Where do all the drivers go?

just look around on this site and read the posts. things like. I want to be a paid tourist? I want to be a trucker because I like to drive, I want the freedom of the road, I want to cruise the big rooster cruiser.

these people will be out in no time flat, I guarantee it. Here are the facts. THis is a Job, it's work, HARD work. It's EXTREAMLY demanding on you and on the drivers families. I can't count the number of my driver friends who are on there 3rd+ marriage. You run hard and you sleep then you run again, you don't get home and when you do it's for 34 hours. And most the time you get home after driving a good 8 to 10 hours so your's day is basically done. You get to shower, eat and go to bed. the next day you do laundry and your shoping for the week and you leave either that night or the next morning. Now think about that because if you have a family you have to think of things like. Yours kids will HANG on you when you get home wanting you to play with them and you will be so exhausted you just want to crash. When will you mow the lawn, do the houshold repairs etc etc. Sometimes I think being a trucker is harder for your wife then it is for you because you have to drive and they do EVERYTHING else. you will have time for very little

 

Nope - gradiated and got my CDL-A on 28 April.

 

I don't think that will be a problem for me - spent nearly 10 years in the military, most of it in a little 10 X 10 room with lots of noise. Lots of motion too - a porthole would have been nice, but a security risk.

I'm more than comfortable by my self - If I get really bored I can trim my split ends or something. Heck, maybe even trim my beard! <shudder>

I agree - so long as that remains their ONLY reason for jumping in a rig.

Fortunately for me - and a number of others - this is my third career. Kids are in their teens. Wife and I have spent most of our marriage in separate locations. If I wasn't on a ship, she was. If neither was on a ship, I was 2000 miles away getting my company off the ground while she and my parents dealt with the kids and her career.

She's competent as all get out, and has actually reached a point where she's better than I am with power tools. Kids are not a problem...

So .. yes, this can be hell for younger guys. For us older types, who have years of hard work behind us, this could be just another day.

The beauty of it is, I don't have to mow the lawn or clean the bathroom any more.

Of course - I'm a newbie. I may change my mind in a year, you never know.

 

Lurchgs,

What was your rate? Just wonderin, since you spent so much time alone

 

and there certainly is an abundance of people getting into trucking recently who are older and are going into a second + career. Many by necesity and many by there desire. I only fear that those who are getting into it with some pie eyed idea of trucking gained from too many hours watching convoy and smokey and the Bandit

 

Nothing cooler to than a convoy!! I will never forget, when I was talking to my 14 year old about his father and the trucking , he got this funny wide eyed look, and says to me maybee dad will join a convoy? I will never foget that as long as I live,it was so funny, I told him I dont know about that? He is just like me.

 

Radioman. Loved it, too.

 

Aw crap! I'm not gonna meet Burt Reynolds or Sally Field?

I quit!

 

Okay that would explain the being okay alone for extended periods...and a slight fear, of someone standing outside.