Thinking of moving South

[Videodrome]

Since I've gotten myself stuck with this Truck Driving career for now, I'm considering the idea of moving South to SouthEast to get away from the damn snow. Last winter was horrible and I'm just sick of dealing with this s***. I'm really lucky I've never gone into a ditch or worse. I've seen many other trucks literally in the woods in Pennsylvania after sliding off the highway.

Thought I'd toss this out as a general question to forum members who live in the South. Imagine if you had to drive a big ass truck with considerations for weather and traffic, where would be a good place to live?

I'm a little curious about different areas from a culture standpoint as well. I am not particularly religious and not sure what to expect of the culture of 'Bible Belt' states and I just find proselytizing annoying AF.

It would be nice to live near my parents and other relatives who retired and live in the South, but they are in southern Alabama. I just get a weird culture vibe from that state and I have been there before in Birmingham. I wonder if Mobile, AL could be different?

Any thoughts on Florida? Might I find that many neighbors of a variety of backgrounds are also from the North fleeing the snow so it is very culturally mixed? My impression is that Florida is it's own thing almost beyond the 'Deep South' if I go past the more rural Panhandle. I don't think I could handle the climate of Miami though it is way to humid. Aside from the occasional Hurrican thing, is Florida prone to random torrential rains or other weird tropical weather? Might that still be better than say northern Alabama which seems to be at the end of a serious Tornado zone? Note on that: I fvcking hate high wind in a tall high profile vehicle.


Truck Driving is a ridiculous job and I wish I could get out of it, but in my current location job options are limited or would mean lower pay. I'm also thinking that if I live near a decent Metro area in the south, I might have a shot at other local jobs or retraining opportunities. Aside from the snow, I need to get away from Small Town life and the bizarre Midwest economy.

 

[Pureshooter]

Raleigh, NC might be a good option. Fairly warm, not too expensive, near major highways, etc.

If you want to go even warmer maybe Charleston or Savannah?

 

[karmakid]

My friends who’ve moved here to Cali say Atlanta or mid to southern Florida resemble Cali the most. But the further you go up Florida the more hardcore conservative they are, which is where they’re from.

From watching videos on lawn care (thelawncarenut) seems like mid western Florida is nice.

 

[Andy]

Thought I'd toss this out as a general question to forum members who live in the South. Imagine if you had to drive a big ass truck with considerations for weather and traffic, where would be a good place to live?

The South will be better in terms of weather and traffic. Very little snow (none if you go south far enough) and less traffic, assuming you're not living in Atlanta or some place like that. Roads are straight, because much of the land is flat, outside the Appalachians.

I'm a little curious about different areas from a culture standpoint as well. I am not particularly religious and not sure what to expect of the culture of 'Bible Belt' states and I just find proselytizing annoying AF.

I lived in CA most of my life before moving down south, and it was a big change. Lived here 20 years now. It is definitely more conservative and religious than other parts of the country. I've never been proselytized, aside from an occasional door knock and pamphlet, but you get that everywhere. But Christianity is woven into the culture. That's good if you're a Christian or a spiritual person, because you can talk about it without getting the blank stares you would in other parts of the country. It's not so good if you're an atheist, because you might feel alienated or irritated by it.

It depends where you live, of course. Big cities are more diverse; cities with lots of universities are more enlightened; and the farther north you go, the less traditional/religious people tend to be.

It would be nice to live near my parents and other relatives who retired and live in the South, but they are in southern Alabama. I just get a weird culture vibe from that state and I have been there before in Birmingham. I wonder if Mobile, AL could be different?

Birmingham doesn't have much going for it. Kind of a blah town, as far as I can tell. It's got the civil rights history, but that's about it. Mobile is nicer. I've spent some vacation time there. Not bad. Don't know if I'd want to live there, though. Personally I'm eyeing eastern TN or western NC, because I want to live near the mountains.

To me, the main pro's of living in the south are:

+ cost of living (e.g., average home prices are much lower than elsewhere, the tax situation is often better)
+ friendliness of the people -- this is key for me, and the main reason that despite the con's below, I'll never leave the south. People are just a lot more friendly and welcoming than they are in other parts of the country.

The main con's are:

- the heat and humidity in the summer. It keeps most people indoors.
- the predominance of conservative/religious views may turn some people off (this might be viewed as a positive by some, but I'm guessing it's a negative for you).

