Ive Picked A Company Paid CDL School, But I Have A Family?

I have been thinking about going to a CDL paid training course with a trucking company for almost 10 years now. Each and every time, I would back out because I had reservations about being gone, not seeing my family, or that the pay just wasnt enough. Now I am in a place where I need to take a job very soon for my family. Financials are getting slim. SO I have found Roehl Transport. They offer great training, and are veteran freindly. They also offer training close to home, (Dallas, TX) My only problem is, my wife is 100% against the job. She is assuming that I will be gone all the time, and we wont make enough money. I guess my question is, is there anyone here, who has a family at home and doing trucking full time? Wife and kids at home. How do you deal with that time and separation?

I'm doing this full time with the family at home. It's hard to leave the house after home time is up but once you start driving it's easier. We do a lot of talking on phone texting and face time. That's about all you can do. And we both trust each other while we're apart. I don't know what else there is you can do.

Roehl is a great company and offers great training, the only down side is there starting mileage pay is 0.32 cents per mile which is low compared to other companies. I would really explore all your options when it comes to this. Prime offers some of the best starting pay to new drivers.

Roehl is a great company and offers great training, the only down side is there starting mileage pay is 0.32 cents per mile which is low compared to other companies. I would really explore all your options when it comes to this. Prime offers some of the best starting pay to new drivers.

Prime does pay better but roehl has better home time options. Living near a terminal he has the option to do one of the home time plus fleets or even if he does otr he can get home every other weekend. I will say that in the year and a half I've been with roehl I've only had a handful of pays under 7-800 a week gross. I net about 500 a week unless I forget to turn in paperwork lol.

Tom A; I have been doing this for two years (in December), have a Wife and an 8 year-old Daughter at home.

When I started, I was grateful to have a job and an opportunity to make a decent living. Like most, my starting pay wasn't great, but there was the promise of regular pay raises. They all happened as promised.

My first year, I made right at $40k. It looks like I'll finish out this second year pretty close to $50k. My company gives me 5 days off per month and let's me split that. So I normally will go home after a couple of weeks for two days, then three days off the next time. Last night I was very fortunate to be home as I had a load (very rare for me) that took me "through the house." As long as I deliver on time, am efficient with my truck and make myself available as much as possible, I often get to take a 3-4day weekend.

I know nothing about Roehl, but understand they're a great company with great benefits.

If you decide to do this, you need your partner to be supportive. Being away is never easy, but there's always the possibility of moving into a position later, that gives you a little more home time and/or flexibility. I've considered this as numerous companies are eager to hire you once you've got a couple of years of safe driving under your belt.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

My only problem is, my wife is 100% against the job.

That is a BIG ONLY PROBLEM!!!!!! You really need to solve that one. This Profession can be trying on the BEST of Marriages and Families. Remember......Happy Wife, Happy Life! Not sure what the opposite of that is.......but it CAN'T be good.

My only problem is, my wife is 100% against the job. She is assuming that I will be gone all the time, and we wont make enough money.

Tom, I don't know what qualifies as enough money for you guys, but if you are going to do this successfully, I can tell you that your wife has to be on the same page.

I have been thinking about going to a CDL paid training course with a trucking company for almost 10 years now. Each and every time, I would back out because I had reservations about being gone, not seeing my family, or that the pay just wasnt enough.

Tom, You say you've been waffling for 10 years about going to truck school. You think about the time you'll be gone from your family. Add to that the fact that your wife has been, and is, "100% against" you being gone so much. Plus those money issues.

This doesn't look good for choosing to hit the road. You might be thinking that "she'll come around", and she just might begin to understand. But in reality, you will win the lottery before the Missus come around to this. (To clarify: if you start driving, your marriage will be in serious trouble.)

Obviously your few sentences about your marriage and our answers do not get you serious marriage counseling. But the drift here is that you do need to have your wife "on your side" in this decision.

We all have dreams about what we would like to do, and sometimes we can live our dreams. You may think you have a tough choice to make, I believe it's really an easy one. Consider what your marriage, which sounds like it's lasted at least these ten years, is worth for you.