Hello James
I see you just joined today. Welcome to the site. If you have not allready done so there are many hours of reading in the archives here that address you're questions.
You look like a very typical and perfect candidate for the expediting niche of the trucking industry. Experienced trucker, wife at home with the last kid out of the nest or recently retired. Looking to spend more time together and go out and explore this big splended country of ours (whoops, getting into this commercial tourist thing that irritates some) Maybe, the thought of driving an 18 wheeler might be a lil intimidating and starting in a 6 wheeeler sounds cool.
You're questtion was about the downsides
As an experienced trucker you are allready familiar with most.
Even though the comfort levels in equipment and facilities and ease of operation of trucks {Auto transmission, cruise control, air ride,
better highways etc} have increased significantly over the last 30 years its still mostly a mans world out on the road. (Now before any of you ladies jump on me for that being a sexist comment I am not talking about ability to operate the equipment. I am talking about by
nature MOST women tend to be more home bodies)
Now, you know yer wife. Does she enjoy long drives? Does she mind gettin out and roughin it a bit? Do you folks have even dispositions and can handle days together in small spaces? Does trucking sound exciting to her or is she goin along with it at you're request?
I think the number one downside is getting out there and not being happy together
You asked about home time. Does 70% sound ok? If you are willing to take it in clumps thats all most owners expect. But it could well be 3 to 6 weeks between trips home, depending on where you live. Long d/h's every other week or weekend don't get it.
Owners, As has been posted many times, there are some unscrupuolous or dishonest owners. Get a contract and be clear what you're expectations are and what the owner expects of you. I have seen stories here of drivers being out 6 to 8 weeks and then when they want to go home the owner gets po'd.(the truck don't make money sittin idle)
It is very wise, though to put in a full year before purchasing you're own truck. If after a fem months or a year its simple just to walk away
With you're experience, a good resume and clean driving record you should have no problem finding a top notch owner and a nice ride.
Waiting, There are times when patience is required. More often then not you are not predispatched. You could wait a few minutes or a few days for a load. Its a hurry up and wait business. So, finding constructive or entertaining use
of yer free time is essential. Sitting in the cab lookin at the QC and begging to hear the beep can be nerve racking.
90% of the loads are dispatched shortly after the order is taken. There are not lots of loads just sittin on the back burner.
As a dispatcher once told me when I called asking what was going on. "I would love to give you a load but I can't make the customer call"
Driving conditions, you allready know all about that. Not often will you be doing back to back coast to coast runs. Until you're wife feels comfortable with backing, city runs, inclement weather etc you can help out there
When to DH? how long to wait? What loads to accept? Maybe the first couple months would be good to have instant availabilty of the owner to run by them whether to accept or decline a load. After that you should be gettin the hang of it. But even after many years of doing this we all still get the loads that we wonder if we made the right decision. Don't worry about it.
Well, there are a few things to think about. If you deceide to join us, welcome to the club
