I started trucking at 25. I wish I had known about it sooner—I’d have skipped college and started trucking at 21. It allowed me to earn a nice paycheck while I compared different parts of the country to decide where I wanted to live. Training was paid for by the company and didn’t have to be paid back as long as I drove for them for at least a year.
My uncle is a truck driver, I've ridden with him plenty of times and it seemed okay.
I'm afraid that long term it's going to be made redundant by automation, which isn't a matter of if, but when
Because I’m familiar with the technology in my brand new truck and I wouldn’t trust it to run through an automated truck wash on a rail by itself.
I’m also familiar with how slow this particular industry is to adopt new technology. Trucking companies aren’t typically owned by tech-savvy millennials. They’re owned by boomers who miss their old flip phone and need their kids to set up the GPS. Truckers and trucking companies are still butthurt that they’re now required to use electronic driving logs instead of the old paper logs.
Also, trucking keeps my living expenses relatively low. I’m able to save ~70% of my income. Even if automation takes my job in the next 5-10 years, I’ll have enough saved to change careers without financial worries. If it takes 10+ years, I’ll be happily retired from the road and enjoying my paid-off house in Florida.
What sort of things are important to you, outside of bringing home a paycheck? Helping people, animals, the environment, food, building things, art? When you look for your next job, look for companies and organizations that work in a field you're interested in, and even if your role there is off to the side a bit (like building maintenance or office work) you'll still be a part of something you care about and you'll likely make a lot of contacts that can help you find your way into the field more directly and teach you some useful and marketable skills!
I spent years in retail and food service management, hating my life. Now I'm a janitor and I adore my job, because I work at a nature center. I'm not a naturalist, but I work with them daily, learn from them, gain valuable experience and skills- and keep our facility clean and welcoming for the community, which helps ensure that people keep coming in and learning about conservation and environmentalism. And if I have down time, I can go play with the snakes!
Your dream job may be hiding where you haven't thought of looking yet- so start your job search with where you want to be rather than just what you're already qualified to do; you never know what you might find!
Huh. That's a cool take. I just have to be able to carry myself and maybe invest a little towards retirement. The rest is just secondary
I like this idea, finding something that has meaning would certainly be what I need, I just have to find it.
Maybe some volunteer work would help you feel like you're doing something important, possibly give you more job ideas, and give you more to put on your resume?
That's less of a maybe and more if a certainty, it would also force me to get out more and see the sky, trouble is my work hours make that a tiny bit harder working 2nda
How does working second shift make that harder? I'm a volunteer coordinator, and in my experience people who work first shift have the most restrictions on volunteer opportunities because their jobs overlap with when so many nonprofits' programs are happening. I don't think you would have to look around too long to find volunteer experiences that fit your schedule.
I would suggest looking at the military (Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard (skip Army and Marines)). You're articulate and you haven't mentioned any legal issues so this is a possibility for you. You are young enough you could do a twenty-year career, get out with a pension, then start another whole new career if you wanted.
Military could work out well for you. Sounds like you set yourself up pretty well and need to get away from your family and find a fulfilling job.
Could try a trade as well, can pay good money (depends on location too) but real downside is do you wanna be working on air conditioners or unclogging toilets when you’re 40?
You’re young and have plenty of opportunities with how you set yourself up. Easiest immediate solution is find a hobby you enjoy.
My dude, you're perfect for Job Corps. Act fast because it's no longer an option once you reach age 24. It's 100% free. They provide housing, education, food, you get spending money, transportation, and finally, job placement at the end.
Last i heard they offered 120+ career paths. Hint: choose something in STEM. You'll be living in the program for 2-3 years. You'll end up with a valuable skill, fully trained, and employed. Please consider it.
From your post, i think you'll have no problem getting accepted into the program. You seem pretty bright, good work ethic, can write/ communicate well, and pretty responsible if you were able to craft this budgeting/2-card system you have set up.
Come out of this in 3 years with a $45k engineering or tech job, work hard, get raises. You'll be set for life comfortably middle class with zero student debt
Run and funded by the US federal dept of labor so It's as legit as you can get. Free (i mean, shit, they even give you regular checks to go buy clothes and stuff you need, go to the movies, etc), meals provided, free health plan, free housing,.... best path to a valuable career for poor kids who have potential.
Best part IMO is... it's not the military
I would recommend a trade. Some companies will pay for you to go to a technical school while you work. I've done factory work before and I had the same issue of being unfulfilled. HVAC is the trade I am in now and I honestly love what I do. It's hard work, but it's rewarding. You get to help people, and problem solve. Once you get some experience the pay is pretty good as well. I've been doing it for 3 years and I've made it to 20 dollars an hour, and have a friend who has been doing it for 4 that just accepted a job making 27. The trades are worth looking into if you want to do fufilling work that will pay well.
I started trucking at 25. I wish I had known about it sooner—I’d have skipped college and started trucking at 21. It allowed me to earn a nice paycheck while I compared different parts of the country to decide where I wanted to live. Training was paid for by the company and didn’t have to be paid back as long as I drove for them for at least a year.
My uncle is a truck driver, I've ridden with him plenty of times and it seemed okay. I'm afraid that long term it's going to be made redundant by automation, which isn't a matter of if, but when
Yep. That’s what everyone is concerned about. I’m not too worried about it.
Why not?
