Hats Off!

After being on the road I have to admit its not my gig. I am fortunate to have found something local. If not I'd go into a different industry.

On the flip side of that coin I have learned through experience that the people that do this day in and day out really have my respect. Its not an easy job and there is a new challenge to deal with every single day. I will never look at truckers the same ever again.

 

I felt pressured to lie on my logs and drive more then allowed by law. I worked for a small company and I assume it wouldn't be that bad working for a large company in reguards to the pressure to run illegal. This being the biggest deciding factor in taking a new job (other then its local)

As for just the OTR aspect of the job. You give up so much for what starts to look like so little. My first load by the time it was all said and done fetched me $9.78/hr. To make this money you have to get used to certain things and give up other things..

1. At home I have a nice king sized bed that is always level. On the road the bed is small and you do not always get parked on level ground.

2. At home I wake up and walk in my boxers 10 feet to use the bathroom. At a truck stop I have to get dressed and walk 50 yards in the cold (this time of year) to go use a public toilet.

3. Food I can just make whatever I want at home. On the road there are good places to eat but you pay for this too. Truck stops charge an arm and a leg for EVERYTHING (except discontinued Tiger Woods Gatorade...haha). This was huge for me guys. You start to feel like you spend half your pay on food and beverages. I was being cheap and buying water by the gallon too.. It started making me not want to eat.

4. No gym (I workout 5 days a week at home) so I give up something I am passionate about.

5. No reasonble internet connections (and you pay for them)

The list of what you give up could just go on much longer, and for some if you are a parent it could get real deep. There is nothing you can do to make OTR driving anything like being at home. I really enjoy driving and traveling so it seemed to me this would be so easy to get used to....until you actually start doing it. Then you realize you have no clue what you got yourself into. Aside from just dealing with the HUGE change in lifestyle you also deal with all the odd people you encounter, late loads, live loads that take 5 hours to load/unload(that make you late), CARS.... forget enjoying the scenery because it always seems like the best places to see you drive through in the middle of the night..or I just had bad luck.

Bottom line is OTR life is nothing even close to being home, or even what I had in mind. After doing it I gained such respect for the people that can do it and enjoy it, along with the people that do it for no other reason then they have to. This really is a demanding career, and probably the most underpaid career I have yet to experience. For me the bottom line is the $9.78 didn't motivate me to give up all I have. I am not a parent but if I were it would for sure not be enough to miss seeing my children grow....hell it would barely help provide for them.