Who has defeated 'burnout'? How?

You need to find something to look forward to. For me, it's audio books and podcasts. Where else but trucking can I read so many books and get paid while doing it.

 

Once place where I worked, a driver had been there 20 years and seemed happy. One night he walked in to dispatch for his paperwork for that nights run. Instead of taking the run, he slammed the truck keys down on the counter and loudly said, "I QUIT." He left the property and never returned and wouldn't return calls from the terminal manager. The fact is, he was burned out and finally faced up to it and changed companies. I know which company he went to, but never revealed it. The only way I knew his new company is happened to see him one time headed west bound with the hammer down. Chatted with him on the CB radio, but he didn't know who he was chatting with, and I left it at that.

 

After only 12 years in this business, I completely understand your frustration and burn-out. It takes a special person to climb in and out of a truck 6 days a week year after year. This is my third career and there are days when I wish I had not retired from the last one. For me, I've found that a break in routine helps:
1. A different route to the same old stale location.
2. A change of focus, such as taking notice of little things like fresh landscaping, rolling down the window on a nice day and taking a deep breath or even adjusting your seat for a different view point.
3. Watch people as they hurry past you. It always amazes me to catch a glimpse of what people do as they drive by. I've seen behavior which both shocked and caused me to break out in laughter: The old man driving past naked as the day he was born; or, the girlfriend pleasuring her boyfriend as they drive down the road.
4. Listen to music which you find relaxing and enjoyable. I had a coworker who listened to the news and talk radio all day. As a result, he stayed grumpy and argumentative. Be selective with what you allow into your head. 5. Take more breaks. Pull over and take a 5 minute walk or stretch.
6. Make more of your days off. Don't just concentrate on the "Do List," surprise our family with a spontaneous outing to some place different.
7. Smile more.
8. Laugh more.
9. Love more.
And finally, Pray or talk to a friend.
Good Luck and God Bless

 

Thats an easy one just take a break from driving for a few weeks and go spend some time laying on some beautiful beach somewhere around the globe admiring the view.

 

it's hard it is a to control when you are driving someone else's truck but if the boss man is a trucker he will understand that a break or slowdown is much better than a chargeable. if not maybe with your experience you can find a boss who is. w/ 38 years i'm running 70 K a year but i've been lucky... better to enjoy it than regret it.

 

This subject is interesting. I was in the auto repair business for 20 years I made very good money but the hours were in real, 14 to 16 hours was a normal day.I could never get caught up on my work and life was miserable. I then got into trucking, I have never liked it but it was always better than anything else I could find. If you enjoy driving and don't enjoy the daily routine then ask your boss for a change. The biggest thing that I think would help is cut your days and get involved in a hobby that you enjoy. The one thing is before you make that leap to another job just give yourself plenty of time to think about it and weight everything out. If I had took some time and thought out my circumstance I would still be working on cars.