Quitting Otr

Well its been two whole weeks and have decided otr ain't for me. Honestly I like the life style, living in the truck doing my thing.what I wasn't ready for is the guilt I feel leaving my wife to take care of everything around the house. Before I came home, she said to me " I didn't get a chance to cut the yard i just been to busy" it are me up. My wife is a teacher and works her ass off, then I'm gonna leave and ask her to do everything to run the house? I knew what otr was when I signed up but I guess it got real the first time I came home and she had a list for me and she seemed overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done around the house. Luckily I work for Schneider and they have np letting me go regional. I'll be home on weekends know to lend a hand around here. I wanted to come here and let everyone know where I was at. I am enjoying this new adventure otherwise!!

Jaybird, I have to admit I chuckled when you said you gave it two whole weeks!

But, I completely understand what you are saying, and what you are going through. Driving a truck Over the Road is a lifestyle, we say it all the time. Folks usually don't really get what we are saying until they've done it for a while. This isn't just a job that you switch over to, it is a total change to your lifestyle, and if you happen to be married and have a family it affects everyone in the family. It is a major adjustment, sometimes fraught with guilt and hard feelings.

It takes a special wife to put up with having a husband who is on the road. That is not to say that your wife is not special, I am sure that she is, but for the folks who are reading this you really want to take note of what Jaybird is going through, and realize that it is going to hit you also. You need to be prepared for the changes that are inevitable with this career choice. It hit Jaybird hard, and he probably was not even expecting it.

I'm really glad you can transition into a regional position so readily.

Thanks old school, it started to hit me when i was out with my trainer. He is a regional driver and has been doing it for 20 years and has a stay at home wife. I was asking him about the historic snow storm we had in march. He always leaves out on a mon afternoon and the storm was hitting that night. He said he left as usual and left his wife to deal with the storm. He was saying how he bought her a snowblower 20 years ago to deal with the snow lol. He said he talked to her while it was going on and she said she just couldnt keep up with it. He was idling at a truck stop for a day and a half while she was battling the storm. It broke my heart while he was tottally fine with it. He was 50 so im not sure how old his wife is. But hey...it works for them and there relationship so im not gonna knock it. For me i wanna be there for my women, not just financially but mentally physically and spiritually. Newbies think about, and do alot of research here. Like i said this is a good gig, your on your own doing your thing with no one breathing down your back. Like every job it has good and bad. This is definitely a job to be proud of!! And a skill!

So they are letting you go regional after two weeks? Also this is a bit of an odd request but could you give us an update after you go to regional. Do you actually get weekends? Does it actually change the guilt you have or the stress it puts on her?. I'm only asking because this is the reason I am not already doing it.

I'll keep ya updated bud, i have a feeling this may happen a lot. They probably have more people that just quit before trying anything else. They were more then happy to move me. In fact they went over several options, no local just different accounts that would get me home weekly. Hoping to go local after a year, just wanted to get experience first.

Also, when they say weekends, that means home on the weekend for a day and a half. Say home on fri night back out sunday afternoon. Be nice if they gave ya the whole weekend.

Thanks for the outright honest read. I guess we all have different reason to and not to. I'm just stepping into OTR from a local dirt hauling job. Prior to that I worked internationally on a 6 week on / 6 week off for many years. Prior to that, many years of paramedic FF which kept me away both physically and mentally.....All the time a house full of kids and an Alpha wife for lack of better terms...lol.. (I do still love her) We found it difficult to have me hanging around for 6 weeks, much too long to have off work, but that's just us. My specialty/ work dried up a couple years ago and the adjustment of home 24/7 about ended the whole shootin' match. "Indiana Jack" has a couple great videos on Utube.. They are; "10 reason to be a Trucker" and "10 reasons not to be a Trucker"...... He's speaks of OTR....A good laugh with a profound message no doubt. Best of luck to you and your wife. All happens for a reason .Sounds like you have a plan.

I think transitioning to regional is more appropriate and congrats. The lifestyle can make a family struggle. Your finding balance and it's great!

Also, when they say weekends, that means home on the weekend for a day and a half. Say home on fri night back out sunday afternoon. Be nice if they gave ya the whole weekend.

I know what you mean about OTR. I didn't like it either. I started with JB Hunt Regional Intermodal last June, after running 6 months OTR. it made a huge difference for me and my family. After 6 weeks in regional, I was offered a local intermodal position. I'm loving my job now. With JB HUNT Regional, we would get a full 48 hours home, but JB Would let us stretch it to 56-58 hrs. For example, if I got home Saturday afternoon, I didn't have to start back out until Tuesday morning. You should consider JB Hunt if Schneider doesn't work out. Although, I have heard no complaints from Schneider drivers. Schneider would have been my 2nd choice, if I didn't come to JB HUNT. JB recruiters were more aggressive when talking to them. Anyway, good luck! I hope everything works out for you, like it has for me.

Also, when they say weekends, that means home on the weekend for a day and a half. Say home on fri night back out sunday afternoon. Be nice if they gave ya the whole weekend.

I worked a dedicated regional job (drive for Swift, contracted to Georgia Pacific) with those "34 hour" weekends​. What I had was pre-planned dispatches for several days out. True, I had a more or less guaranteed 34 hours home. But if everything works out right, no delays, a few times I got home Friday afternoon, and didn't need to leave till Monday morning.

Mostly, I got home Saturday afternoon (more often than on Saturday night).