Family & driving a Truck??

I well remeber the lines at the pay phone and calling dispatch every morning. But it is a tough road to travel and there is no way to tell someone how it will takes its toll. But what I do know is that time missed can not be replaced. Seeing there face when they realize your in the bleacers watching as they get there first touchdown, or watching and looking for you at a parade as they march and play down Main Street. It is simply not something you can make up. IMHO.

 

One of the reasons I quit trucking so early was during the training period I found out I missed the family much more than I expected, and it seemed to me the Weekends for truck drivers were much shorter than Weekends for other occupations. I am not sure if this was a company policy or not but neither of my trainers seemed to have any problems with starting their weekend at 1:00 AM Saturday, and Ending it at 5:00AM Monday. My previous jobs the weekend started 5:00 PM Friday, and Ended 9:00AM Monday. My trainers seemed to be happy as long as they got a 34 hour reset, I felt I was being cheated out of 12 hours, but OTOH, I did get plenty of down time at truck stops in the middle of no where. This all figured into my very short driving career, it seemed to me that drivers would accept a lot of things that normal office workers would go ballistic over. Of course there are other jobs besides OTR, but you got to pay your dues and all, and I was not willing to waste a year or two paying dues when I am fairly close to an age when I can qualify for Social security...

 

This is more normal than not.. you tried it and you realized it wasn't for you.. no harm no foul.

 

There's always two ways to look at things. Yeah you are going to miss events, etc, if OTR.

However, none of us are independently wealthy, so sacrifices have to be made. Being home all the time won't be much fun if you aren't making enough to pay the bills.

Everything in life is temporary. If you have to take an OTR job for awhile, keep looking for something better.

 

Its called Having to Start Someplace and today without that 1 years experience , regardless of connections its tough to start with the job you want.

 

I found a job that gets me home every wknd. but keep in mind, wknd can be as short as 34 hours. My family has adjusted well, but mife wife is a stay home mom. I do miss stuff, and wish i could be home way more. but bills need to be paid, food bought, ect. I do not love being out on the road but this is my job and we are doing better than we were before. And as time passes things will continue to improve. It is not easy, but if you and the whole family goe into this with your eyes open, stick to your budgets, keep your prioritys straight it can be done successfully.
Do not just take the first job that looks good, investigate thouroghly as to what job will fit your family best. There are regional jobs, otr, local, ect, ect. One thing that is very important for you and family to know from the start. If your family has relyed on you in the past to be the take charge person when things come up, That will have to change because you will not be there to take care of things. This was my familys biggest adjustment and frankly drove me crazy for months untill i finaly made it clear that things had to be dealt with herself. Other issues will come up, but if you all keep your heads you will make things work.
be safe, ya all
b

 

To be Honest once you are on the road your soul is sold to the highway, I being around 17 yrs and almost over 95% drivers I met they were divorced once or twice or more and most of them will regret being out here at the first place, but you will only find that out after a long freindly conversation other wise you will hear the same bulshit echo.. so may want stay away from this.. it is a dying industry..

 

Yea. You know you've been gone to long when you say "I love you". And she says "Likewise".