Truck Driving is a ridiculous job and I wish I could get out of it, but in my current location job options are limited or would mean lower pay. I'm also thinking that if I live near a decent Metro area in the south, I might have a shot at other local jobs or retraining opportunities. Aside from the snow, I need to get away from Small Town life and the bizarre Midwest economy.

Yeah, you could find another line of work that suited you better. Plenty of cities have very strong economies. In general, the economy in the south tends to be more stable than in other parts of the country.

 

[Videodrome]

I have mixed feelings about the Smoky Mountains. Some of that area can be really steep. If I'm loaded heavy, I'll be in the slow lane going up at 15 to 20mph.

I'm not totally dismissing it though because some companies might be based in Chattanooga and go West away from the mountain. Oddly enough to deliver in California. I think I could do that as a job, but I'm not sure what there is to actually do in the town of Chattanooga aside from restaurants. I will say I've been in really awesome Southern BBQ restaurants in Tennessee.

 

[Andy]

but I'm not sure what there is to actually do in the town of Chattanooga aside from restaurants.

Lots of stuff. Chattanooga is actually a pretty cool town, especially if you like the outdoors (named "Best" twice by Outdoors magazine). Growing very fast. I'm looking at it for relocation myself, although the rapid growth will probably cause me to settle elsewhere in that general area.

https://vacationidea.com/destinations/best-things-to-do-in-chattanooga-tn.html

I agree about the problems of driving a truck in the smokies, though.

 

[lowdru2k]

Texas is having a trucker shortage. Some of the brokers we use have trouble finding drivers to haul loads for us. Not long ago a order got pushed back for a month because the broker kept d***ing us around every few days saying they found a driver then noooope.

 

[Pureshooter]

I second Chattanooga as being a nice place. It is actually fairly artsy in certain areas and more modern than you'd think. Same for Asheville, NC.

 

[Videodrome]

Texas is having a trucker shortage. Some of the brokers we use have trouble finding drivers to haul loads for us. Not long ago a order got pushed back for a month because the broker kept d***ing us around every few days saying they found a driver then noooope.

Hmmm..... I might give real serious thought to Texas. I have looked around at positions and locations wondering if it's best to be close to San Antonio/Austin or Dallas/FortWorth. I would just have to get used to Fort Worth's weird highway ramp loops lol.

Do you recommend a particular city area? I hear not so great things about Houston and I think they're also flooding again.


Any thoughts on the Texas climate? Generally hot but dry I guess? Occasional Gulf Storm?

 

[wshowers]

As long as you're willing to trade frigid cold for swamp ass most southern states are accommodating.

I'd stay out of Florida due to "Florida Man"

I live in South Carolina now after living in Maryland in my youth , and there are pros and cons to it:

Pro:
- Cost of living is lower
- Property taxes are low ( IF you live in the right county)
- Mostly friendly people
- Stays warm most of the year ( You can get away with short sleeves nearly 8 months of the year)

Neutral:
- Even the large cities move slower than a major Metropolitan city.

Cons:
- Hot as balls in the summer ( Its 80+ F at 8:00AM)
- Wages are considerably lower than the rest of the country
- Stereotypical religious. Don't make plans on Sunday, nothing's open.
- There are no unions in SC. Everyone is essentally an at will employee. Take that for what it is.

 

[Kerosene31]

Just realize that in losing those snow days you're gaining "hot as balls" days instead.

Where I am we get a lot of snow, but the number of snow days where I can't actually get out are few. However there are more "too hot to leave the a/c days".

Remember too that while they get much less snow the further south you go, the worse even a tiny bit of snow is. Atlanta gets an inch and the whole place shuts down. Sure, we get snow up north, but most places also have the plows to deal with it too.

What sucks is weather seems to be getting more and more extreme for everyone. In the northeast we're generally warmer but when we do get snowstorms they are huge. Same with tropical storms down south.

Extreme weather is everywhere now it seems, so just make sure you know what you're moving into.

 

[Videodrome]

Just realize that in losing those snow days you're gaining "hot as balls" days instead.

Where I am we get a lot of snow, but the number of snow days where I can't actually get out are few. However there are more "too hot to leave the a/c days".

Remember too that while they get much less snow the further south you go, the worse even a tiny bit of snow is. Atlanta gets an inch and the whole place shuts down. Sure, we get snow up north, but most places also have the plows to deal with it too.

What sucks is weather seems to be getting more and more extreme for everyone. In the northeast we're generally warmer but when we do get snowstorms they are huge. Same with tropical storms down south.

