Is the beverage side of trucking the only one that allows a "normal" work schedule??

This is absolutely true. I'm in trucking because I love the job and it fits my personality. Why do you think this industry has such a high turnover rate? When people realize that they tend to spend more time working, or living in the "office", than they do at home, they either get crap from their family, miss their family, can't stand the fact that going to the bathroom involves more than walking down a hallway, realize that they work for free a lot, realize that they are actually disrespected by the very people they service, and many other things that I'm too lazy to mention in this post.

Many people have said it before and I'll say it again. OTR trucking is a lifestyle, not a job. If you're in it for the money, you'll probably end up quitting this industry.

 

Higher try 90k-100k in the hazmat field . Also I know some nurses it's in no way a walk in the park from both a school/work stand point.

 

Then it sounds like trucking may not be for you. This is a career that requires passion in order to succeed, it's a way of life, not a "job". You should want to go into work every day, and hate the fact you have to go home at the end of the day. And when you are on your weekend, you should crave to get back into the big seat and jam through the gears the next week.

 

My sarcasm meter is down tonight, right? I missed the sarcasm in this. I had to have. Please tell me I did.

 

I'm local and im putting in at least 60 a week.

 

But on the other hand - there are many companies now that offer a schedule like 7 days out 3 at home, then 7 days out 4 at home (like Roehl, etc) Or 7 days out 7 home, or 14 days out 7 home. Now THOSE are great work schedules and you will actually have more free time to do things. You won't make as much money as going on the road hard core, but you will probably get to have more of a life. There are a TON of options out there, just gotta pick one that works for you. And if one doesn't work, switch to another one, that is one of the great things about trucking.

Me personally, I could care less about football games, events, or other crap I'd be missing going OTR. Only one thing I can't miss - and that's women lol, that's the only thing that would make me not wanna go OTR, not much of a social or dating life possible.

 

Women? What do you mean there are lot lizards at every stop! But seriously, I met plenty of women on the road...driving cross country in my car.

Some local gas haulers here offer a 4 on 3 off kinda schedule. That sounds great. Maybe someday when the kids start school and my wife goes back to work I could land a gig like that.

 

Try aggregate. Super 16 and 18's double bellys etc. you work long days some days and short some days. You'll average around 45-50 hrs usually and you'll have weekends off most of the time

 

Be a mover for any local agent! You're going to put in long hours, but they're going to avoid overtime and give you days off when a box truck can handle the move. When I did it, I typically averaged about 50 hours / week, because I volunteered to drive a box truck too.

Plus it's a lot of lifting, and running a crew. It makes a man out of you, and looks amazing if you ever apply for jobs because you're done driving... You were the guy in charge, you can go to management.

 

I left trucking and still relate to this. Those 12 hour hospital shifts just means I can fit another 2 12 hour shifts of overtime every week.