Dealing with missed family time

You, as an O/O don't HAVE to go home more often. But, you CAN be home for any family event you feel you need to be there for.

I pay the company I'm leased on with 25% to deal with most of those headaches. Sure, I still have to worry about repairs and such. I don't care for the paperwork side of it. So, I'm okay with that.

I'm not saying go O/O. Just saying there's more benefit than "getting home more often" and the headaches aren't that bad if you don't want them to be.

 

Helps to have a good ol lady...
When you have a good one you can trust and good at being the parent for your kids while you're gone is priceless.

 

You sound like a really cool guy, just from the threads you frequent, and the advice you give; so let me tell you how it went with me. I had driven my own 'refuse' route (trash, per se) in a Vactor Roll'off when CDL B or A didn't matter. Then, I got a job driving with my brother, who was a manager at Kokosing (major paver here in Ohio) No CDL needed nor a permit, he had his. THEN, when I got into working for ICG (telecom company in Chi'town) I drove a daycab with a 28' hauling cables for the installers; again, no CDL needed. Thanks to the reg's that came to play in 2003, NONE of that mattered. I went to Roadmaster's in Columbus, along with all the greenhorns, even AFTER I'd been driving...all kinds of everything.

My daughter was born in 2000. Had to go OTR, first with USX (and no, not dollar accounts) because they 'bit' first. Next was Transport America; wife got to come along (she has her CDL also, trained by me, which means 'nothing' anymore without the 160 certificate) as the grandparents took care of the daughter. Next up, FedEx/LineHaul. My son was 6 months old. Wiggle wagons, but better money, by far. Teaming royally SUCKED but it was a straight run from Columbus Ohio to Sac, Ca. One and done, off weekends. Still got to see my son a bit.
After about six years OTR, the avenues opened. I'd done some dump/vactor work locally, didn't pay crap.. ended up about ten years ago hauling asphalt intrastate for an O/O. And yeah, it was tricky being an I/C but my accountant/atty worked it out. I TOTALLY LOVED IT. His wife was divorcing him about 5 years ago, and he wanted ME to buy the whole fleet, contracts, MC, auth, all... or just pay him a royalty to run under him. After MUCH thinking, I did not, I could not.
My wife spent all those years raising the babies; I wasn't gonna mortgage all we had built. She had worked ALL through my OTR trials and tribulations, most in Restaurant Management. Some, subbing bus driving, for schools on her off days. We had a network of family to help with kids.

Fast forward to a bit over 4 years ago, SHE found me the perfect job. Seriously, perfect. Hauling 'boxes in boxes.' Yep, I pull for I/P and if you don't know my company, PM me... It's based out of Chi'town, but I only run Ohio. Already got one forum member on board. It's awesome. Bring the T/T home .. or don't. PC? Yep... for that reason if need be. 16? sure.. . but it's tricky if I don't go to the 'same' place 7 days.... had to call on a few TTR members here to ask details, tbh. First job on E'logs. OFF WEEKENDS... home for my 10 (or 12 or 14) ... NO micromanagement, NO pre planned fuel stops, NO ROUTING.

Do I make as much as I did OTR? YESSIR, more... Asphalt? Nope.. not quite unless I pick up Saturdays.. sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

To get to your IMMEDIATE question.. I did it, with young'uns for a few years, until I graduated to the next tier. My wife would drive with the kiddos to meet me at the 'closest' Truck Stop (sometimes 4 *HOURS r/t) just so we could get McD's... It takes a VERY strong family to hold this together.

We are 'older' parents; she had my son at 38 y/o.... so maybe that has something to do with it all.

PM me if you ever want more info; gotta hit the road for my 'one and done' to Napole'on 'haha' here in a bit.

Best wishes, man.
Tom

 

Maybe you could make a change of companies and move to a home weekends position? You don’t want it to be 10 years from now and be full of regret from not being with your family enough. Especially if you have kids, they need you and some things only you can give them.

Good for you for thinking this over and I wish you all the best.

 

Ive only been driving 7-8 years but when i started, an experienced female driver told me when it comes to hometime with the family make the quality of it count because the quantity just isnt there. So thats what i do, when im home im taking the kids out to the movies or parks. Always have a nice family dinner. Just try to make time for them the best i can. That being said even though im a company driver i can get home whenever i want, the bills keep me out about 3 weeks at a time though.

 

Read my above post, MWT. It's exactly what I did. Paycut from asphalt, but pay RAISE from OTR. We finally have balance. Same wife, Same kids... both awesome; no drugs, no weird online crap that I read about.. heck my 15 y/o son won't hardly take a baby aspirin for a headache. Took many years, but daddy came home to mom and kids.

@D.Tibbitt I'm not sure where you live; dragging my feet on my 'one run' but will reply in a few. You seem like a good guy, tbh.