Extreme weather is everywhere now it seems, so just make sure you know what you're moving into.

As for plowing snow in the north that's mostly true until February at least around here in Wisconsin then people seem to stop giving a sh't. The State will still eventually get out and do it, but many Distribution Warehouse do not care how messed up or iced over their yards are and that stuff starts to piss me off. Big companies still take care of it like Walmart or Costco, but small companies don't care.

The other issue is trying to hook or unhook a truck to a trailer while spinning tires on ice and snow.


Also, anything that is close to a halfway moderate point between Hot and Cold is Tornado Alley.




I should probably just consider the south anyway and hope my Semitruck has good A/C while I roll down the highway. Then I only have to endure the heat when I get out to fuel or deliver.


One odd point is the middle of the southern area is Louisiana and Mississippi and I have little inclination to live there or look for work there. Then at that point it's the South East or Texas I guess. Also, I cannot even understand people with a Deep South Southern Drawl OMFG.


The consolation to living in hot climates is having real Southern BBQ or in some places Cajun food.

 

[hrudey]

My friends who’ve moved here to Cali say Atlanta or mid to southern Florida resemble Cali the most. But the further you go up Florida the more hardcore conservative they are, which is where they’re from.

From watching videos on lawn care (thelawncarenut) seems like mid western Florida is nice.

Florida is backwards; the further south you go, the closer you are to the North, with the exception of Miami, which exists simultaneously as a borough of New York and a suburb of Cuba.

The South in general is also warped; if you're driving long distances, you'll find in the South that no matter what direction you're driving, you're always happy to leave a state but even sadder to be in the one you just entered. This does not seem to include North Cackalacky, however, as North Carolina and Virginia seem to be much less of a s***show for some reason. But it's some sort of "the grass is always s***tier" effect somehow.

 

[lowdru2k]

Hmmm..... I might give real serious thought to Texas. I have looked around at positions and locations wondering if it's best to be close to San Antonio/Austin or Dallas/FortWorth. I would just have to get used to Fort Worth's weird highway ramp loops lol.

Do you recommend a particular city area? I hear not so great things about Houston and I think they're also flooding again.


Any thoughts on the Texas climate? Generally hot but dry I guess? Occasional Gulf Storm?

I grew up and have lived most of my life not far from the Beaumont/Houston area. Even though there are areas I like around here, I wouldn’t recommend it. Traffic is horrible and the weather has been pretty crazy for the last year.

I like the Tyler area I have family that lives there. It has really grown in the last 10 years. I would recommend it.

I also like the Fort Worth/Dallas area I spent a lot of time there since I was a kid because my parents best friends loved outside FW. I would recommend that.

My limited time in Austin/San Antonio areas they are some really nice areas. I don’t know much about further West in Texas.

 

[Andy]

Texas tends to have a pretty good economy, good tax situation, and plenty of jobs available, so that would be worth considering. I lived there for 6 years, and people were generally pretty nice. I wouldn't move there now because it lacks mountains and it's too f*cking hot, but it might be a good fit for you. Flat, no snow, good job prospects.

 

[Andy]

Neutral:
- Even the large cities move slower than a major Metropolitan city.

Yeah, that's one thing I forgot to mention. I consider that a pro. I felt a pressure to move quickly when I lived elsewhere, but people in the south take their time. They talk slower. They aren't in a rush. Freeway traffic isn't a race like it is in other places (unless you're in a big city) and people will stop to let you in. The overall pace is slower and more relaxed.

 

[hrudey]

Texas tends to have a pretty good economy, good tax situation, and plenty of jobs available, so that would be worth considering. I lived there for 6 years, and people were generally pretty nice. I wouldn't move there now because it lacks mountains and it's too f*cking hot, but it might be a good fit for you. Flat, no snow, good job prospects.

Not to mention the fact that if you cross into the border and don't already own a gun, one will be provided to you. (*)

Spoiler

(*) Offer valid only for valid card-holding whites.

 

[lowdru2k]

Texas tends to have a pretty good economy, good tax situation, and plenty of jobs available, so that would be worth considering. I lived there for 6 years, and people were generally pretty nice. I wouldn't move there now because it lacks mountains and it's too f*cking hot, but it might be a good fit for you. Flat, no snow, good job prospects.

Yes it’s hot as fook here.

 

[tumorman]

Richmond rules and is where I64 and I95 meet. About an hour drive to the mountains and the beach in the other direction. Has all four seasons, is very affordable, and best of all it isn't DC.

