How do you guys make it work.otr and family

I do not have any kids at home. But it was difficult when I was at orientation and out with my trainer. Fortunately I had a very supportive wife and we made it work. You will just have to stay connected so that they do not feel like you have left them. You will also have to believe that you are doing what is needed to take care of them. It will be harder with kids...I am sure the guys and gals with kids will chime in and tell how they did it.
You just have to make the time you are with them extra special. Best of luck to you!

 

SUPPORT,Your family has to be supportive otherwise it won't work.It'll take time but.If you call your family every day that helps.Ive seen drivers take their family with them when schools out.Let your family decide what to do before you leave

 

Big thing make it a point to be there for every thing important for your kids, birthday's, holiday's, there first soft ball game. Things like that they will remember even when you are gone. It only takes one time of missing your little girls 8th birthday and they don't forget for many years. Call home everyday and talk to all of them not just the wife.

 

Skype has helped me. My daughter is almost 3. It seems that if she can see me it brings me into the home. I read to her by turning the camera to the book. She loves it!

 

This was posted in the Maverick forum . Most of their drivers are home weekly .

 

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I don't know of any carrier that would allow an entire family to go in the truck . Those that allow passengers usually have age restrictions .
Carrying unauthorized passengers gets 1 CSA point . Carrier notification of that could result in termination .

 

It's not quite as extreme as the military, but the bad news about OTR is that she's a cruel mistress and the things you miss add up pretty quick. You won't be at home as much as the other dads and you won't be there when the leaks sprout, the furnace breaks, or the car won't start; you get the picture. You won't be part of a softball league, have a regular group of drinkin' buddies for MNF, and Friday Night Lights will generally only exist on the TV screen in your sleeper. Unless you and your family can deal with that, OTR is simply not a very good choice for a career.

To make it work, you have to put maximum effort into making the most out of the home time/events you DO get. You and your spouse also have to get comfortable with the idea that your spouse rules the roost and often makes decisions without your input. With Skype and a decent data plan, it's a lot easier to stay in touch, with the Home-20, but the fact of the matter is that you're not there.

The downward spiral begins when you find yourself regularly being mad at the company, shipper, receiver, truck, weather, and/or FM for being hung you out again, but the fact is that it's the nature of the OTR beast. You give up an awful lot if you're going to be successful in OTR, so you have to be honest with yourself and your family situation to make sure it's worth it.

For my situation, I took an extended "time out" on OTR while the kids were growing up. Now that they're grown up and gone, it's back in the saddle again. YMMV.

Good luck.

 

Well Put....