me... I have a few buddys at work i've talked with, ones from the marines ones from the army and another is in the air force...

I live in a town of 1300 people and my class of 2010 had like 68 kids in it... its a small town.

[tri5ron]

You sound like a pretty smart kid who finds himself at a cross-roads in life, and realizes that now is the time to make some "life's direction" choices.
you also sound like you would benefit from some solid structure and education.

You want to get out of your town, and meet new people right?

You want to learn a good trade that will lay the foundation for a prosperous future right?

You want to be proud of yourself, and be able to say "Look what I have done, and what I have accomplished in my life", right ?

I say your best choice is to join the armed forces.
They offer you a free education, with solid structure.

You learn Self Discipline,
Focus,
Commitment,
Confidence,
and Pride.

These will help carry you, and guide you through the rest of your life, and you get out of where you now are, with something that you, and everyone else, can be proud of.

Do what you know is best for you.
The FIRST STEP, is the hardest step, to any journey.
After that,... you are on the way to your future.

Don't look back,...
Don't second guess yourself,...
Don't say "well what if ------------",...
Just look FORWARD, and that will ALWAYS be your new direction.

Think of it like this,

When you are riding your quad, and you are ripping along through the woods,...
Where should you be looking ???

What happens if you look back, and you don't pay attention to where you are going ??? Crash and Burn, RIGHT ?

Think of your gas tank, as the TOTAL amount of time you will have to ride...

and there are no re-fills.



Life is much like your quad.
FIRST, you must start it up, and put it in gear.

Only YOU can do that.
It can't do it by itself.

But once you DO, do it,...
it will take you places.
Sometimes it goes faster than you are ready for. Sometimes there's a turn in the trail, that you were not expecting.

Be prepared for that,...
Always stay in control of it,...
and you will have a Great ride.

I truly feel that the Armed Forces will be what makes you a Proud and Successful MAN.

Ask yourself,... "What would my Grandpa want me to do?"

Now make that decision.
Not tomorrow,
Not in a few weeks,
Do it TODAY...
and do what you need to do,... that will bring you those things in life you are looking for.

Good luck, Look FORWARD, and STAY FOCUSED.

Put,... YOUR LIFE,.. in Gear.

It's a much better choice,
than just sitting there in NEUTRAL,...
with the engine running,....
and burning up your gas.

The World, and Your Life,
is waiting for you.

[DnB_racing]

Ron you should be a motivational speaker! great advice and I like the quad is your life comparison,

you made me want to do more with my life!!

if I was younger I would go to the recruiter's office after that truly great advice!


woods Ive talked with you severl times and I agrre with ron,the service will turn you into a strong proud man

[woodsracer144]

the main reason i dont want to join the forces is cause i feel that the states are just trying to flex their pipes and say " suck on that" and show off, I dont really feel we need to be in the middle east right now and dealing with all their problems when we have enough problems in the states, I dont trust a single person that has been elected cause they say one thing and do another with out us knowing ( theres a big union thing going on in WI and its hitting home cause my mom could loose her job over it and we could loose our insurance im under her still cause i'm still going to school or going to be going to school)

My gramp always told me he didnt care what i did as long as when i woke up i wasnt clinging to a bottle or high off dope. he also told me find a job that when i wake up in the morning i cant wait to get in and start working...

its gonna be a few weeks but i think i got a plan..

I know its is the tip of the iceberg and its time to sink or swim... but after i have get a few things in the mail i think i know what im gonna do.

[JForestZ34]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Then there is D.O.T. to worry about.


This by far is the worst... DOT inspections depending on what level they do takes forever...

Depending on which company you work for some of these state troopers look in their computers and see which companies have little red flags by them.. That means if the inspectors see that company GUESS WHAT, it's pull you over if they see you...

I worked for this guy delivering a load of cars up to CT.... I pull into the weight station on 95 right when you hit CT.. I pull in and the guy wants to see paperwork after I pull on the scale... He says my apportioned reg is wrong and my reg weight is wrong.. I looked and my regs weight said 32,000lbs... Well I was at 74,685 or something like that..

Guess what.. OUT OF SERVICE..... I called my boss let him know and he had to call some agency that issues temporary permits.. I had to wait 6 hrs for the permit and was finally allowed to go on my way..

I couldn't leave because the trooper took my license so I had to wait....

It was my fault also, because I should have checked the paperwork in the truck because he just renewed the registration...

Trucking can be a nightmare.. But it can also pay very well if your willing to work hard..


James

[slightlybent47]

When I was in the tree transplanting business all my trucks had farm tags on them.
It took a while for D.O.T. to figure it out but they finally quit pulling me over. They would not notice the farm tags and they would pull me over for an inspection and there were times I would just let them do there thing, then after they were done and started to rite me up they would find out that with farm tags I was exempt from most of the rules and they could not do anything.lol
They were not always happy that they had gone through a 30 minuet inspection and could not rite me up for anything.lol
It was just my way of getting back for all the crap they have put me through when I had commercial tags.
Got to love them rules!http://planetsmilies.net/machine-smiley-5069.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

[jgar]

I was in the same boat as you when I was younger. I finished school, 2yrs in a light residential construction program. Then moved to canada. Up north I worked for a logging company and when that got boring I got a job on a fishing boat. Those were some of the best times of my life. Lots of action and little responsibility. After a few years I moved back home and got my old remodeling job back.
Moving was pretty scary and I felt way out of my comfort zone but I adapted. Go through school and then decide. You should have a trade to fall back on. If you do decide to go to Alaska the move and getting started will be the hardest part. Best of luck!!:macho

[woodsracer144]

moving up there wouldnt be too bad, i have one buddy up there and my guy down the road still has a brother up there.

my buddy lives in Fairbanks right now. hard part would be getting my stuff there... like quad and stuff...

[jgar]

When I moved I put my entire life in the back of a ford ranger..... If It did not fit it did not go. All I brought was tools and clothes. lol

[woodsracer144]

I could fit alot in the back of my ranger, he'll I got a whole 250r in a ford escort once