Family & hometime, does it get easier after you get some time in

You think it's hard now wait until your family basically gives up on you being a part of their day to day lives. Some family members will begin to resent OTR drivers others just give up and let go of the capacity of relationship they had with you in the past it just depends on the person. The time may come when you go home and feel like an outsider amongst them because they're kind of closed off to you. I know that sounds harsh but that's reality, I'm sorry.

 

I'm 30 and been married/divorced twice because of trucking. 2nd wife cheated on me with her ex husband and I've been driving for 11 years now so no it doesnt get any easier. Maybe if the two of you drove together it would become easier but I would imagine that being the only way.

 

My wife had the right people in her ear ear. At first it was hard for her, but there was another lady who was a friend of the family. Her husband drives for Colonial Freight Systems if I am not mistaken. The lady told my wife to stick it out and let me do my job. It's hard when I am away from home, but she kept reminding her that it's all in a purpose to provide.

 

This is such a depressing topic. On Dec the 4th 1975 a 17 year old from Georgia left home and entered the US Air Force. This being away from home did not hit me until Christmas. However, I got finished with basic and headed off to Chanute AFB and shoveled a lot of snow. I finally got back home on leave later on. One thing my dad told me while home was he never got used to being away from home. Then later I left home again and went to my duty station in California. This was in the days before cell phones and the internet. The OP has received some fantastic advice in this thread. I would just add use the internet and get an unlimited cell phone plan. The being away from home and the resulting loneliness is never going to go away. What you will do however is adapt. As I typed this I was reminded of something Mackenzi Lee said in her book. “It is not a failure to readjust my sails to fit the waters I find myself in.”. If the OP can't adapt to this lifestyle I recommend he stay at home. The OTR lifestyle is brutal on relationships. I was thinking about this some time ago. I am not talking about my dad's generation now. Of all the married OTR drivers I know maybe 25% have had their marriages to survive. Now you see why I said this was a depressing topic.

 

That Lee quote is amazing.

 

That quote also summarizes just about every piece of advice I received during this journey I am going through with my health. One of the toughest battles I fight every day is avoiding the self-pity that comes from losing my independence and having to depend on friends that have to interrupt their lives to assist me.

 

What do they bench?

 

Got that covered then, LOL.