An Update, 6 months In

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by NewBeginnings87, Sep 14, 2020.

  1. NewBeginnings87

    NewBeginnings87 Bobtail Member

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    Sorry this got so wordy, and I'm not sure it belongs in "Questions from New Drivers" but that's where I've posted before, so here I am! I don't know if anyone will remember me. I posted toward the beginning of the year about my husband getting into trucking after his job was eliminated. He was 65, 66 now, and had a CDL for years, but no OTR experience and it seemed like most companies either wanted someone who'd been to CDL school or who had 1 to 2 years OTR experience. He wound up checking out, because of @Chinatown's recommendation, and getting on with Jones Bros Trucking, a flatbed outfit out of Missoula, MT. We live in Montana, about 190 miles from Missoula.

    I just wanted to let you know that things are going well. I miss him and he misses home, but all in all, it's working out and Jones Bros seems to be great so far. One of my biggest worries is he looks to be losing weight that he didn't have to lose in the first place. He's really not a big food guy and it's inconvenient in ways, to eat on the truck, so I think he skips meals.

    He's generally out about 2.5 weeks and then home for 4 days. That's what has worked best for us and his company has been great about it. He just did the math today and figured he's running about 10K miles per month. So far his take home pay is averaging out about equal to his gross pay at his last job, plus he's drawing a pension from that job, so that's nice, but not sure about the trade off of being away all the time. In six more months, give or take a couple, they should offer him a salary. We'll see how that goes.

    I actually hadn't worked out of the home for ~30 years as our kids were growing up and just took my first job, as a receptionist in a medical clinic, about 2.5 years ago. At this point, we would be financially fine without my income and I'm strongly considering leaving my job around Thanksgiving, in the hopes of being able to travel with Hubby from time to time. We even stayed a night in his truck to see if we could handle sleeping on that small bed together. It was surprisingly fine. Hubby is supportive of whatever I want to do in terms of my job. It's hard to decide in this time of uncertainty with the economy and how, if things go seriously south, it could impact his trucking career/income.
     
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  3. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    Sounds like you have a good thing going.
     
  4. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

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  5. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    Agreed, sounds like it has been good for him so far. Yes trucking is a lonely job. Yet if you dont have animals at home. You might want to think of going out with him. It was nice to have my wife with me when I was on the road. Something to consider.
     
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  6. tarmadilo

    tarmadilo Road Train Member

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    I’m glad to hear he’s doing well, and I hope you do get to ride with him sometimes. As for eating on the road, I can only tell you what I do, which is to shop ahead of time and cook most of my meals at home before I go out. Omelets are easy to reheat for breakfast, and I fix a few different things to eat for dinner two. Gotta love a little fridge and a toaster oven! Bags of salad work nice, too. I’m lucky that I’m home for my 34 hour reset, though.
     
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  7. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    Nobody's getting younger and the timeing might be right for you to get on the truck with him. The best times truckin for me was when my wife rode along.
     
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  8. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    So when your husband signed on with the current company I guess they made him go out with a trainer?
     
  9. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    If you think he's skipping meals, then send him out on the road with care packages. A small duffel bag filled with little snacks that he likes, but which also keep a long time. Peanut butter crackers, beef sticks or jerky, anchovies, tuna fish, dried fruit, etc.

    That will let him eat a snack or two when he's in the middle of nowhere at a shipper or receiver.
     
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  10. NewBeginnings87

    NewBeginnings87 Bobtail Member

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  11. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    Looks like Chinatown did him right!
     
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