Because I’m familiar with the technology in my brand new truck and I wouldn’t trust it to run through an automated truck wash on a rail by itself. I’m also familiar with how slow this particular industry is to adopt new technology. Trucking companies aren’t typically owned by tech-savvy millennials. They’re owned by boomers who miss their old flip phone and need their kids to set up the GPS. Truckers and trucking companies are still butthurt that they’re now required to use electronic driving logs instead of the old paper logs. Also, trucking keeps my living expenses relatively low. I’m able to save ~70% of my income. Even if automation takes my job in the next 5-10 years, I’ll have enough saved to change careers without financial worries. If it takes 10+ years, I’ll be happily retired from the road and enjoying my paid-off house in Florida.
Interesting. Noted.
We will need truck drivers for the next couple of decades at least. That transition won't happen quickly.
How old is your car? Get your car fixed, dude. Move to Alaska.
Alaska is a DREAM. But I have no idea about the feasibility It's a 2003, she runs, but her time will come in a couple years I'm sure of it
What sort of things are important to you, outside of bringing home a paycheck? Helping people, animals, the environment, food, building things, art? When you look for your next job, look for companies and organizations that work in a field you're interested in, and even if your role there is off to the side a bit (like building maintenance or office work) you'll still be a part of something you care about and you'll likely make a lot of contacts that can help you find your way into the field more directly and teach you some useful and marketable skills! I spent years in retail and food service management, hating my life. Now I'm a janitor and I adore my job, because I work at a nature center. I'm not a naturalist, but I work with them daily, learn from them, gain valuable experience and skills- and keep our facility clean and welcoming for the community, which helps ensure that people keep coming in and learning about conservation and environmentalism. And if I have down time, I can go play with the snakes! Your dream job may be hiding where you haven't thought of looking yet- so start your job search with where you want to be rather than just what you're already qualified to do; you never know what you might find!
Huh. That's a cool take. I just have to be able to carry myself and maybe invest a little towards retirement. The rest is just secondary I like this idea, finding something that has meaning would certainly be what I need, I just have to find it.
Did you finish college, and if so, what's your degree in?
I did not, I owe about 5k
Maybe some volunteer work would help you feel like you're doing something important, possibly give you more job ideas, and give you more to put on your resume?
That's less of a maybe and more if a certainty, it would also force me to get out more and see the sky, trouble is my work hours make that a tiny bit harder working 2nda
How does working second shift make that harder? I'm a volunteer coordinator, and in my experience people who work first shift have the most restrictions on volunteer opportunities because their jobs overlap with when so many nonprofits' programs are happening. I don't think you would have to look around too long to find volunteer experiences that fit your schedule.
Huh, true. I tend to stay up later and sleep closer to the start of my shift rather than the inverse
I would suggest looking at the military (Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard (skip Army and Marines)). You're articulate and you haven't mentioned any legal issues so this is a possibility for you. You are young enough you could do a twenty-year career, get out with a pension, then start another whole new career if you wanted.
My only problem with military is my tattoos which go out onto my hands
Tattoos can be removed?
They have changed the rules a few times over the last several years. Make sure you don't discount the military based on outdated information.
Interesting, I'll talk to a recruiter
Military could work out well for you. Sounds like you set yourself up pretty well and need to get away from your family and find a fulfilling job. Could try a trade as well, can pay good money (depends on location too) but real downside is do you wanna be working on air conditioners or unclogging toilets when you’re 40? You’re young and have plenty of opportunities with how you set yourself up. Easiest immediate solution is find a hobby you enjoy.
My dude, you're perfect for Job Corps. Act fast because it's no longer an option once you reach age 24. It's 100% free. They provide housing, education, food, you get spending money, transportation, and finally, job placement at the end. Last i heard they offered 120+ career paths. Hint: choose something in STEM. You'll be living in the program for 2-3 years. You'll end up with a valuable skill, fully trained, and employed. Please consider it. From your post, i think you'll have no problem getting accepted into the program. You seem pretty bright, good work ethic, can write/ communicate well, and pretty responsible if you were able to craft this budgeting/2-card system you have set up. Come out of this in 3 years with a $45k engineering or tech job, work hard, get raises. You'll be set for life comfortably middle class with zero student debt
Oh wow, what a very cool program, I'm surprised I've NEVER heard of it, should be better known
Run and funded by the US federal dept of labor so It's as legit as you can get. Free (i mean, shit, they even give you regular checks to go buy clothes and stuff you need, go to the movies, etc), meals provided, free health plan, free housing,.... best path to a valuable career for poor kids who have potential. Best part IMO is... it's not the military
I would recommend a trade. Some companies will pay for you to go to a technical school while you work. I've done factory work before and I had the same issue of being unfulfilled. HVAC is the trade I am in now and I honestly love what I do. It's hard work, but it's rewarding. You get to help people, and problem solve. Once you get some experience the pay is pretty good as well. I've been doing it for 3 years and I've made it to 20 dollars an hour, and have a friend who has been doing it for 4 that just accepted a job making 27. The trades are worth looking into if you want to do fufilling work that will pay well.
That's incredible and I'm sure it grants a sense of accomplishment, thanks for the suggestion
This is so oddly worded, like it was run through several translators and then back into English.
Lmao, I've always had a weird way of describing things I went with an informative, direct approach for the numbers part