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Is missing the "trucker" lifestyle normal

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by frank_the_tank, Nov 28, 2014.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Nov 28, 2014 #1
    frank_the_tank

    frank_the_tank Light Load Member

    129
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    Mar 18, 2010
    pittsburgh, pa
    0
    I have only ever driven flatbed regional(by the house 2 nights a week and most weekends off), and only did it for about a year and a half. yep, living the dream right?! prior to driving, in my mind I have been a truck driver since about 16 yrs old. Like so many on this board, being a trucker is all I ever "thought" I wanted to do. but as most find out, the illusion of the profession is alot more romantic then the reality of it. the driving part of the job is what sells it, hell, that's the easiest part! what they don't tell you in school is, 14 to 18 hour days being the norm, or the many delays you will encounter through the course of the day, over zealous DOT cops, road closures, suicide 4 wheelers (and big trucks) and the many things you cannot take care of at home just to name a few of the side effects of driving and I was just regional, can't imagine being OTR.. it didn't take me long to gain a ton of respect for the guys and gals that have been doing this for many years...
    anyways, after my short time driving and a lot of "requests" from my son (missing too many events) to go back to a more traditional 9 to 5 job I found a position driving for a company that has 1 truck. I usually only get to drive 3 or so days a week and its usually less then 8 hours a day. the other time I have to work at the shop. although it is nice to come home at a decent time everyday I find myself missing being on the road a little. I used to get burnt out so bad by the end of the week working so many hours and dealing with all of the day to day adventures of trucking but I do miss it for some VERY strange reason... in fact, when I think about the stuff I hated, it now doesn't seem like it was that bad.. I guess its the old adage that it is what you make it. I miss it, am I crazy?
     
    frank_the_tank, Nov 28, 2014
    frank_the_tank, Nov 28, 2014
    #1
    OPUS 7 and DrtyDiesel Thank this.
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  3. Nov 28, 2014 #2
    Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    3,390
    6,591
    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    0
    nope.

    completely normal, I think.

    there are those for whom the road leads to an inner peace as opposed to the constraints of the cubicle or same daily routine.
     
    Numb, Nov 28, 2014
    Numb, Nov 28, 2014
    #2
    frank_the_tank, Joetro, Air Breeze and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Nov 28, 2014 #3
    HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

    4,094
    4,863
    Sep 23, 2012
    Bunyan Springs, Colorado
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    I think it's normal. I've been off since last Friday and although I've enjoyed the time off I'm itching to get back on the road.
     
    HotH2o, Nov 28, 2014
    HotH2o, Nov 28, 2014
    #3
    OPUS 7 and Interplanet Janet Thank this.
  5. Nov 28, 2014 #4
    jbatmick

    jbatmick Road Train Member

    2,184
    2,441
    Dec 1, 2009
    hastings, Fl
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    100 % perfectly normal feeling.
     
    jbatmick, Nov 28, 2014
    jbatmick, Nov 28, 2014
    #4
    Air Breeze and frank_the_tank Thank this.
  7. Nov 28, 2014 #5
    Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

    15,317
    209
    Jan 31, 2012
    Green Bay Wi
    0
    dont worry soon your son will grow
    and Dads pu will be the only thing he wants
    the longer you stay away the more he gets the pu
     
    Cranky Yankee, Nov 28, 2014
    Cranky Yankee, Nov 28, 2014
    #5
    frank_the_tank Thanks this.
  8. Nov 28, 2014 #6
    Air Breeze

    Air Breeze Heavy Load Member

    903
    831
    Jun 19, 2009
    Tennessee
    0
    I turned in my truck on November 16th, I am not sure if I miss this business or not yet. When you have been doing the same routine for
    so long your mind becomes conditioned to the point that it forgets what a normal existence is like. I am eating better and getting a lot
    more rest than I am used to, nothing wrong with that. OTR trucking is very hard on your health, both physical and mental. If you keep
    pushing yourself to hard for so long your going to work yourself into an early grave. If you get a chance to, give it a good break once in
    awhile and you will last a lot longer in this business.
     
    Air Breeze, Nov 28, 2014
    Air Breeze, Nov 28, 2014
    #6
    frank_the_tank and "semi" retired Thank this.
  9. Nov 28, 2014 #7
    Mev

    Mev Road Train Member

    3,109
    1,102
    Jul 29, 2009
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    Like any habit , it's missed when your not partaking in it.
    It will pass
     
    Mev, Nov 28, 2014
    Mev, Nov 28, 2014
    #7
    frank_the_tank and "semi" retired Thank this.
  10. Nov 28, 2014 #8
    j.r.1981

    j.r.1981 Light Load Member

    113
    96
    Aug 22, 2012
    0
    I quit driving otr after 8years on the road. I ended up working at FedEx freight. I only made it 6 months took a pay cut told the family good bye and went back out on the road. I couldn't re-adjust to being home every night and being back in my truck is all I could think about. Crazy? Maybe..........
     
    j.r.1981, Nov 28, 2014
    j.r.1981, Nov 28, 2014
    #8
    frank_the_tank Thanks this.
  11. Nov 28, 2014 #9
    Passin Thru

    Passin Thru Road Train Member

    1,918
    564
    Mar 8, 2007
    VA
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    I love being next to my wife of 36 yr at night and have no hankering to go out on a big truck. I go in my pickup with a 30 ft TT and if I go to FL and back to VA I've go a belly full stupid. I'm going to TX-OK for 3 wk in March. Will go W via 81-I40-I30 spend a week in Ft Worth area and then to OK for 8 days. I'd love to get in a brand new truck, go to the Mississippi River in Memphis, drive it in and come home! Or sneak into Yellow Roadways yard, hook on 15 trailers and see how far I could get.
     
    Passin Thru, Nov 28, 2014
    Passin Thru, Nov 28, 2014
    #9
    milkman83 Thanks this.
  12. Nov 28, 2014 #10
    WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

    3,422
    2,142
    Apr 1, 2011
    Broomfield, CO
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    I guess it's kinda like missing the Army, in that you do at times when you shouldn't, but it just happens that way. I do miss driving as a primary occupation, but I can't really say I miss OTR and the freight hauler lifestyle. But I look at the big picture and the reasons I left it outweigh how much I'd miss it.
     
    WitchingHour, Nov 28, 2014
    WitchingHour, Nov 28, 2014
    #10
    Air Breeze Thanks this.
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