OTR with a child

Most companies I've worked for frown on having kids with you during the winter months. I've got 8 kids at home, various ages, I've taken some out on the road with me, others simply weren't interested. So the answer to your question is, it depends on the kid. Some are in to it, but most of them want to stay home and hang out with their friends, not hang out with their dad 24 hours a day for weeks on end. My second to oldest daughter usually ended up riding with me the entire summer, because the other kids just weren't interested, unless they knew they'd be back in a few days.

 

I don't know about taking the kid on the road with you all the time, especially once she gets to high school age. I'm sure it has been done. Having home schooled my youngest for three years, there is definitely plenty of material out there for that aspect of it.

Our youngest went on the road with dad for two weeks when he was 13, and while he enjoyed the time out there with dad, he was glad to be home again.

I definitely recommend talking it over with her and seeing what she thinks of this idea.

 

Good point there. Some companies only allow kids on the road during the summer months when they will be out of school.

 

I think it will be really hard for her, especially as she gets older (at lightning speed) and wants to be with her friends, wants her privacy, gets bored, and she may be reluctant to tell you . . . and how can she live in a very small space with her father?? A trip once in a while may be fun for her, but riding full-time may be only good for you, not her.
She really needs the peers, group activities, time away, a chance to reach out on her own . . .
Can you get a local or regional job and arrange for her to be somewhere while you work? Overnight or 1-2 days would be the max, I would think . . .
just my 1 cent's worth . . .
Good luck from another single dad . . .

 

Okay, I'm going to respond as the aunt of a 17 year old young lady who has been raised, schooled,on the truck, and loves being on the road.

The circumstances are different, being that she has had both parents on the truck. She also has had a younger sister on the truck with all of them.

My niece has NEVER been schooled by any but her parents. She has never set foot in "school".
She is in the top percentile for her age group in scholastic achievements.

She has NEVER lacked for "socialization", as they are quite active in church, be it at home, or OTR at TS chapels.

She has a laptop, with internet, for her school studies. She enjoys being on the road with dad. Mom is now at home with her younger sister, and brother. Three kids on the truck was just too many.
My niece CHOSE to stay on the truck with dad, with mom monitoring DAILY, her school work.

The school stuff can work just as well, for a single dad, with his child on the truck. Dad just needs to make sure he has the curriculum of the school district, a laptop with "anytime/all-the-time" access (meaning cell phone carrier laptop air card, or an equivelant), a scanner/copier/fax machine, and plenty of PATIENCE.(which I think is covered by being a single parent AND truck driver!!!)

 

From the time my son was 4 months old until he was 5 years old, he would do pick ups and deliveries with me within 250 miles of home. There was a handfull of time he went with me long distance. It was very hard on me, although he seemed to really love it. Today I have custody of my son every other week for a full week, but he stays with my parents when I'm out, plus I run regional so I'm home most nights. It worked for me because it wasn't full time (4 days every other week) , he was very young and so he was glued to me anyway, plus I owned my semi under my own authority and could pick and choose loads that were more kid friendly while at the shipper or reciever. I think it would be very hard on a 10 year old girl, however if you guys really don't have a choice then I'm sure you and your daughter can make it work, afterall there are families that have made it in much more difficult situations. I think the biggest challenge is finding a OTR company that would approve your situation. I can't think of any companies today that would allow a child to stay with a driver full time. Heck as mentioned, most won't allow a rookie to take the kids during the winter. If you can, just get your class A then go home. Even with no experience other then Truck Driving School, you can at least get a decent local class B job and then work your way into the better paying local class A jobs. If money and finding a place to live is a problem, there are organizations that will help, especially a person with a Class A that has the potential to make up towards 40k+ in a few years. Eitherway, I wish you luck. I know it was hard for me, but it was worth it, however like I mentioned I had a lot of advantages that you don't have. Take care.....

 

Look she needs a , home a stable home environment, a home not a truck. Get a job where your at home with her every night, off on the weekends. She needs her Dad to be there while shes growing up, you need to be available to go to school function as well as participate on her other life interest.

I have 3 daughter and a son 17 to 33. They grow up so fast it can not be explained. Share and participate in her life you only get one chance at it don't blow it. You will never regret choosing her over the road, it is no place for a little girl or boy.

She also needs time with kids her own age, We home schooled my son for a couple of years, he did well and scored well, but in all honesty I feel it had a detrimental affect on him overall. I don't care of you have to scrub garbage pails, its worth it to provide a stabil home environment. This responsibility lies with you. Now she needs you to be the Dad not the time, your not her friend your her Dad and allow her time with her friends as well.

 

The road is no place for a kid. Ride along for a week or two maybe. I never took my daughter out other than a 1 day trip. As a flatbedder there are to many places that won't let a passenger or even a student driver inside the gate. I sure am not going to drop my daughter off at a truck stop while I load or unload. My wife has went with me before, but she is big enough to take care of herself if I had to drop her off somewhere.

If I was in a situation where I became the custodial parent the truck would have to go.