Second Guessing Myself

Scheduled to leave for orientation in just under 2 weeks. Will be gone for about 7 weeks from the family. We have talked about this and discussed it all time after time. I still can't help but think how hard this is going to be. Strangely I will miss them all but I will miss my daughter the most. Daddy's girl you know. I know it is an opportunity to provide and allow us to be more financially secure but it doesn't get easier. Sleepless nights constantly thinking about it.

I truly forsee nights where I cry myself to sleep thinking about her. But I know it is for the better of them in the long run. I also know after 7 weeks I am home and then I will be home every weekend. But again it isn't getting easier.

How do you cope with this as I know it is normal to feel this way.

Call as often as you can, and video chat if you can.

This might be an unorthodox way to look at it, but the less you think about them the easier it will be on you. Your role right now is as the provider, so you need to focus on that and not be distracted. Some may look at this as cold hearted, but remember, you will be in charge of an 80,000 pound vehicle, that if you are not careful with for whatever reason, you could end up hurting someone else's family. I am not saying don't call them, but make sure your attention is where it needs to be, and that is too get home safely! If your wife is supportive, then trust her to handle the home situation while you are gone. It will get better, but you need to stay strong thru all of it.

This might be an unorthodox way to look at it, but the less you think about them the easier it will be on you. Your role right now is as the provider, so you need to focus on that and not be distracted. Some may look at this as cold hearted, but remember, you will be in charge of an 80,000 pound vehicle, that if you are not careful with for whatever reason, you could end up hurting someone else's family. I am not saying don't call them, but make sure your attention is where it needs to be, and that is too get home safely! If your wife is supportive, then trust her to handle the home situation while you are gone. It will get better, but you need to stay strong thru all of it.

I agree with this, especially in the beginning when your adjustment period is heightened. Easier said than done, I know, but I compartmentalized my life so that when I was learning to drive, that was my only focus. Its tough, my kids are grown so it was just me, your situation is more difficult. I wish you the best of luck, I wish I had the perfect answer for you.

For my part, I try to see the positives. I think about all of the advantages we have now. You can bring a lap-top along and skype every night. You have a cell phone and can call at every opportunity. You even have a "hands free" headset you can use to answer a call anytime while driving. You can take pictures and videos and share them on FB for friends and family. Just be thankful it's not the 70s or 80s when you really were pretty much "gone" for weeks at a time.

My daughter moved 7 hours away from me and it is very hard. Call text and skype as much as you can. Seven weeks will fly by

Ever look into Schneider van? They have a much easier orientation and training program that proves very effective.

I agree with the other commenters. Stay in contact and have faith and trust in your family. The first year is tough but keep your eye on the prize. Your family will come out on top for the sacrifice. When I started otr the internet and cell phones weren't even available. It was banks of payphones in the truck stop. Now you have instant contact. Good luck to you and keep posting about your journey.

I can relate to your feelings very much so sir. I will say this it does not get any easier everytime you get ready to go back to the truck you will have the same strings pulling athe your heart that you had before but I always tried to put myself in this frame of mind when I left. I would remind myself that while I do miss them they need clothes they need food they need diapers and so much more and I have an opportunity to give them all of that. Plus once you get on the road and start to see how fun this job is it kind of distracts you just enough for it to be liveable while you are gone. Now I was lucky enough to find a local job still hauling steel which is where my interest has been since I started but I do not regret my time over the road because I feel if I had started at this local job from the beginning i would have failed by now because it's a lot more a city driving and alot faster paced so I am great full for the time I had in the beginning to a learn the ropes of operating a commercial motor vehicle and all that goes with it. Just have a little faith and don't doubt that your decision as I amentioned sure your family is just as thankful for the opportunity as you are. Good luck and I hope my ramblings help.

I can relate to your feelings very much so sir. I will say this it does not get any easier everytime you get ready to go back to the truck you will have the same strings pulling athe your heart that you had before but I always tried to put myself in this frame of mind when I left. I would remind myself that while I do miss them they need clothes they need food they need diapers and so much more and I have an opportunity to give them all of that. Plus once you get on the road and start to see how fun this job is it kind of distracts you just enough for it to be liveable while you are gone. Now I was lucky enough to find a local job still hauling steel which is where my interest has been since I started but I do not regret my time over the road because I feel if I had started at this local job from the beginning i would have failed by now because it's a lot more a city driving and alot faster paced so I am great full for the time I had in the beginning to a learn the ropes of operating a commercial motor vehicle and all that goes with it. Just have a little faith and don't doubt that your decision as I amentioned sure your family is just as thankful for the opportunity as you are. Good luck and I hope my ramblings help.

Well put!