Walmart here I come!

Yeah that's the understatement of the year. It's amazing the sacrifices we make to do this job work. The worst is all the driving time we get to reflect, or if we had an argument, the time for it to "stew". I was married once when I was real young, then divorced 4 months later. We were 2 young kids, she wanted a baby, I didn't want to make another big mistake. So I left. Started driving OTR at age 21, had some great women, but got to the point, every time I met one, and we'd be in that "honeymoon" stage, I'd think to myself, "I wonder how long until she hates me for what I do?" They go out with friends on weekends, usually alone, and they usually have a friend say, "doesn't it get old being alone?" At first she'll lie, and tell them, & herself, it's not that bad, but then something comes along, like a death in the family, an event you can't be home for, or something around the house, like a furnace going out, or some kind of thing that's a typical "guy thing" that needs attention, and you're not there. Then the friend says to her "life is too short to be alone all the time". And the snowball continues. I love trucking. I've done it my whole life, but I sure sometimes wonder if it's worth all I've lost & given up. I try not to think about the "what might have been things". My advice to the young ones wanting to get into trucking is, be prepared to be alone. It's asking a lot of a woman to be alone so much. There are special ones that truly stand by and keep the home fires lit, but they're a rare breed. They truly don't know what they're getting into, but once they figure it out, it usually ends bad. Trust is everything, and trucking will test the bounds of trust. I don't have kids by choice, because I knew I'd never be home as much as I'd want to be. I think I'll live to regret that as I see my brother and sister's kids grow. But I've seen so many areas of this country over the last 25 yrs, and believe I have inside of me what the old pioneers & explorers had inside of them. What's the next adventure? What's around that next turn? I've always related to Stonewall Jackson's song "Smoke Along The Tracks". It's a double edge sword. The sacrifice comes with the title. You eventually have to answer the question, Is it worth what I'm giving up? The answers are as varied as the individuals you meet driving. We've all thought about the question, and I believe at some point we come up eventually with the same answer, "no". For some it's as soon as they go away from home for the first night, others, like me, I know it'll 50 yrs later, as I'm half way there, & too late to turn around. Everyone else is in between somewhere.

 

Yes it's getting out of control at all the stores, even the ones we cannot layover at! Foreign carriers will park right in our dang turnaround circles!

 

You thinking about giving up WM already? Hang in there man, this isn't like true OTR. Atleast we're home on a regular schedule and if you can swing it, try to move closer to the DC as that may increase your hometime. It was tough on myself the first month getting use to sleeping in a truck after not doing it for 11 years, but now I just count the nights until I can get back home and have my first beer with a home cooked meal for the week!

My wife is pretty strong and sees the paychecks so she puts up with it since she's busy working during the week also. Don't any of you here feel shy to talk about this issue as we all go through some homesickness during our week of duty from time to time. Hope things get better, but also understand you need to do what ya have to do.

 

That drives me nuts, but let'em keep spending their money at Wally World!!!

 

I know everybody will tell stories about this subject - I had 2 guys that started with me - both came from jobs where they were home everyday - 1 had kids, 1 without - we talked at length about them being away from home and how would their wives handle it - both were like they could handle it because of the upside of being at Walmart - neither one made it 2 months after we got out of orientation - the pressure of being away from home was too much - in just that little bit of time. My wife has put up with my career for 22 yrs, and at times it was a struggle - she's in charge the whole time I'm gone, then give up that power when I'm home - not to mention being an owner operator for 16 years and all the money that was spent keeping the equipment running - fast forward to the day I got the call with Walmart - all that pressure is gone and I'm home on a regular schedule - but she says the biggest change is I'm still able to function as a person when I get home - not worn out - not bummed out, but ready to be a husband - not to mention that we have money to be able to do things that just was not possible before coming to the private fleet.

It absolutely takes a special kind of woman to be with a truck driver. I hope and pray that whatever is in the middle of your relationship can be resolved. Yes, being a private fleet driver is still driving a truck - but Walmart is one of the most understanding employers out here. Talk to your GTM or HR person and see if there is something you can do for a short time to get your problems solved.

Good luck my friend.

 

No doubt trucking or any job keeping you away from home for extended periods of time can potentially stress a relationship, but I do not personally believe it will be the primary reason a relationship may suffer. A relationship not on a solid foundation to begin with is more likely to be negatively effected by this job and being away from home.

I greatly admire Gloria (WallyWife) here on the forum and how involved she is with her husband Rick's job as a Private Fleet driver. She truly shows she is Rick's biggest fan! I encourage any driver currently here or thinking of coming here to get their spouse more involved in what this job really is.

My wife knows many people I work with and has been to the DC I am based out of. I have shared with her many details of the job so she can better relate to what I am doing at any given time. My kids are very involved in my job and always know the dates I am away and the dates I am going to be home because my schedule is planned for the whole year. My son keeps track of me by checking my live location online frequently, and proudly wears the different Walmart Private Fleet hats I have given him. Honestly, I feel more relaxed when I am away from home because I am never really too far away and with the technology today I can still talk to and see my wife and/or kids on a video call any day I choose. I certainly miss my family when I am away, but my family understands that someone has to move the freight to maintain the lifestyle we have in the USA. My love for trucking is what motivates me to keep on rolling on down the road. When the day that flame burns out, then I will park the truck for good.

 

Yeah, I'm really hoping to be able to work for Walmart. I think a huge benefit will be the schedule. One common question that always comes up on OTR jobs is, "when will you be home?" It got to the point I'd say, when you see me pull into the driveway. We've all had the times like "I'll be home Friday afternoon early, because I'm unloading close to home in the am, only to have the reload take 8 hrs, or more. Plans that were made, foiled. And what makes it worse, is that you don't get to stay home longer because you were delayed.
My woman is a good one. But she would, & has said, I love you like no other, but if I knew back when we 1st met, what I know now, I'd never put myself through it. She's been through a lot, and is more hopeful than I am probably about getting into this great opportunity.
It's just different for everyone. When I was a trainer, I'd have big strong grown men break down crying because they missed their families, and home. I totally get that. Money isn't everything, family is. If it's tearing your family apart, it's an easy answer. Everyone's situation is different. I'd suggest giving it 6 months to a year, and then deciding. If it's too late, & bound to fail, you need to think about yourself, and your future. A single guy working for Walmart could easily afford a house & all the expenses that come with it. Try marriage counseling just to listen to her complaints in a controlled environment. Don't be afraid to "see what you see". If she's already gone in her mind, you can't make her stay, but you can watch out for yourself. Think if you left Walmart, still got divorced, and had to provide for yourself elsewhere. I think you'd be full of regret. It really comes down to your situation. But driving at Walmart seems like a dream for so many, it's steady, consistent, and fruitful.

 

Ran local 13 years and OTR the rest been married 27 years raised 2 kids have the best wife ever. It takes a special woman.

 

That Chinese joint next door is awesome lol !!

 

It sure is man