Help a trucker wannabe out!

**sammycat** · 06.02.2010

Hey ORGuy- Welcome!

Just my 2 cents worth as I am still relatively new to this life. Hubby started Feb and it was a HUGE adjustment on both of us. During training he was home 11 hours ONE night in 5 1/2 wks, and that only cuz they had a local load to drop. Hubby is on a dedicated run which does get him home most weekends -of course some of that time is spent getting ready to go out again. It's tough on BOTH of you and if you have kids (we don't) a whole 'nother story. I agree with all the posts above and to NOT discourage you but do read thru this site. I wish we had seen it before hubby left cuz we both have learned ALOT from experienced, newbs, spouses etc. The best thing I read on here is ''trucking is not a job, it's a lifestyle.'' SO TRUE!
I also have done the ''corparate' route and yes it suxs but don't think that there is not bull crud out there for truckers!! Dispatchers and FM's can make or break you! Dock workers can have you sitting for hours waiting to load/unload. Again hubby has lucked out and has good ones.....so far and again lucked out.
Don't be discouraged at all but keep reading and researching!!! It's a tough life for the driver and those at home. I would encourage your wife to get on here too and read threads from other spouses-it will help for her to get an idea of what life will be like.
I wish you LOTS of luck in what ever you do!!

**rich_t** · 06.02.2010

Originally Posted by OpenRoadGuy

I get the idea of staying in a cab for 11 hours in a day. Incidentally, 4 by 8 or 6 by 8 is larger then I expected LOL.

Anyway, I'm going to admit, I don't like the idea of training. It looks like companies have you paired with a trainer for about 2 months, and during that time you don't get paid a ton. I have to admit, I will hate that with a passion. I can stand being stuck in a 4 by 8 sleeper, in fact, I honestly believe I won't mind it at all. But sharing that space with somebody, I'm going to hate that with a passion.

So I'm expecting the first 3 months or so, I'll have very limited time with my family. But are you telling me that after I get some experience behind my belt, I won't be home ever?

A lot will depend on what company and what type of route you get. If you land with a company that runs the lower 48 and Canada you might be out 4 to 6 weeks at a time. When you do get home it will likely be for a 34 hour reset then back out you go.

Forget spending many holidays at home with the family. Same with birthdays, anniverseries etc...

The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.... until you get to that other side and realize that it ain't.

Just do as much research as you can and this board is a great place to do that. Look before you leap as they say.

Best of luck to you.

**Saddle Tramp** · 06.02.2010

What i'm saying is that home time after training will probably be 3 or 4 weeks of driving. The longest i was out was 6 weeks with 2 days home time Than out for 6 weeks again. When i drove for my wife's uncle & we drove for Hirschbach i was home every week-in, rarely out 2 weeks. Find a co. that meets your needs.

**OpenRoadGuy** · 06.02.2010

Now we're beginning to get somewhere. So, a trucker can spend time at home, it just depends on the company that work for. Well, gee golly wiz, it sounds like I ought to find out which of those companies are good to work for. Gosh I wish I hate a trucker forum where I could get specific suggestions such as good companies to work for, etc....oh wait...

**OpenRoadGuy** · 06.02.2010

The short of it is, I understand that the first 3 months will be a ton of time from home. But I don't want to be away from home for 6 weeks only to spend 2 days with my family. For goodness sakes, these sounds like EXTREME examples. Obviously I want to work with a company that will meet my needs. I would like to spend a week to two weeks on the road, and then be back with my family for 2 days or more.

**sammycat** · 06.02.2010

ORG- they may sound like extremes and yes you want to find a company that will meet yours and your family's needs but hate to say it -most of the big companies (oh and you will see post after post after post on those) are really out to make $$$ you are a number not even a driver most of the time. If you can get a local run (after your 1-2 yrs or more experience) and be home nights or days (depending on what you are running dry, tanker, reefer etc) that is good. That's what we are hoping for. Listen to the experienced drivers who are not kidding when they say you may be out 4-6 wks and then home for your 34hr reset. If you hit your re set in Calif and then keep running and hit it again in Texas, run again hit in Colorado, you get my point. Again my husband got a dedicated run ONLY cuz he had trained on that run and a bunch of drivers quit the company all at the same time. His is one of the ''bigger'' one but not one of the ones I see on most of the threads so again he was lucky. There are alot of drivers out there looking looking looking all the time.
No one is trying to discourge you at all just give you the facts to make an informed decision.

**rich_t** · 06.02.2010

Those are NOT extreme examples at all. Happens all the time. Who knows, you might get lucky and find a company in the industry that will meet your desires, then again you might not.

**OpenRoadGuy** · 06.02.2010

Fair enough. Your warning about being on the road a lot of the time is heeded. I still want to seriously look into this.

**rich_t** · 06.02.2010

Originally Posted by OpenRoadGuy

Fair enough. Your warning about being on the road a lot of the time is heeded. I still want to seriously look into this.

By all means look into it; in depth. Nobody here wants to see you fail. We are merely trying to give you good information about the reality of trucking so that you can make an informed and hopefully intelligent decision.

If I may ask, what sort of work do you do now?

**OpenRoadGuy** · 06.02.2010

Originally Posted by rich_t

Those are NOT extreme examples at all. Happens all the time. Who knows, you might get lucky and find a company in the industry that will meet your desires, then again you might not.

I'm thinking that I'll find a company in the industry that meets my needs, but only after I get 1 to 2 years behind my belt. Does that sound realistic?