little advice

Hope you are ok.....sounds easy to do before you get started....tough reality that otr consumes all your time.

 

Thats the way it is for OTR, you'll miss birthdays, ball games, outings with friends, etc. Find you a local job and leave the OTR for the ones that those things dont matter

 

hey don't feel bad. we all get missing home from time to time. I've got a wife and four year old daughter at home that i miss very much. I don't know if this will help you but what gets me through it, is both me and the wife have built in web cams in our computers and we get to see each other every day and i get to see and talk to my daughter. keep your head up and only you know what you need to do. be safe

 

OTR is not for everybody...not in any way!

It sounds like you are a more "grounded" individual. My advice would be stick it out long enough to be able to get a local gig driving...some require one year some are more...but get your applications going, and when you do get home...take some time to start searching for the "next good spot".

 

I believe you can always be a part of your families life even being away from home.. Just call as much as you can.. I got my son his own cell phone when he was 12, that way no matter what I was only a phone call away.. Also, get a US map put it on your wall at home and everyday they at home can look and see where you are and where you are going, ETC... and if possible take them on the road when you can.. theres nothing better than having a child with you on the road seeing the country and for them to experience what there parent does to provide for them.. my best memories are looking at my son in the passengers seat as I go down the road.. Also think about what you are doing. you are providing for not only your family, but you have a part in keeping the country on its feet, right along with the military..


Also, (question) how long are you out? and whats the company policy on home time? if you drive for one of those companies, That say we give you one day off for every seven days on the road. Leave asap.. there is no reason to have to stay out three weeks to get three days at home!!! I have many tomes stayed out for six weeks but then I would go home for two weeks.. (owner operator) as a company driver i never stayed out more than twenty days.. and never ever less than three days at home weather im out a week or three weeks.. never just drop in. thats whats hard on kids is when you pass through home after being out a week or three and just stop and spend the night.. if you are going through home, stop a while..I have never missed a birth day or thanksgiving, christmas, easter...My opinion...


I just read that you are with swift.. get some experience and leave.. find a small carrier.. I promise you will be happier.. and when you can, SAY NO to the seven days out for one day off crap..

 

There is no reason you can't get started with the college while you are out on the road!

Search the "online college" and get started...might as well kill two birds with one shot!

 

If you are with a company that will keep you busy, there is no need to be out six weeks.. you can only run so many miles in a month regardless how long you are out.. I used to run from Montana to California every week and home every weekend, and I still ran almost 12 thousand miles a month.. Now as an owner operator I would stay out more because I live in Montana, due to the fact that that there is no freight leaving Montana,(nothing here) so if i came home alot I could not get loads out, so i would stay out longer to make up for it..