If you decided to get out of trucking, where would you go?
Posted by Topopotomopolot@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 63 comments
I got into trucking to pay off my student loans, and I did that a while ago. I got into heavy haul and started doing super loads for fun, and to put off thinking of something else to do with my life.
Now I’ve got a few ideas for where to go next, but I’m curious to see what others might say on the topic.
jahblax@reddit
Delivery driver. Less hours and basically the same pay
KillerCookie23@reddit
Kind of thought of doing mechanical work with trucks so I can still be around semis but I am not mechanically inclined at all.
Ok_Application_2292@reddit
That has not stopped many of them
taco-force@reddit
I remember showing a diesel mechanic how to properly put in a glad hand gasket.
KillerCookie23@reddit
Not sure if you mean that in a good way or bad way. Lmao.
Ok_Application_2292@reddit
I have seen guys not know crap on how to repair but run one hell of a register to bill them out
No_Ocelot4019@reddit
Thats why there's schools and that helps get the job being "professionally trained"
bicyclewhoa17@reddit
You can learn to be mechanically minded. Take it from me. I have a peanut brain and I made it happen.
taco-force@reddit
Drawing porn for internet weirdos with money.
Pam_P00vey@reddit
This post has given me a lot to think about! I am fed up with bosses thinking they are entitled to anything they consider your free time, and not being able to find time to work out or spending as much time with my corgis as I want to... But the money... I have a lot of skills but nothing that I can make the money I am now. I am at an age (50s) where I am now dealing with arthritis in my hands, which I am sure will spread, so there are jobs I don't want to worry to in.
Most logical thing is to find a trucking job where I can pay off my house so I can get out and do something that won't burn me out.
reducethedebt@reddit
I've been in it 37 years next month ..... I got a idea about possibly owning a coffee shop but the question is could I stand there all day listening to some teenagers wanting soy milk shit in their coffee
Scotts-@reddit
Equipment operator, but more likely I would just go do something with turquoise.
ericthedisrespectful@reddit
you'd be out of business in a weeks time
Charlie_Hustler@reddit
I've already got plans on leaving this profession within the next 10yrs tbh. Kudos to those that can put up with both the Semis and 4 wheelers and their BS but I personally can't do that forever lol I'd go crazy.
Plan is to save up as much as I can and pay off all debts and by the time I hit 30 start saving for Flight school and begin on upgrading my existing PPL and hopefully get to an ATP license with proper instrument ratings.
genosx71@reddit
I looked into being a pilot but i suck at math
GabtsbyForaDay@reddit
I’m looking at hvac or electrician.
SexyWampa@reddit
I went back to drive tour vans and buses. And now I'm trying to get back into a truck. Realized I hate dealing with people more than I hated otr.
True-Yooper@reddit
Nice to haul fright that does not talk to you... Or spit on you, or cuss you out... Former public transit driver here.
paulbunyanshat@reddit
I got out - im an EMT now
PutridContribution41@reddit
What's the email pay look like?
paulbunyanshat@reddit
Honestly, I make more than i did driving. I do have to point out two caveats
I work for a for-profit EMS contractor, so the money is going to inherently be better than if in worked for the publoc sector
Though i have my class-a, i only ever drove class-b. I liked seeing my home, wife and dogs every night. I'm also a farmer, so being gone for a week/+ just wouldn't work logistically
FilthyNasty626@reddit
Used to be emt-p. Got out of trucking a year ago. Now I'm too old to be an EMT again :( cut off age is 36 here.
paulbunyanshat@reddit
Oof
Kruten10@reddit
Becoming a pilot. Starting pay is $300,000
PsychologicalAnt3395@reddit
Huh no shit, sounds good to me 300 anything but gay shit also maybe gay shit
Kenworthsteve@reddit
Electrician, HVAC. Plumbing if u can take the nasty.
Rag3QuitnRob3rtGame@reddit
Working on going into tech. Taking classes to get certs when I've got the time while out
Mindless_Library22@reddit
, breaks up the day. And will be pushing 100k
spyder7723@reddit
Farming fill time. Been playing at it for a decade with quite a bit of success for the limited time i can put in to it. If I could devote all my energy in to it I bet I would be just as successful raising crops as I have been at trucking. And such a more peaceful life.
TruckinTuba@reddit
I got signed off on one of the big forklifts our yard has, the kind the use to offload flatbed in one pick, I rather enjoy that, so if I left Id probably be an equipment t operator or similar
Trucker_2022@reddit
Well as in everything there is a best by date, so for under 50, 45 years I would say go for a diesel mechanic+ ASE cert thru a apprenticeship where even a pos cheap churn and burn drivers places like UPS, USPS, FedEx (not ground) will pay $40 per hour to start, mostly decent schedule with no over night work, you need a cdl which you already have, safe from AI/Robo trucks job killing bs.
18 to 40 years Army, Navy, Air Force>Police, Corrections/BOP Border Patrol, Trades like Electrician, Lineman, Plumbing, Elevator Mechanic, HVAC, Carpenter, Mason, aircraft mechanic etc.
If you have $ saved up try opening up a business like a coffee/donut shop, laundromat, car/truck wash, food truck, barber shop.
Trucking's not going anywhere the other gig goes tits up you can always come back as long as you clear your MEC/medical exam. Just remember every single job besides trucking has a decent, normal lifestyle more or less, where a wife, kids, family and friends are a part of life, because even local home daily will fck you up.
SubzeroWins1-0@reddit
OF m
Thismechanictrucks@reddit
I started an OF but I ran out of room to put my fans. And the electricity bill was too high to justify the cost.
bentstrider83@reddit
No real skills. But I feel mechanically inclined enough to get trained into either truck tech or helicopter tech. Probably work a janitorial or warehouse job to keep bills paid.