 

[Videodrome]

Richmond rules and is where I64 and I95 meet. About an hour drive to the mountains and the beach in the other direction. Has all four seasons, is very affordable, and best of all it isn't DC.

Yeah driving in D. C. can be horrible lol.


Does Richmond get much snow?

 

[TDbank24]

I know you have your reasons but just getting through a 100 degree heat wave the last 5 days here in Massachusetts reminds me why i would never move South. f*** dealing with that every day.

 

[Andy]

It's not that bad. I can't remember the last time we had 100 degree weather. It's been averaging 90 for the past couple of weeks. The worst is late July and August, when it will be in the mid-90s. It melted me when I first got here, but you get used to it. It's really hot for about 3 months, then it's good the rest of the year. Can't beat the winters. They are like fall elsewhere. Winters really don't exist.

I think the main thing people have to think about when moving south is the cultural/political differences. If you can handle those, it's a nice place to live. If you can't see yourself feeling comfortable with that, find somewhere else to set up shop.

About that, though... There are a lot of unfair stereotypes (and some fair ones, too). When I moved down here, I had all those stereotypes in my head -- backwards, racist, ignorant, Jesus freaks, thumb-up-the-ass rednecks, lots of racial tension, etc. Turns out, that''s all true. No, just kidding. It's only about 25% true.

 

[Videodrome]

I know you have your reasons but just getting through a 100 degree heat wave the last 5 days here in Massachusetts reminds me why i would never move South. f*** dealing with that every day.

I used to do long haul trips to Laredo, TX and I've been down there in July once. I know it can be really bad.


Another issue with the snow is most truck drivers get paid by cents per mile. If I have my tires spinning or get stuck while trying to hook to a trailer, all the time I spend dealing with it is unpaid work and wastes my logbook time.

 

[TeKPhaN]

Northerner here
Luv my fall and winter

It's not that bad. I can't remember the last time we had 100 degree weather. It's been averaging 90 for the past couple of weeks. The worst is late July and August, when it will be in the mid-90s. It melted me when I first got here, but you get used to it. It's really hot for about 3 months, then it's good the rest of the year. Can't beat the winters. They are like fall elsewhere. Winters really don't exist.

I think the main thing people have to think about when moving south is the cultural/political differences. If you can handle those, it's a nice place to live. If you can't see yourself feeling comfortable with that, find somewhere else to set up shop.

About that, though... There are a lot of unfair stereotypes (and some fair ones, too). When I moved down here, I had all those stereotypes in my head -- backwards, racist, ignorant, Jesus freaks, thumb-up-the-ass rednecks, lots of racial tension, etc. Turns out, that''s all true. No, just kidding. It's only about 25% true.

Yeah its been that bad..

 

[Kerosene31]

I know you have your reasons but just getting through a 100 degree heat wave the last 5 days here in Massachusetts reminds me why i would never move South. f*** dealing with that every day.

Yep. I have the last 2 days off and I spend 99% of the day inside and in the only room with a/c. I walk my dog first thing in the morning then real quick mow the lawn and even at 10am it was tropical heat. I was covered in sweat.

There's not one person outside in the middle of the day in this heat. I'd spend more time outside in the winter.

 

[Videodrome]

Northerner here
Luv my fall and winter

Yeah its been that bad..

Sad thing is I don't mind living in the north personally, but I seem to be stuck in this ridiculous truck driving career so the snow is a pain in the ass and sometimes dangerous.

I wish I had an indoor job, but all such jobs where I live that I qualify for would probably mean lower pay.

 

[CFogle21]

I live in Louisville, KY and we have had the hottest heat index in the country the last two days. And it's not that normal heat either, it's that humid, muggy clothes stick to your skin after 5 minutes outside s***.

 

[Andy]

I live in Louisville, KY and we have had the hottest heat index in the country the last two days. And it's not that normal heat either, it's that humid, muggy clothes stick to your skin after 5 minutes outside s***.

Yeah, the humidity can be a bitch. Sometimes I'll go for a walk late at night, like 10 or 11 pm, and I can't get three blocks without sweating. And I'm just walking.

 

[TeKPhaN]

I live in Louisville, KY and we have had the hottest heat index in the country the last two days. And it's not that normal heat either, it's that humid, muggy clothes stick to your skin after 5 minutes outside s***.

Swamp balls hot sux

 

[Videodrome]

But how is Kentucky for Winter otherwise? Or maybe southern Indiana?