Can I quit after every six months to travel?

drive a 5k$ vehicle instead of a 35k$ vehicle and theres 30k for your 6 months off. simple.

 

Last I knew this was AMERICA and you can do whatever you want.

 

Now I feel like taking a vacation

 

Absolutely! However almost all actions have consequences that follow them. While you are perfectly free to do some things you are not necessarily freed from what follows said actions.

 

Disagree. As I have said earlier in this thread, I drive part of the year, and then leave for extended periods on a regular basis. I have done it for five years, the ability to take extended time off is the ONLY reason I got into trucking.

Junk equipment? Starting my second job (after coming back from 5 months off) I was given a new International ProStar with less than 6K miles on it. It was with a refer hauler out of Omaha and I was running the same runs for near the same money (1-3 cpm less) than drivers with tons, many years of experience at that same company. New hire bonus likely washed out most of that difference.

I wanted to try hauling US Mail. Applied to 4 companies, was offered a job with 3. Ran it for 7 months last year until I quit (with notice) in January, after collecting the second part (6 months on the job) of a new hire/retention bonus (lost out on the last part of the bonus that would have been paid if I stayed a full year). I left in good standing and was encouraged to return to the company when I get back from Asia (I am writing this from the Philippines now).

Leaving/changing jobs will likely slow (not completely stop) your climb up the ladder. No reason to believe it will push you to the bottom rungs. I have gotten an opportunity for better jobs with better pay/conditions every time I have returned to work.

While working, I keep good communication with my companies, always give MORE than the required minimum notice. Run hard, be a good team player and most important: Avoid accidents/tickets.

I'll be ready to return to driving in May. I feel confident it would be only a matter of a phone call to be rehired with any of my previous companies. I will also play the field and check if any new opportunities are of interest to me in the field.

Keep a good, clean DATC that also shows a "yes" in the "rehire" box and you will not suffer the negative consequences that many speculate you might.

 

There are exceptions to everything. However yours is that. An exception.

 

FYI, my work history in trucking has been:

Three tours (work then leave for 4-6months) with a refer hauler out of Kansas.
Two tours with a refer hauler out of Omaha.
One stint with a Mail hauler out of Des Moines, IA

 

This is a very interesting thread, delving into an aspect of the job that is probably far more overlooked than it should be. The reality of the “casual trucker”, or basically anyone who seeks a life outside of trucking.

I’m big into work/life balance - balance being something not historically held high on the list in this profession. But apparently it is more than possible, and I read with interest.

 

What was the name of the reefer hauler out of Kansas? What town or city in Kansas is the reefer hauler out of?

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!