Another thought was railroad conductor or track maintenance.
Of course I'd like to go for as smooth of a transition as possible.
blessed_rising_jah@reddit
Teach jiujitsu. Maybe one day I’ll open up my own academy and become a full time instructor.
DickWoodReddit@reddit
Been thinking about getting my a+ cert back and some other tech certs and go back to IT
Sethmcswaggin@reddit
I quit driving truck, joined the Army to learn IT got out and now work for one of the major scale house pre clearance providers. Big full circle, still in the industry, just a bit different now.
ShoebillJoe@reddit
I worry it's not a great time to do this what with this AI bs. If you're in a customer facing position you might be good though, or an on call off site tech for servers or something.
twiggythunders@reddit
I’ve been thinking about getting out of trucking, I feel like if I’m waking up every morning dreading going to work it might be time to try something new but I have no idea what I want to do, I worked in a factory in the lab for 7 years and it wasn’t bad super routine which I like. It’s hard though I barely make it as it is and I’ve got a kid on the way so I feel like I don’t have the luxury of messing around to find something I like doing.
l337manic@reddit
Probably into the office
fwilll@reddit
The dispensary
ShoeStunning@reddit
trains conductor or engineer, something to do with maritime industries tow boats or barges or container ships, pilot.
OsBaculum@reddit
I have a mostly unused GI Bill, so once I get off the road I'm gonna go get all the welding certs my local community college offers. Build out a nice van or school bus and try to get work as a mobile welder. Drive out to a job, work it, then explore for a bit before moving on to the next one. I have no idea if this is feasible yet, but I will try to make it work.
HoodHauler@reddit
Dispatch, I’d try and get some remote job from home
Creepy-Internet6652@reddit
Well from what im starting hear about the job market you probably ain't gonna have many options...Especially with Dickhead in charge Sabotaging are Country and now alot of other countries dont want to deal with us....Its about to get Cold out here!!
BeenThruIt@reddit
Farther in the Poor House.
dipstickdarin38@reddit
It’s hard to walk away from $2000to $3000 a week checks. We play mind games with ourselves out here and convince ourselves over and over that this is an OK to make a living, but we realize in the pit of our that it’s unnatural, it’s slavery and you’re being a prisoner on wheels. You have no life out here and it just wears you down and pretty soon at some point no amount of money becomes worth it. I am nearing that point. I’m giving myself one to two more years and then I’m done. I make $125,000 a year at the company I’m at, zero debt, gone paid for two vehicles paid for and $50,000 in the bank. I’m gonna take some of that cash that I haven’t take a swing at my own side gig and maybe even do some rideshare in between. Yeah I know it’s not big money but if I can make $1000 a week between a couple of things, maybe a part-time gig locally or something like that that’s all I need
AleTheMemeDaddy@reddit
I went back to corporate
pianodude01@reddit
Doubt i could give it up, but i bet it would be fun to run a heavy wrecker for a local gig
Neowynd101262@reddit
I'm trying to become a civil engineer.
MrPotato4217@reddit
When i had to retire i went to the pain clinic for good drugs.
Nobod34ever@reddit
My pops retired from the oilfield and turned into a giant pothead. He got cancer a few years ago and beat it but goddammit the doctors were stingy with pain meds for him.
DukeBradford2@reddit
Pill mill doctors in W. Virginia “So you are allergic to the sun and if you stay out in the sunlight for several hours you turn red, here’s a sandwich bag with a variety of painkillers to see which one you will love so much you’ll steal your grandma’s car to pay for just 2 days worth.” The doctor to Wanda Sykes after a double mastectomy, “You people can’t feel pain like white people can, here is 2 ibuprofen and please don’t steal anything on you way out”
Nobod34ever@reddit
I read something a while back that they didn't think infants were capable of feeling pain into the 1980s. How scary is that? Im a woman. I've know chick's who've had C sections where they cut them wide open and sent her home with extra strength advil.
The disparity is crazy.
Same-Warning-6886@reddit
If it’s on my own free will, probably become a DNR officer Or some other kinda local gov or state gov job for the bennies since the only reason I’m driving truck is to save up enough to buy 60 acres in the hills and build a little house on it..
iPutMilkNbowlB4Creal@reddit
Haven't even gotten in yet, but my go-to exit has always been substitute teaching. Zero experience needed, you always have work, zero punishment if you don't feel like working, only negative is it no longer pays $200 for 6 hours of "work" like it did during the pandemic, but it's still not bad and it's usually fun. The job is literally "sit down and take attendance." Anything else is extra (it's actually illegal if your employer asks you to really teach if you're a sub). I was going to do TEFL teaching as an expat but that field is oversaturated now..
spartanantler@reddit
I’m guard bumming right now hoping to go to the Middle East
warwgn@reddit
I’m a labourer at heart, so I’d go back into a warehouse job loading trucks again, and re-certify my forklift licence.
vbceejayy@reddit
With ya on that one. It was hand unloading trailers, fork lifts and tow trucks before the CDL
weedandspace@reddit
Currently looking to get out. Im thinking maybe sprinkler fitting or plumbing.
north_coast_nomad@reddit
home
RuneScape420Homie@reddit
If I had to quit trucking tomorrow and I needed a job, I would go into a factory or warehouse and run machines again.
Then from there I’d develop a new plan. I’d save for college or trade school more than likely. Develop a game plan while running the line during my mandatory 12 hour shifts at the hypothetical factory.
Sufficient_Tooth_949@reddit
Just any old job, I can find, I survived working as a grocery stocker i survived as a custodian, ill wiggle my way into some job I can tolerate