Starting To Wonder

Quite different than OTR but if you like backing you could possibly look at getting a job at a warehouse moving trailers around the yard. Much closer to 40 hours than OTR, plus depending on location possibly pay more. Where I'm at warehouse believe it or not pays slightly more than yard jockeys making 23 an hour. Drivers I talked to (company is working on a program to get me CDL) they're making 75k to 85k a year...granted it's foodservice but still great money....

Hey Gladhand brother, When I started on this site I would read and read and read and you were one of the most impressive new drivers with a great attitude. Always looking at the positive. Always had something positive to say. Enjoying life. Then the day you grabbed your handle I laughed. You actually helped me remember what a gladhand was. And now your doing it again brother. By posting your feelings and seeing just how fast this can happen is about as honest as it gets bro. I'm sure you will figure out a way to get through this. Some mountains you can't go around, you just have to suck it up and go through it. And with your awesome attitude I have no doubt in a very short time I will be reading about some amazing thing you did and life is great again. NO DOUBT!!!! I'm not a youngster anymore, but I've started a new career in trucking and have completed week 1 in a private school. I'm the knucklehead that took the 540 hr course that everyone said not too. ( it worked for me ) .. I was concerned about passing a DOT physical due to prior med conditions. PASSED NO PROB!, Going to take my permit test this wed. Took the practice test Friday? Aced it!!! missed 4 out of 200 questions. Not only that, I had the highest score in the class of 18. The old man still has it :) But you know what? It's just a step in the right direction. Until I get that CDL in my hand I haven't done anything yet. Thank you for your honesty sir. It just goes to show you, this isn't an easy life, it's all in how we make adjustments to get through it and be happy. Good luck Bud. I'm sure you will land flat on your feet running again in a short time.

Hang in there GLADHAND

Same here I love being alone. The thing is just missing basic luxuries that I never considered luxuries. When I am on hometime I am still alone haha. It's amazing what it has done for my mental health and I can just think more clearly. I notice more things than I used to. Do you guys get the feeling as an otr driver as being an outsider that has an outside view of society? Like we are on the outside and get to examine what is going on inside of society.

How do you know if a LOT LIZARD is an UCC? ask him/her to smile. If you see teeth? its a COP lmao Just a funny ha ha

Is it worth it? I know I am the positive guy most of the time but lately I am not enjoying it like I usually do. I am not liking the constant travel or lifestyle as much as I thought I would. I still love driving, but some of the OTR things aren't really for me. Granted some of my complaints can be fixed, but basic luxuries we have at home I sure do miss. I would almost gladly take the 40hr work week back, but sadly I can't make a decent living doing so. I am not quitting by any means, but I am finding that I don't really like otr as much as I thought. It's one of those harsh reality type things. Man I was stupid for thinking I would work less as truck driver...

Brother, laziness is not going to get you anywhere, Trucking is a minimum of a 6 day a week job with 12 hour days. Minimum. How much are you making?

How much longer is your obligation to swift? If its almost over hang in there, if its just begun I would tell them if they keep pushing you around you will park the truck and walk. Let them sweat a little. you are not a slave my friend.

You are a young guy, look into the trades, start applying. Electrician, plumber, HVAC. The best thing would be to get a college degree if you want easy work. Blue collar work is hard, dirty and dangerous.

What do you miss the most? Are you lonely? If you are its ok to admit. Its tough.

Missing your love life? There are ways to get a date on the road that don't involve a diseased lot lizard, its not something many drivers will talk about but you can get company for a night on the town in almost any city over 100,000 people. I have done it and am not ashamed. you are a young guy and missing out on almost unlimited no strings attached hookups. Heck you can get a very classy lady or guy or whatever floats your boat, if your truck is clean they may even be willing to come back to check out your "house" after your date if its a nice clean truck. I have had company that wanted to try new things and were thrilled to check out my truck.

Are you a drinker? I am not but my trainer was and every so often he would take hometime in some new place, get a hotel and some company and drink so much he forgot his name. He said he needed to have a good hard drunk every couple months or so he said it was kind of like a reset for his mind.

Your in a rut brother. It happens to all of us. Even Joe six pack that works in a factory. I am not saying that you need to stay in trucking, but don't be afraid to spice it up a bit.

Brent had many good suggestions as well.

I'm happy to work my 12 hour day. It gives me a few hours with the family in the morning, a couple hours at night to unwind before I get in my own bed, and enjoy the comforts of home. I get my weekend that's not just a 34 hour reset or under a load. I have my holidays at home and my 2 weeks of paid vacation.

No, I'm not gloating. I'm bearing witness that not every local job is the same. Some pay well and allow you to have a life. It's all relative though. I don't work 9-5, but not many 9-5 jobs pay 70k plus a year.

Good point six string...I just came off the road from Roehl and took a job with Central Transport ...its long days and short nights...,but when my son says...dad I have a game on Saturday....I can tell him that I'll definitely make it. Like you said....my weekend is a weekend...and not just a 34 hour reset.

I do have a trucker friend in washington that only works 40 per week hauling grocieries. I've no idea what kind of pay he gets I imagine it's not as great as other options. He switched to doing 3-4 day a week hauling instead of a"9-5" type situation. It's not really typical I would say but he enjoys it. I just mentioned it because it's not something that isn't plausible. Esp if one is thinking of changing "where home is". But at any rate, most of us has hit a slump with trucking, pushing through it is why we still do it.

Either way, good luck and I hope you find what it is your looking for in the future.

I'm happy to work my 12 hour day. It gives me a few hours with the family in the morning, a couple hours at night to unwind before I get in my own bed, and enjoy the comforts of home. I get my weekend that's not just a 34 hour reset or under a load. I have my holidays at home and my 2 weeks of paid vacation.

No, I'm not gloating. I'm bearing witness that not every local job is the same. Some pay well and allow you to have a life. It's all relative though. I don't work 9-5, but not many 9-5 jobs pay 70k plus a year.

Good point six string...I just came off the road from Roehl and took a job with Central Transport ...its long days and short nights...,but when my son says...dad I have a game on Saturday....I can tell him that I'll definitely make it. Like you said....my weekend is a weekend...and not just a 34 hour reset.

That's awesome! Congrats.

It's not that we are crazy, it is that now we notice how weird other people are it their rat race lives. time for us means nothing really, other than pickup and drop off times. Everything else can wait, it is not that important. As a matter of fact nothing matters time wise, we are not moving transplant organs. Time to reflect on all things in our lives makes us realize how much does not matter.

Gladhand you are going through a transition and you are young. It takes time to break through all your indoctrination training as to what your life should be. I too grew up in a small town and loved it. Now that I have been away for many years, I went back for a visit a couple of years ago and it had changed so much that it no longer felt like home.

You are going to meet many new and interesting people out on the road and some will even become life long friends. Keep up the good attitude and you will get through it.