Is this really how it is?

NO, there are good honest companies out there. Problem is your hubby is new, and he had to take employment with an obvious bottom feeder. If you your hubby and marriage can survive one year of this better thing await.

Remember this; the BIG COMPANIES WITHOUT EXCEPTION are BOTTOM FEEDERS. Once he gets a year under his belt find a smaller local company. Local companies go out, and then route back home. Freight lanes coming back home are what your looking for. Local companies WILL have the freight that gets him back home. FORGET THE COMPANIES THAT WANT YOU OUT 30 DAYS AT A TIME!

I have no clue why its so hard for newbies to understand this. The big guys don't care where you live, they have freight that goes every where. The smaller local companies get a lot of work from local industry. The little guys only have so many trailers, and they want that truck/trailer back home so they can load and send it out again.

Here is an example. In the town I live in there are two small to mid sized trucking companies. These guys haul reefers and haul almost exclusively for Excel Beef. They grab a load of beef out of Dodge City, and may run it to Cali. From Cali they back haul to Kroger (food warehouse) which could be anything from pinto beans to grape fruits to red roses for Valentines Day. You're out for 7 to 10 days and come straight back home for a couple days off. Then you go do it again. They NEVER keep you on the road for 30 days at a time.

Its just not that hard (once you have your year in) to find a decent job. These guys on here just gotta think outside the box, and forget those stupid flyer's they find in the truck stops from bottom feeders! The better companies don't advertise, they don't need to! Get it?

 

No. It usually isn't that bad. It sounds as if he's had a really tough run of bad luck which included having a trainer quit. That makes things more erratic and difficult.

Some companies do try to keep their trainees out for their entire training period but to be honest what I've seen from the company we're with and what I know from others is that it truly depends upon your trainer. If your trainer does OTR you're going to be out for a long time. If your trainer does regional then you're most likely going to get home every week. When you're training it really does boil down to the trainer's schedule.


As far as hometime; yeah it really is like that on OTR. See the company looks at freight and they usually won't bring a truck home empty. Seems that some of the smaller ones will but in this current economy companies are watching pennies.

I do hope y'all can stick this out, that things improve and y'all are able to rebuild financially. It's what we've done this year and we work for a company that some call "a bottom feeder" LOL. They treat us good though and we're making money.

If I can help in anyway please don't hesitate to let me know. Good luck!!

 

Did you say who the company is? Maybe I went through it too fast. Anyway, do not quit now! Things will get better once he is in his own truck. Things will get great if he buys his own truck someday!

 

This is why the turnover rates are through the roof in OTR trucking.
Your husband replaced a guy who replaced a guy who replaced a guy who replaced a guy, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc...
Everyone along the line thought it was good $$$, lots of miles, see the country, a fancy truck, predictable hometime, and a trainer who bathed.
If it was a good job, there'd be a waiting list to get on with these companies...instead they're constantly hiring, advertising, and training even in the worst economy of our generation.
Reality sinks in sooner or later.
The job blows...there's nothing really much to discuss.

 

I am still a rookie... I am making money and I love what I am doing.... My first Trainer was awesome... That was not my first thought of him... my first thought... was.. "Wow.. he looks like one grumpy old guy.." Which, is actually true ut he did warm up to me.. even smiled and laughed some... and he certainly did teach me a lot... Then I ran solo for a bit.. that was awesome.. cause you get in your own groove... You will still get caught in storms, have delays and all... but, you have the truck to yourself and your own way of dealing with it...
Then I switched to running flatbed and went out with another my trainer again to learn the ropes and all of flatbedding... Well, I loved flatbedding... But, my trainer needed to take some time off and so I ran with another driver for more training... Only he was a real jerk... we had mechanical troubles, got stuck in storms and all the usual crap... Like getting back home to Omaha NE from Cali via Florida... LOL

Although running with that jerk was horrible.. it really affirmed something that is stated hundreds of times on this forum... and that is... It is all what you make it.. Somethings were, and always will be out of my control... but, I can control my attitude and make the most of it...

For me... I always focus on what I liked or enjoyed about the day... the beautiful scenery.. a hot shower... doing a good job tarping.. backing into a tricky spot and earning some braging points... the breath taking sunrise or sunset... The sound of the jake brake in the mountains.. or when your away from the city, between towns where it is dark and looking up to see a gazillion stars and the Milky Way... The peace and solitude...

Somtimes, we fall into the habit of venting our frustrations and stresses... But, it is also important.. or at least I believe so... to share the beauty and good things too.. and to be able not let our frustrations and stresses prevent or block us from also seeing the good and appreciating it...

It might help your husband and you if you also share the good...

 

*nods as Lavender posts*

I'll tell you a moment I love: driving down the 89 in UT at night when the mountains are covered with snow. The moonlight reflects on the snow and you can see as though it was almost daylight. It's as though God covers the world with a blanket of his love and then his light is reflected so brightly the darkness of the world is pushed back. I'm not doing a good job of explaining.........and I'm sure someone will jump my case for speaking about God...........but it's a spiritual moment for me.

You see I work there......not in an office. And that helps make up for the rough moments. Your husband will find those times too.

 

One reason I dont drive for a big company.

 

Nana... I know what you are discribing... it is breath taking and too feel God's presence and love... it is very nurishing for the soul...

That, reminds me of something else my first Trainer taught me... On Sundays, and often during the week too, you can call churches and often they will have someone pick you up t the truck stop and take you to the church and back to you truck... Just this last Wednesday evening I did that, and went to a nice burning bowl, prayer and meditation sevice, plus, they also had a pot luck after wards with some good home cooked food and got to eat and talk with the people there... Alot nicer than just being at the truck stop.. and it was a good sevice too... I have had some great experiences andmet some wonderful people doing that...

That was one of the things I was worried about with being on the road, I wouldn't be able to attend my church regularly, and it is an important part of my life... Now, I enjoy getting to attend services and visit churches all over this country and it is awesome....

I do have a portable alter.. A box that has a couple candles and things so if I don't get to a church I can still have a good prayer and meditation time where ever I am... That too has been a great experience... Sometimes, it is really awesome to not be in a church and be outside somewhere, weather permitting, or even in my truck...

I also, took up a few new hobbies for the down time... I bought a sketch pad and some drawing pencils and have been sketching... I find that very relaxing and rewarding... I also had bought some yarn and actually knitted a couple scarfs... they made nice gifts... Knitting is not very manly so I realize your hubby may not be at all interested in that LOL...
But there are some cool hobbies he can do on the road... I me one guy who was teaching himself to play guitar and was writting songs to sing to his wife, another guy I met was learning to speak french... His wife thinks it is a sexy language so he is learning it...

Anyway, the point it, that you have time on your hands when you are out here and opens up opportunity for things...

I have a t.v. in my truck, but, I rarely use it... I have found other things to do, like sketch.. oh.. I got a didgeriedoo.. that is fun... when I am parked off somewhere it is fun to get that out and practice... My partner dubbed me "The Diva of Didge" LOL