in the short time of starting new career

It's like being in the military except in the military some deployments can last for months. You just have to make the time you have with him the best you can. I'm sure he misses you just as much and wants to be home too. If you can try to set up a time that you both can talk everyday it would help. But you also have to realize that sometimes he will not be in a position to call or contact you. That doesn't mean there's something wrong. Being strong on the home front helps him do a better job. There's no way around it, you're both in it together.

 

Give it about 3 months before he is comfortable with driving and living on the road. Then you can ask if he likes it. It can be extremely tough the first few months. It is quite a lifestyle shock. Takes a little bit for your body to get used to the sleep schedule, or lack of!

 

Make sure he is a happy man when at home and you will never have to worry about him on the road. When I first started driving my wife always made it about me when I got home, I alwys took care of the leaky faucet or change the oil in the car but she took very good care of me. When I needed to go back out she had my fridge packed with home cooked meals and all my clothes washed and packed back in my truck. She took my job as seriously as I did. That is why I would never even conider anyone else.

 

Hi there HubbyonRoad,

First I'd like to wish you and yours a prosperous future. Second, I couldn't agree with GasHauler more that "you're in this together". If you folks have the strength of a solid, work together no matter what it takes relationship, I think you'll both be fine.

Now I'm no one to really talk as I've just graduated and yet to be hired. I spent a month OTR with a friend to see what it's like. Now a month is nothing in the scheme of a trucker's life but I found it is a big lifestyle change and your hubby is about to find that out. I really enjoyed being out there but my situation is vastly different than yours. No family, no home and no reason to do anything but drive with no worries about home time. Now I've been a family man all my life but always raising "others families". I'm done with that as they are all grown up and I'm no longer needed. So being out there for long periods will actually give me a sense of purpose again (SMILE).

I told you that because being the dedicated family man type all my life, I'd like to suggest that it will be up to you to give him strength to get through the first few months (or longer) it will take for him to adjust to this big change in living. On the other side, it will be up to him to give you strength to adjust to the new and IMHO, tall burdens you will face holding down the fort and raising the kids by yourself.

In short, like ANY good relationship, You both must be able to identify what they other needs, understand it and provide it with love and support for each other. If it ever gets to "well I'm going through this or that and you're not helping".... take a deep breath, relax and start the conversation again. IMHO, when we think about the other's needs first, then we take care of the relationship. When we think about our own first, we abandon it.

There will be pressures on you both that you've yet to face. Somehow, I have the feeling you'll both handle them OK. Just the fact that you started this post shows you're willingness to "do what it takes".

I wish the very best for you and your family!! God Bless and God Speed!!

 

It will work out in the end.....

 

Hopefully what ever company he is with he can get on a dedicated route. When I was growing up my dad drove local for 3 years then when OTR but things have changed since then. As a kid I was less happy when he drove for the local company because he worked 14 hours a day came home went right to bed. never got to spend much time with him. Then he went OTR and was home for 1-2 days a week depending on what route he was on. This allowed him to have more free time to actually spend time with me. And when I wasn't in school I would go with him on his trips. Alot of fun for a kid. But very boring at times for a kid also. So my gameboy saved me for the long boring stretches of road till we got to places with more things to see. As a driver I have found the best way to keep myself from feeling lonely (because I never get to see my gf hardly ever with this job) is to just keep myself busy as much as possible. Try picking up a cheap constructive hobby like croshaying how ever you spell it the thing with the yarn and the needles. My grandma does that alot and I am amazed at some of the stuff she has made. Blankets to socks to stocking caps. I know night time is the worst when your trying to go to sleep what I found helps is if I talk to my gf every night as I am going to sleep and I have a few extra pillows in my truck so my body still thinks I am cuddling.

 

well im only a kid in this world (being 24); but a few truckers have web-cams and so they video call to their families..
Ive let a few truckers who have missed their families use my web-cam, and call them (Being that they looked like they may brake down without that call), and thats even after they been doing it for over 25years.. they just dont know how to set it up...

At times, if you can afford it, take a little trip away from home, and go surprise him.. well sort of by asking where he will be.
And after a few weeks he will probably have a few stories to tell the kids about the road life

About being boring, its just a matter of how you can each surprise one-another, either he goes home earlier, or you pop up and visit him, and depending on the work his going to be doing, he may even be home for a few days in a row. (and soon you may wanna just kick him out )

Regarding the money issue, is well, depending on the sort of work you(the trucker) can do, and how many K's (or miles) you roll on.
There is money out there, you just need to be smart about it; how else did the larger trucking companies start? (rhetorical question)