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

I don’t know if it really gets “easier” but it’s gets to be “normal” if that makes sense?

No, you’re not the only one. I was an OTR driver when I met my wife and did it for a number of years after, with her plus 3 kids at home.

Idk how long you’ve been doing it but eventually you get into a rhythm and i guess that makes it easier. I would stay out 4-6 weeks then take a week or so off. So, essentially when I came home it was like a mini vacation and we would go do things.

 

I was hoping to retire from my last local job. Had excellent pay raises, insurance and 401k. But when the depression hit. I couldn't afford to stay there working only 30 hours a week. Ended up doing OTR. It was the only thing still paying a wage. Everything else went to the toilets pay wise.

 

It's a lot easier, and far cheaper, to get another job than get another family. You don't have to do OTR to make a living driving a truck.

 

if you can find one where you are home on weekends, that worked well for me the 30+ yrs. not the whole time ,but 75% of those yrs I was home on w/ends or not more than 1.5 weeks.

I did run cross country for about 3 yrs. wife didn't like it ,but we survived.

raised to kids and am still married. first wife died and found another that tolerates an absentee spouse.lol

being home on w/ends, actually had me seeing the kids more than when I was in management. I got home after they were in bed and left before they got up. even had to go in on Saturdays a lot.

 

I get homesick the day i have to leave to head back to the terminal. Usually by the time I get there, the feeling is gone. I usually get to the terminal a day early so I have mental time to get myself back into the swing of things. Load my truck with my stuff, check the trailer, and whatever else. Then i just watch movies overnight and sleep when the Sun comes up (hopefully). Then later that next day my partner shows up and we are off.

 

Hang in there. Hopefully soon You can find something that gets You home more often.Like someone said maybe even have more time than working local.I ran a 400 mile dedicated run for 7 yrs through Chicago traffic 6-7 times a week. I hated it after the first week. But it worked good for my homefront.Saw my family more than when I was local working 12 hrs 5 days Driving an hour or more each day. Keep looking I’m sure there’s an Atlanta run out there nobody wants.

 

Pretty sure being gone was the reason she hadn’t killed me lol. It gets better after working into it. If nothing else, after more experience, you can find something else.

 

I told my wife the 1st year would suck. My wife and son call and FaceTime whenever they want. I answer if I can. My son is 10, and awesome. He knows if he has a bad dream he can call at 3 am because I’m probably up. We play card games over FaceTime and we game together as well. Heck I watched a movie with them one night when I was in WiFi. I learned that FaceTime is especially useful. If I stay on it long enough we run out of things to say. Everyone is full up and it’s easy to hang up. I miss them like crazy but this is a choice we made as a family...and it’s wotking out well.