he hates his job!

He's venting to you. I suggest you being very upbeat and encouraging. "Oh honey just think how much more you'll know in 12 days about backing, I'm so proud of you" "Oh baby I'm sorry he snores buy some ear plugs, I'm so proud of you" "Sweetheart we're so proud of you for doing this for yourself and our family. I know you're not a quitter and will stick this out!"

Make sure everything you say to him has "I'm so proud of you" on it and that you offer solutions plus reminding him to stick it out".

It'll get better OR he'll know for sure he hates it but ONE day is just not enough.

 

I gotta say, I agree with those that are questioning his "24 hour decision". He really should have looked into it a little deeper, and asked around before getting into the "lifestyle" of trucking. The trainer being annoying, is a minor issue, AND it's temporary. My trainer CONSTANTLY listened to talk radio and made comments about every show and issue that was on. No mind you, I like to listen to news and talk radio myself, but not 24/7. After 4 weeks of it, I don't know that I'll listen to it again for at least 6 months This was one of several quirks of his that I had to put up with for the 4 weeks with him, and trust me there were times that I wanted to toss him out of the truck at 65mph just to hear him say something different.
Being away from the family... That's part of OTR, which is part of driving. EVERYONE has to start somewhere, and very few of us find that golden "Local" job that has us home by dinner each night and every weekend off. My wife and I had thought we'd "done our time" of being separated when I got out of the Navy 15 years ago. We spent the 1st year married with her in CA and me in VA. Our kids have had to adjust to this new life, but they know it's only temporary. Someday, I WILL have the opportunity to take a new driving job that allows better hometime and sufficient pay. BUT until that day comes they are stepping up to the plate and helping my wife around the house, especially with computer issues.
By all means, encourage him and support him, but he also needs to have someone pull him by his ear a bit. With the job market being the way it is, he's darned lucky to have a job. Is he really willing to flush that down the drain over the 'minor issues' that you say he had in 24 hours?
BTW - Backing, will come easier with practice. That being said, I have seen some "Seasoned Professionals" struggle with it severely. To the point that they were red in the face and throwing a fit. I've also seen several that hit the trucks around them because of the way they were 'handling' the stress. Truckstops are a dangerous place. IF I can find a pull-through spot, that is the first place I aim for, then I just have to back it up to even things out and such. Next, I hope for a spot that has 2 openings next to each other and take my time. Thirdly, if all else fails, I do go for the single spot but just really take my time and will use the Get Out And Look. As with many things in life, practice makes pretty close to perfect.

 

is he mad cause he has to be on the top bunk and when his mentor farts heat rises???

 

Different people have different experiences when they first start out. At my first company, Werner, orientation wasn't bad. My trainer was fussy at times over little details, but we got along great. My mood was good for the first week after I was assigned my own truck. Afterwards, after dealing with dishonesty from dispatchers, sitting for long periods of time, and stupid people on a daily basis, I developed a rotten attitude. After reevaluating the many events of my life a year after I started driving, I've found out that the hardest thing about truck driving was accepting all bad situations for what they are as well as the good. Little by little, I had to teach myself to be optimistic at my daily random challenges of driving.

The reality of what truck driving is really about will hit many people like a ton of bricks; the biggest is being away from loved ones and friends for weeks at a time. The "being out with a trainer" phase could be a pain for some, but it's not difficult.

Even though the pay is not decent for drivers just starting out, and the lifestyle is very different, keep your husband motivated and focused on the future. Once he gets over that first hurdle, his outlook on trucking may change for the better.

 

Trust me, there are a lot of truckers with wife's and kids at home...they would love to be there also..but..they chose this lifestyle to provide for the family...tell the OLD man to suck it up and look forward to being alone in the truck with no one to talk to and look forward to hometime which may or may not happen when and how he wants!!!

 

well you need to do what most are saying..make him stay..push him to stay and toughin it out. my husband belly aches but in the long run he will say i'm glad i stayed. well he is coming off the road and working local.....i'm leaving sunday for my first local job. so they are out there. but he made the choice he has to stick it out for a little over a year then he can find something local....be the one who wears the pants make him stay....its rough but in time you will be like when are you leaving again? believe me i like having hubby home but after 3 days he needs to go. he is with a company which shall remain nameless but they dont care about their drivers....to come back to his old company which he promised me he would never ##### about again.lol....i said paybacks....you have to listen to me ##### for atleast a year.

 

I disagree. I knew from day one that I didn't want to do OTR and I never did. I did what would be considered regional work for a few months (although I was home almost every day for at least a few hours), and then I switched to a job that was more local (home every night). Now I have a job that is absolutely local (avg 200 miles & home by mid afternoon most days).

So while I'd agree that having 2 years of OTR experience makes it easier to find local work, it isn't impossible to find local work with less.

But all that being said, I would advise the following to the OP. Your husband has committed to a job. It is in his best interest to stick it out at that job until such time as he can find something that is more local. If it takes him a year or two to make that happen, its not the end of the world. But as I said, it can happen in much less time. The worst thing he could right now would be to quit without having another job to go to. He's learning the ropes and he's getting paycheck to do it. The finer points of driving like backing into tight spots will come in time. He just needs hours in the seat. Encourage him to stick it out in his current job past training and as long as 24 months if need be.

Keep an eye on craigslist and the local papers for any jobs that might be more local. But don't quit until you have a solid offer from another company.