In the not too distant future, I'll be lucky enough to have the opportunity to retire at 50 years old from my current profession. I'm financially secure with good pension and retirement savings. However, I don't want to sit idle. If I could wave a magic wand, my goal would be to buy a decent used truck outright, chuck the wife in the passenger seat and hit the road, wherever I want to go, taking time off whenever we wanted. Now, I know that no such magic wand exists and there are many considerations to be made. I understand that jumping right into owner/operator isn't viable due to experience requirements by carriers and insurance, etc. I fully grasp the concept of "paying your dues" and the last thing I want to do is give the impression that I'm minimizing the hard work and years put in by those in the industry. From the research I've done it looks like the best thing to do will be to become a company driver to get some experience under my belt. With that said, because I'm not forced to drive to pay the bills, and I do have the financial backing to purchase a truck and drive with low overhead, AND I already have health/life insurance...after getting some company OTR experience under my belt, is this a viable goal? For example, drive for 6 months and take a couple months off, then pick up again when I'm ready to get back on the road. I appreciate any insight.
New To Trucking Trucking as a retirement option
- Thread starter TXShark
- Start date
Johndeere4020
It must be killing you to just have to sit quietly
If I could retire I’d buy a bunch of cheap fire arms and drink as much PBR as possible.
Humble pie
What we have is a failure to communicate.
Best thing I heard to do is live off your daddy’s money and tell stories of him hauling steel on the Ohio turnpike.
Shogun Warrior
Loaded like a freight train flyin like an airplane
morongobill
Member
With all the stress involved and the current economic state of the globe and the trucking business here, why not just go out on the road and continue doing what you do now as an independent consultant. Save yourself a ton of money and grief.
But if you still plan to get into trucking, make sure you stock up with plenty of pee bottles.
But if you still plan to get into trucking, make sure you stock up with plenty of pee bottles.
MJ1657
Misunderstood
Don't forget your stripped down work truck because you don't want all them fancy gadgets.
I've been driving 12 years and if I had the money I would retire tomorrow as would about 98% of drivers. Your wife will be sick of it in about 15 to 30 days. Sometime during your first trip as a company driver you will quickly realize that your job is actually a job not a retirement Hobby. also trucking is dangerous are you sure you can even handle a semi truck and trailer for at least 10 hours a day driving. Enjoy your retirement buy a nice camper and drive around America without a tight schedule. Go to Italy and Paris and then cruises I could think of a billion things I'd rather do than work, especially in a job that kills thousands of drivers each year.
Humble pie
What we have is a failure to communicate.
Yes! Not because he can’t afford them, but because they are just going to break
Uncle Birchy
Well-Known Member
Dude I'm not sure how well ya set up but if ya can AFFORD IT @TXShark go with a Motorhome and a Stick-Shift Jeep to pull along and go actually "SEE" what ya wanna See and "Enjoy" yourselves
Humble pie
What we have is a failure to communicate.
He could just go get a one ton and haul campers. They don’t pay great, but it will be easier to see the sights.
Well except for the owner op part, that is what I did. Always wanted to drive semis, so after I retired I got a CDL (paid for by a company), and went OTR for a year. Then I found a local driving job that lets me be home everyday and off weekends. It's pretty nice. So, now I'm a company driver, have no costs for working and get my home time. Allows me to help pay for my boys college, vacations and whatever else I want without touching my 401k. Will do this until I don't feel like it anymore.
81Peterbilt
Member
Here's another one "retiring" from 1 job to come ruin something that has been my career and my father's and his father before him proudly. I can't retire and go into your profession so why at your age jump into my profession and ruin everything because none of you are being taught correctly. In 1987 from day 1 when I got my license I was on my own no "driver trainer" any of that crap if you can't ****ing drive how the hell do you hold a valid CDL!
Thunder Road
Well-Known Member
Be a company driver for at least 12 months before investing any money in a truck.
Become a member of www.OOIDA.com which is a business website for the owner-operator.
Plenty of companies will let you take the wife along after you complete training.
Are you in Texas?
Become a member of www.OOIDA.com which is a business website for the owner-operator.
Plenty of companies will let you take the wife along after you complete training.
Are you in Texas?
Grumpy Joe
Member
Talk to a taxman too. 1099 income or self employed can get expensive without a solid quarterly taxpayer plan and soc sec payments. Records and logs are much more important.
I too am climbing into a CDL Life to supplement Soc Sec. After I get some roadtime,I may do the 5500 truck and hotshot with the wife. My own medium rig and trailer and a slower life spending more time at choice destinations. Independent drivers are changing daily.
I too am climbing into a CDL Life to supplement Soc Sec. After I get some roadtime,I may do the 5500 truck and hotshot with the wife. My own medium rig and trailer and a slower life spending more time at choice destinations. Independent drivers are changing daily.
How in the hell is trucking retirement
. Though it would be interesting to see what the op came up with.
. Though it would be interesting to see what the op came up with.
BlackBart
Well-Known Member
Probably means workin when ya want toHow in the hell is trucking retirement
Problem is that definitely aint much of a business model for a owner op... and certainly no company will go for it
who want's to work for retirement not me
. so true that no company will go for that as they would want the op out as much as possible...Create an account or login to comment
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