How to NOT get bored of driving?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Canadianhauler21, Sep 20, 2020.

  1. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

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    Land of local
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  3. Blue Zombie Trucker

    Blue Zombie Trucker Light Load Member

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    Something interesting that's illustrated by this thread: you will, as a new driver, have to find what works for you.

    Example: Local drives me nuts with the sameness and repetition, while some guys love local, while deploring OTR, which I absolutely love.
     
  4. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

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    I’m home every day but have several hundred locations in a handful of states that I visit. No day is the same. Not all jobs are the same obviously.
     
  5. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

    11,257
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    Nov 18, 2014
    Land of local
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    Same with me. Load out of the same dozen or so shippers but different receivers most of the time

    Lots of 14hr days playing the local game too
     
  6. Blue Zombie Trucker

    Blue Zombie Trucker Light Load Member

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    What sort of gigs are you guys doing? You and HazMatCat... It sounds pretty sweet.
     
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  7. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    twin cities
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    Me too.
    600+ customers in 8 surrounding states.
    A fresh route every day.
     
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  8. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

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    Land of local
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    Just spot market freight with 2 trucks. In northeast pa, one of the only perks of living in the NE being home daily
     
  9. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    i keep looking to the left and down when driving. maybe it will pay off one day. who knows. for now its just good ole loves hotdog time.
     
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  10. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    Yuma, AZ
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    I've only been driving for a bit over a year and have not exactly had this problem yet. But, I do worry about burn out and proactively try to keep myself from it. I drive OTR reefer in the Western US.
    First off I'm weird in that I enjoy my own company and am quite comfortable being by myself for long periods of time. One of the reasons I thought I might be able to make it as a driver. Also, for many years now the only time I have ever been bored has been when I consciously decide to. I'm the only person I know of that actually considers thinking as a hobby. One of the things I like about driving, I get to sit and think about stuff. Like I said, I think I'm weird about such things.
    Anyway, I take resets alot more frequently than most do I think as an OTR driver. As I have told my driver leader, if I am earning recap hours, I'm ready for a day off. Sometimes I'll take a day off and stay in my truck. But, I also commonly check myself into a hotel for a night or two to get out of my truck. As a matter of fact, after I deliver this load tomorrow, I'm taking 2 days off and will spent 3 nights in a hotel. I think it has more to do with mental fatigue than boredom. Lastly, I know what I am doing is only temporary for me. In April of 2027 I am going to completely retire. I think that helps me not feel trapped and not lament too much on the stuff I sacrifice to be on the road. All my stuff is in a storage unit and I visit it on occasions. Sometimes I get a powerful emotional lament and I miss my bed, books, albums, jukeboxes, tools, etc. But, being able to understand what I am currently doing will pass someday, it helps me to focus on what I have gained by being an OTR driver than what I've had to give up.
    I love to travel and be in motion and have never tired of it. No idea why, but it is undeniable to me. I get a kick out of waking up and having to think for a moment about what state I'm in.
    While I am driving, I do have satellite radio. I listen to news, new age music, jazz or rock and roll. I also sometimes just drive in silence and I find, oddly enough, that I usually like to open my window so I can hear the outside world, other traffic and wind. I also have about 500 albums on my tablet and sometimes listen to some of that music instead of the satellite radio.
    Lastly, I always try to be aware of anything special and out of the ordinary. Case in point, a Sunday not long ago, I'm scheduled to pick up some stuff at a small rural farm. I get there at 7AM and not a soul is around. I sent the appropriate messages of the situation and waited to find out what they wanted me to do. I was at a really serene quiet little fruit farm and it was just so calm. I sat there and relished in the tranquility, watched squirrels playing in a tree and all of it. I was actually there for several hours until the guy who came to unload and then reload me got out of church. I got a kick out of that and didn't even put my in and out times on the BOL for the detention pay. I figured I'd received a reward already and thought it'd be greedy to insist on detention pay on top of it.
    To me, it all ends up being about maintaining a balance. So many thing in life end up about learning, developing and maintaining a balance.
    Anyway, I ain't got bored of driving yet and try and do things I think will not only help me not get bored, but also not get burned out. I fear it could happen at some point. But, not yet.
     
  11. BackwoodsGA

    BackwoodsGA Road Train Member

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    They do.Very much.Did warehouse work 5 years bout went insane.
     
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