how many people here happy driving??

I will not try to blow smoke in your face. Its not easy to leave home for work. I did it for months at a time in the military. I have done it for weeks trucking. Its a sure negative to the job. You can realistically get home every weekend. Sometimes the money is better if you go out longer. Your spouse will be stressed. They have new loads put on them while you are moving other loads around the nation. Kids will feel a mixed reaction of, "daddy drives a cool big truck" and "why could he not come to the big game?".

But is it worth it? Am I happy? A resounding yes! Its not easy, but there is a lot of freedom. My office is a view of amazing landscape. I chose my schedule. As long as that load gets there on time, the rest is up to me. Just don't let the benefits let you overlook the negatives. Keep up on problems at home and make sure that you TRY to help resolve them. Its not easy, but it can be done. If it gets in your blood, maybe those kids grow up and the spouse might even run with you!

So, just like any career, it has disadvantages. Maybe some really BIG disadvantages. But it also has some great rewards also!

 

i have no wife and kids so im happy driving i like where i work they pay me a decent wage and give me decent miles and get me home when i tell them too.
But even with no kids and wife everyone still has to go home evry once in a while to keep whats left of their sanity.
But on the other hand im an introverted ####### so i fit right in i guess.
anyway all you gotta do diesel is get through the first year and youl be all right however thats easier said then done.
goodluck

 

Hey! don't beat yourself up. I think I'm very introverted, but after only being otr for a single week discovered I hated it. Actually knew going in I wouldn't like it, but the realities hit me in the face like a bag of bricks. Very little time for anything but working. The smell of urin at truckstops. Finding that most drivers feel the need to run more than one log to make money. More responsability then anyone that doesn't drive otr can imagine. The sacrafices. What I'm saying is it's okay to be introverted, but that doesn't make you an outcast. If I learned anything at all in my failure, it's to respect those that persevere all that truck'n throws at them and delivers the goods to us all.

I don't know, so can't say what's right for anyone that wants to drive. But there is certainly a demand for drivers. And you'll never really know unless you try it. So I wish anyone with the fortitude the job requires alot of luck and well wishes. As for me, I've found a local job delivering propane. For as long as I can keep out of trouble anyway. Once again, Best of luck.

 

I m going on training for a week for a co that runs teams only. I get a knot in my throat everytime I think of leaving my wife and 5 month old daughter behind. I am supposed be to home weekly, but this is the 1st time I ll be away from my family. It's the hardest choice I ve ever made.
I dont have a degree, so it's really my only choice. I hope to otr for a year and then get something local.

 

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I had to go out to sea for 6 months when my daughter was 6 months old. Just remember, its nothing like that. Days are not as bad as months. The end picture is important no matter days or months.

 

Ive been out here for approx 20 yrs. Yes it is hard to leave the wife and kids (which are grown up now) but still hard. Will you get use to it? NO but, it comes with the job. It takes a strong wife and a trusting relationship. I was in the US Army proir to trucking so the wife was kinda use to it....Money can be good and also be terrilbly bad depending on the company you drive for. Ive been and O/O for 19 yrs and that lets me get home when I want to and stay as long as I want. good luck and enjoy

 

I've been driving for almost a year now and I love it. Wish I had gotten into it years ago instead of wasting all that time trying to fit into the corporate world. I have a degree and 24 years of experience in the securities and trust end of banking. But, if I had the opportunity to go back to that right now, I'd stay driving. I drive teams which is a little different than driving solo, and my son is 18 and doing fine. It is tough to be away from him so much, but he has his life and we keep in touch by phone. If there is one thing I can suggest, its to get a good cell phone and plan. Get one for your wife and one for you and make sure the plan has free in network calling so you don't use any minutes when you talk to your wife. A plan with free incoming minutes is also a good idea so that you also won't use minutes when your dispatcher calls you, your mom, brother, sister, friends etc call you. That way, you won't be wasting money going over your minutes every month. Call your wife often and reassure her that you are doing fine and enjoying your time on the road. Make sure you tell her how much you miss her and listen to her as she tells you all of the things that are going on with her. Try to remember to ask her about things she told you were going on (that way she'll feel that you're still there for her and that she's important to you) and when you're home, be home. Be prepared to work when your home -- taking care of any little things that might need to be done (broken light switch, patch a hole in the wall, broken gate latch, sticking locks). It will be tough to do since when you're home, all you'll want to do is relax. But, your wife needs to know you will still take care of her and the family when you're there. You may even want to take her out with you for a short time if your company allows it, so she can understand what you're doing while you're gone and be reassured that you're not out there doing things you shouldn't. Depending on the age of your kids, you may want to take them out with you also when they aren't in school so they can understand what you do also. If being away driving otr is too much, consider a dedicated route that will get you home regular. You will need to have experience and a clean record, and you will also need to look hard to find them, but it is well worth the efforts and sacrifices to have a fairly dependable schedule and regular home time. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

 

Is it worth it? Yes it is. Granted, this is the hardest work I have ever done (not having served), leaving my wife and two kids behind. Hearing my 6 year old's heart breaking on the phone, because I am not there, and won't be home for a few more weeks. You never get used to it, but you get behind the wheel and go.

I like to say, my two favorite places to be are: Home with the kids, and behind the wheel. So good luck in whatever you choose to do; it will be a large adjustment, but if it's what you want, then you should give it serious thought.