Does trucking really ruin your life at home?

It never ruined mine. However the longest I ever stayed out for was 10 or 11 days. Now I am in the truck Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights with four nights at home. That's just about right for me. But no, it never had an ill effect on my home life.

 

Im otr when I go home I see my friends on shifts. Everyone has their own month. As far as family. My daughter is grown living at home getting her degree. If I stay home too long ill be ready to choke her. I see about my dogs. Then im back out the door for another 3wks.

 

I know! ...hell with the way I was raised and all the news you hear... ...I thought for ####-sure that all truckers were ignorant ######## that didn't know how to do anything aside hold a wheel and had no education whatsoever. (I mean no offense to anyone when I say this. My ignorance has long since been corrected.)

...####. First real trucker I met sure as hell proved that wrong. I had an ENJOYABLE discussion about politics and foreign policy!

 

It won't be easy, but you can fix things with your wife. The longer you put it off the harder it will be. Remember why you married her? she is still that same beautiful girl. Give her a call and just talk to her.

 

You need to humble up buddy. YOU DONT get to dictate how set this job does or doesnt have you. There are a million ways you can get pushed out of this industry. You should be worrying about making it one more day thats it.

To answer your question yes it definitely changes home life. Good and bad changes mostly bad to be honest. If i didnt have kids like you id sell everything i own and live on the road for at least a few years. I really would.

 

I've been otr for about 8 months. Life has changed greatly. I was always a bar fly hanging out with the good ole boys having a few after working hard everyday. I needed a change and always wanted to drive truck.
The longest I've been out is 6 weeks. Love it and love it more and more everyday as backing into tight spots has become less stressful. Not easier just not stressed as much before.
I have a awesome wife and two kids( they are my sisters kids but I've raised they for the last 11 years so they are mine now lol) and we talk everyday sometimes three times a day. I know we get along and respect each other more now than ever before. Some days are really hard and I wonder wth I'm doing our here away from them and some days you can't get me out of the drivers seat.
As far as my friends go they still all go to the bar everyday and haves moved on with thier lives. I always pick one day when I'm home that I go there and put a "shift" in. I miss them and they miss me but life goes on.
Im rambling now so I need to get off and get some sleep. I'm figuring out this job is what you to make of it

 

Trucking didn't ruin my life at home but it did change it. I was used to going home every day and taking a shower, going to the gym, watching TV, hanging out with friends, and going to bed to repeat. It felt weird for a while with trucking, but now I am used to it and when I am home I want to leave again since I have friends in other cities that I can visit. Plus a lot of places have something unique to offer that you cannot find at home so I like when I am sent to cool places. The whole united states feels like my home now.

 

i remember when we used to drive 500-1000 miles to go on vacation. It seemed so far away and felt like it was going to take forever. Now if I dont 600 a day it feels like I'm slacking. 1000 miles away feels like my back 40. Lol

 

It's ruined two relationships of mine all I talk about is trucking all I do is sleep and lay around when I'm home (never been like that) no friends except other drivers no social life really at all anymore..some people can balance it out some can't this jobs gonna take a lot from you either way..but I love the job love the road and love the money!