Hey all, new guy here. I still got the new guy smell! 
I've got about 15 years and over a million miles under my belt accident and ticket free, (that and $5 gets me a coffee right?) Everything from local rent a center delivery to regional work for an insulation wholesaler. All vans and straight trucks, no CDL. (still don't have it.
I got off the road a little over 10 years ago and located and marked underground utilities since then. about 30k a year in pickups and cars. still no tickets, no at-fault accidents. Well, in February I got an eye opener that being in a car all the time, in good sized cities and dealing up close and personal with idiot drivers was not for me any more. (also a new company that was a complete cluster in my opinion). My boss and I decided to part ways. (good terms, he was sad to lose me) As there are only 2 locate companies in this area, (and they just became one 2 weeks ago) I have been out of work since.
I started looking back at driving again, went for a road test with one company and realized (once the rust fell off of me) just how much I missed being on the road. I tried tractor trailer years ago, I can do it, my trainer was real happy with me, but I realized it was more than I wanted. I couldn't relax and get comfortable like I was in a straight truck. I noticed that my patience in a truck is a LOT better than in a car. (was always fine before too)
Well, I started looking around, and found that the Expedited industry I had looked at years ago has taken off. I had looked into it a little years ago, but everything I found seemed like it was unstable at best. Not Now!! I am located in CT now, and getting out as soon as possible, Planning on the Lynchburg/Roanoke area in Virginia. Now that I have gone through all that. I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to get out to the Expo. It's just over 1700 miles round trip, a bit of that is running up to see my sister in Ohio, but it only adds a few miles. Unemployment barely covers the bills, our jeep is in decent shape, but still only gets 15-17 mpg on the highway, (at best) so fuel alone is pushing $275. Hotel, I think I found a work around, camp in a 12' rental truck for about $100 or stay a ways away for about $150 in a hotel. Either is fine with me. So cost will be a bit under $500 without food at a minimum. I would figure $650-700 just to be safe.
Now that I put you to sleep with my story, to be blunt, is this expo worth borrowing the money for the trip? I get that there will be a lot of info, contacts etc there, I just need to convince the wife. She is considering it at least so that's a good thing. If I can get into this it will just be me as a company driver. At least for now. Going to O/O is a possibility down the road, but I know not to plan on it now.
I know this was a lot, Hopefully I didn't lose you. I am just looking for advice and looks like this is the place.
Thanks everyone!
Chris
I've got about 15 years and over a million miles under my belt accident and ticket free, (that and $5 gets me a coffee right?) Everything from local rent a center delivery to regional work for an insulation wholesaler. All vans and straight trucks, no CDL. (still don't have it.I got off the road a little over 10 years ago and located and marked underground utilities since then. about 30k a year in pickups and cars. still no tickets, no at-fault accidents. Well, in February I got an eye opener that being in a car all the time, in good sized cities and dealing up close and personal with idiot drivers was not for me any more. (also a new company that was a complete cluster in my opinion). My boss and I decided to part ways. (good terms, he was sad to lose me) As there are only 2 locate companies in this area, (and they just became one 2 weeks ago) I have been out of work since.
I started looking back at driving again, went for a road test with one company and realized (once the rust fell off of me) just how much I missed being on the road. I tried tractor trailer years ago, I can do it, my trainer was real happy with me, but I realized it was more than I wanted. I couldn't relax and get comfortable like I was in a straight truck. I noticed that my patience in a truck is a LOT better than in a car. (was always fine before too)
Well, I started looking around, and found that the Expedited industry I had looked at years ago has taken off. I had looked into it a little years ago, but everything I found seemed like it was unstable at best. Not Now!! I am located in CT now, and getting out as soon as possible, Planning on the Lynchburg/Roanoke area in Virginia. Now that I have gone through all that. I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to get out to the Expo. It's just over 1700 miles round trip, a bit of that is running up to see my sister in Ohio, but it only adds a few miles. Unemployment barely covers the bills, our jeep is in decent shape, but still only gets 15-17 mpg on the highway, (at best) so fuel alone is pushing $275. Hotel, I think I found a work around, camp in a 12' rental truck for about $100 or stay a ways away for about $150 in a hotel. Either is fine with me. So cost will be a bit under $500 without food at a minimum. I would figure $650-700 just to be safe.
Now that I put you to sleep with my story, to be blunt, is this expo worth borrowing the money for the trip? I get that there will be a lot of info, contacts etc there, I just need to convince the wife.
She is considering it at least so that's a good thing. If I can get into this it will just be me as a company driver. At least for now. Going to O/O is a possibility down the road, but I know not to plan on it now.I know this was a lot, Hopefully I didn't lose you.
I am just looking for advice and looks like this is the place.Thanks everyone!
Chris
