Laid-off cubicle dwellers training as truck drivers

[RamboLiberal]

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A growing number of people are trading white collars for blue as the recession and layoffs dictate some tough choices about earning a living. And trucking schools are seeing more of these former white-collar workers as the recession drags on.

Smith & Solomon is one of many trucking schools across the country enrolling older applicants from a variety of white-collar jobs. Decent pay and a relatively short training time is attracting new blood in a stalled economy.

"We have students come to us after spending their whole professional life in an office," Smith & Solomon owner Todd Hyland said. "Then, all of a sudden, they're getting laid off."

A heavy truck or tractor-trailer driver earns an average of $37,560 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A student can complete training in just three to six weeks, and there are few restrictions on receiving a commercial driver's license other than a clean bill of health and a decent driving record.

Hyland says recent applicants at his school are in their 40s and 50s, about 10 to 15 years older than typical students just a few years ago. But many of these new drivers don't necessarily see trucking as a long-term gig.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31897418/ns/business-careers/