how do you know this is it?

I don't know if any of us "knew" it was "it." How can you know such things? You really can't. You just get the wheels rolling and time makes those decisions.

The one year mark does decide a lot, at least it did for me. At one year in, I knew I was going to keep going. That's a fall-out point for many, however. So many companies don't take trainees too seriously, because they've seen it over and over - if you make a year, you'll likely keep going. The ones who just can't deal with the life, the separation, the harships -- they leave pretty early. Before that first year is done. That's why you gain a lot of credit after a year, and esp. after two.

As for your kids, sigh......... it's going to suck. Just have to be honest. You'll miss them like crazy. Thankfully nowadays there are much better ways to keep in touch. Back in teh day there were no cells, no wi-fi, nothing but a phone room in a truck stop. Communication has become MUCH better... is your wife/partner willing to help make that happen?

And don't think flatbed is the only way to stay in shape. You can haul any kind of freight and stay in shape. Unload your own freight. Trust me, throwing boxes of crap (40,000+ lbs worth) is a great workout.

You may learn to love the job, you may not... it's all in who you are... When I started, I came from an office environment which was NOT me and it was intoxicating, the freedom. But for that freedom you do pay a big price in terms of family sacrifice. Once you get a year or two OTR you are much more hirable when it comes to city work, depending where you live... so that is something to consider.

 

Find a local job that pays well and make as much time for your kids as possible...

 

Find an otr company with good hometime as a trial.
Roehl has 7 on 7 off, CRST has a 20/10 program
and schneider also has a few, and they all accept
first year drivers and have training programs.

Most love it or hate it there really isn't a middle,
atleast not for me.

Good Luck !

 

It sounds like you already have doubts.
Your first year of trucking will either make you or break you.If you are going to do it go into it with a good attitude.

I have never been to a training school but can imagine just that part would be the worst.
I taught myself how to drive.The boss threw the keys to an old International cab over to me one day and said take it home for the weekend and learn.
I was working loading trucks at the time.
2 weeks later i was heading west with a loaded trailer.Man,times have changed in the last 30 years!

I have been driving local the last few years and the money sucks!

Next week i go back to OTR hauling mail. I love being home every day but times have changed and bills to pay.

Anyway,Get that first year over with.Keep your nose clean and you can pretty much pick who you want to drive for.

 

Personally, I don't think you should "learn to love" any job. If you try a job, and you have to learn to love it, you will end up hating the job, and yourself for taking it.
Find out what you love to do, and then how you can find employment doing it, or making money doing it.

 

Have you read the thread where the guy was giving up after 24hrs with his trainer? I think he was misled and leaped before he looked. A lot of new guys really aren't comprehending what 4-6 weeks away from home is like. Yes the recruiters tell you 2-3 weeks but that's just not how it goes in most cases. If you have a wife and kids I would seriously recommend you do something else.

 

If you can find work locally do that instead of driving OTR. enjoy your kids growing up you only get one chance at that.

I choose driving because it suits me and I can no longer do shop work. It sucks making $10 hr less than I used to, but it beats standing on a corner with a sign.

Entry level OTR you can expect to be treated like excrement and run hard and long and anything that goes wrong will be your fault. Forget home time, it is a fallacy.