(07-14-2019, 08:38 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: Watch out for the robots, they're going to eliminate that whole job line in a few more years.

Automation is still a ways off, we're having to much trouble with lane assist and self parking tech for anyone to convince me were going full automation in a few years.

(07-14-2019, 09:13 AM)Caldrac Wrote: I work in that industry to an extent. My only question really is do you have any family? Like a S/O and kids? The number one complaint I here is just the constant being away from family, etc. Pay is good depending on where you cut your teeth at. You may even be able to do a lot of local running depending on where you live as well.

As far as flsprtsgod's take on robots taking over the industry? I don't think it could flat out take it all over but depending on the type of consignee it could happen. We still see tons of drivers gaining fees for layovers, waiting time, lumper fees, counting and other driver related assistance being needed. Even if the truck was automated you would still have some type of asset involved with it.

There's a good chance though we'll see some type of shifting around with companies looking to maximize as much profit as possible. An automated truck with a consignee willing to off load it with no driver assistance being needed would save that company a ton of money in the long run since it's a physical body no longer needing to be accounted for with insurance, base salary, sick time, paid vacation time, etc.

It's inevitable.Personally, I can't wait for Maximum Overdrive to become a real thing!

Yea I have a big family, My wife the 4 kids and then across the street my folks and grandmother. 75 hours a week at my current job so there isn't much home life anyway. For the last 13 years I've worked in Auto Repair started out as general service changing oil, answering phones, picking up parts for an independent shop. Over the last decade I went and got my BA in business, a few ASE certifications, and took some service writing classes, fast forward today I manager a Corporate store as a Store Manager. Without getting into details the industry is changing, and with it how they pay us. It was worth it in the past all the overtime I'd put in because I could earn a significant bonus if my shop was profitable and we controlled liabilities. That bonus has been so significantly reduced it's not viable to do this kind of work anymore. Competitors are following the same trend and I have no interest in working for a dealership. I'm at the point now I either step down from management and go back to just turning wrenches or I find a new skill set and start to make changes. I'm looking hard at the CDL route I like the idea of one day being an owner/operator.

We homeschool our kids so my time with them is more flexible than most. I could even see taking one of them at a time on the road for a few weeks at a time. CDL seems to open a lot of other opportunities as well.

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