I need some advice from those who are older and wiser. No Begle. Not you. Just kidding! hehe
I have a small time photography business that's really not working out too well because..well im not getting much business..anyways...im thinking about going down and getting a CDL and trucking for a bit. I've always wanted to see the nation and I love driving so i figured that would be a good way to do it... The problem is, well..im from a high class family, my mom was a bank president until recently, and she inherited that from my grandad, who inherited that from his grandad, etc. and the whole family owned the bank...my aunt is an english teacher and my uncle owns a very successful clothing store here in town. So they don't think much of truck drivers for whatever reason... Anyways...they aren't going to think much of me if I do this and I really don't know what to think about all of it so i need some input from anyone who has some. One of my friends thinks I should just forget what they think and go with it and that's kinda the attitude I have right now but I want to hear what you guys have to say.

 

when they start paying your bills, then you can let them make your decisions on work. until then, do whatever it is you want to do. life is too short.....

 

I say who cares what they think do what you want to do, my father in law is really powerful guy I will just say he has his own personal driver, when I am around him he always wants to talk politics and all that which I don't enjoy or know anything about I the other day I told him I hate talkin about that crap and he said ok.

 

Do what you want
How does the aunt that owns the clothing store think her stuff is delivered?
My grandfather started out as a diesel mechanic and then drove a truck the rest of his life and he was the smartest person I knew. Driving a truck for a living is not an indicator of social status or IQ.

~Rob

 

if you family really cares for you and not an "image" they will support you so long as you have thought out and researched your decision. you need to look out for your own mental health. ditto on the bills too!

 

You need to enjoy YOUR life. Your career choices are yours and yours alone (unless you're married that is) to make. Do what every makes a gratifying life for you. If you have a career that makes you miserable, every thing else in your life will be miserable.
My family has always been military folk or truckers. Nothing wrong with making an honest living. It's a good, gratifying life....... juz my 2 bits.....

 

Don't talk to us,talk to them. If you explain how the photo bussiness is not doing well,I;m sure sucessful people as themselves will have some very soild input.And look hard into the trucking bussiness, as its not all that glorious,it takes the right people for that kind of work.Lots a hours!!

 

If their all High-Falootin' .....tell 'em to get you a Mercedes.......

 

I'm considering doing the same thing. I have been on leave from work and looks like I won't be going back (personal reasons..the boss & I don't get along) soooo...I'm looking at my options. I have a wife and kids so I am trying to find more local or regional driver positions, Not having much luck so far.
My problem is most all of experience has been unpaid (father-in-laws farm semi) so it makes it that much harder. Does a guy have to go to one of those truck driving schools to get a job?? I already have a Class B CDL, just need to step up to the A.
Sorry ratat98 if I high jacked your post!

As far as your situation...do what works for you. I just spent the last 16 years doing a job I used to love, but in the last 2 years came to hate!

 

Here's the Sunday school answer, "Where's your passion lie?" Sounds like maybe your passion for photography is gone, is that true? If the downturn in your business is due to your loss of passion for it then something new is probably advisable. BUT, if you love the work but need help with the business you might try getting help with your business, not changing careers.

The family side of things is always tough. Easy to say, harder to do. It's your life, you have to live with your decisions. Sounds like there might be a lot of knowledge there that might help you decide what to do if only you would let them.

You have to get honest with yourself. Are you giving up? Are you using your family as an excuse? What is really going on inside?

Hey, if you really want to drive a truck, go for it. Regardless of what you choose, be the best at it and enjoy it. I know a lot of white collar folks making a lot of money that aren't very happy. Find the thing that really cranks your tractor (like driving a CTD) and make it happen.

Good luck.

 

If you want to drive a truck, there's no reason that you can't be a "high class" truck driver. Drive in a suit and tie if it makes you feel better.

The bottom line is - if your work is work, you need to find different work.

Think about the fact that you will spend nearly 1/4 of the remainder of your life on the job (40 hrs/168 hrs = 23.8% of each week) so you better enjoy it - whatever it is.

 

if its the money part of it, there was a thread on here a few months back about what they guys who drive were making....I cant recall figures, but I remember noticing that it was a heck of a lot more than I had been making after 11 years as a cop.......My best year was just over 38K gross.....with the second highest paying dept in the state.
I know my uncle who is a long-haul OTR makes about 75K a year, and from what I understand from him, there are alot of guys making more.
But maybe some of the guys who do OTR could chime in on that part....

 

It's YOUR life.do what makes YOU happy.

 

I've been considering this as well, Currently I'm in college studying diesel mechanics but I don't think I want to get into this for a career, so I'm seriously considering driving truck. I've been around it all my life, and always wanted to do this. I know theres alot of pros and cons but it's something I'll enjoy.

 

First talk to ur family about ur situation. They can't help you if they don't know whats wrong, thats the biggest mistake you could make is holding it in. I'm starting my own landscape excavating business, because thats somthing I love to do, being outside and all that. But before that I was lost, I dropped out of community college because I had no direction of where I wanted to go and I felt like I was wasting my time. I looked around at driving propane trucks, and local CDL things, it's somthing you can fall back on, but do somthing you really want to do. It might take acouple tries to get going succesfully, but it will be worth it instead of doing somthing just because it's available.