I'm Out...OTR Not For Me.

I truly thought I would love OTR truck driving. I thought for sure I would love the solitude. That the long periods of isolation would be enjoyable. I was wrong. I gave it much consideration long before getting into this career and didn't just jump in yet I still was wrong. I had intended to stick it out for the 1st year but I just miss home too much. I found my attitude diving south and try as I might found it very difficult to keep a good attitude and felt that the road is not the place for me and could potentially put others at risk. I have nothing bad to say about the industry or the company I drove for. In fact I was treated well and got great miles and ample hometime. I discovered that home, regular interaction with my community and fellowship are things that are most important to me and help ccontribute to my spiritual well being. The company thanked me for returning the truck and told me I was welcome to return anytime if I change my mind. God bless you all and be safe out there.

I truly thought I would love OTR truck driving. I thought for sure I would love the solitude. That the long periods of isolation would be enjoyable. I was wrong. I gave it much consideration long before getting into this career and didn't just jump in yet I still was wrong. I had intended to stick it out for the 1st year but I just miss home too much. I found my attitude diving south and try as I might found it very difficult to keep a good attitude and felt that the road is not the place for me and could potentially put others at risk. I have nothing bad to say about the industry or the company I drove for. In fact I was treated well and got great miles and ample hometime. I discovered that home, regular interaction with my community and fellowship are things that are most important to me and help ccontribute to my spiritual well being. The company thanked me for returning the truck and told me I was welcome to return anytime if I change my mind. God bless you all and be safe out there.

How long did you stick it out for before resigning and who did you drive for? If it was a larger company why didn't you see if they had a local opportunity with your experience level before resigning? Did you exhaust EVERY option to make it right before resigning? This could affect your future negatively if you decide to return to truckin'.

This could affect your future negatively if you decide to return to truckin'.

I think when he said he was out, he meant it. I don't think he has a desire to return. This career is understandably not for everyone. He gave it a shot and determined it wasn't for him. He gave some legitimate reasons, and I wish him well.

It's an amazing job, performed by some amazing people, with a few wackos thrown in the mix just to keep it intriguing!

Tim, we all hope you find some form of fulfilling work that is both satisfying and gratifying. I believe working is an important part of a man's purpose in life, but engaging in work that animates and gives purpose to you puts it on a spiritual level that is most rewarding.

I drove for Stevens. I am aware of their northeast regional but that didn't interest me either. I was hired 4/5/17. Including training and just over 90 days solo almost 6 months. Not particularly interested in driving at all. Just don't think it's for me in any capacity. Especially OTR. Like I said, I was wrong. Didn't know myself as well as I thought I did. If I have hurt my chances for other driving opportunities should I change my mind then that's the choice I live with and I will make do. It's a good career for the person with the right personality and there is plenty of great oppotunities and one could make a good living at it.

Nothing wrong with that. Good luck sir in whatever you do!

This could affect your future negatively if you decide to return to truckin'.

I think when he said he was out, he meant it. I don't think he has a desire to return. This career is understandably not for everyone. He gave it a shot and determined it wasn't for him. He gave some legitimate reasons, and I wish him well.

It's an amazing job, performed by some amazing people, with a few wackos thrown in the mix just to keep it intriguing!

Tim, we all hope you find some form of fulfilling work that is both satisfying and gratifying. I believe working is an important part of a man's purpose in life, but engaging in work that animates and gives purpose to you puts it on a spiritual level that is most rewarding.

This is so true OS.

I drove for Stevens. I am aware of their northeast regional but that didn't interest me either. I was hired 4/5/17. Including training and just over 90 days solo almost 6 months. Not particularly interested in driving at all. Just don't think it's for me in any capacity. Especially OTR. Like I said, I was wrong. Didn't know myself as well as I thought I did. If I have hurt my chances for other driving opportunities should I change my mind then that's the choice I live with and I will make do. It's a good career for the person with the right personality and there is plenty of great oppotunities and one could make a good living at it.

Yea, Stevens doesn't have that many opportunities other than OTR unless you live close to their Dallas yard from what I have heard (correct me if I am wrong here). If you want a local gig, some companies MIGHT give you a shot with 6mos exp, especially if you got a clean record, however if not thats cool too. Anyway, I wish ya the best no matter what you decide to do. I pray that you will find you a job that works for you.

Thanks Daniel and MM. And Old School I agree with you whole heartedly about work being a part of mans purpose in life and work that animates you and gives you purpose putting it on a spiritual level. I'm not sure what that is for me but I also learned that it's not so much the job I have but the job I do that makes the man. I did once have the fortunate opportunity to take someone for a paid guided hike and thought man I'd love to figure out how to make this a regular living. I guy I met a couple years ago comes to my area in my home state every summer from Manhattan and hires a hiking guide because he's not comfortable going alone and his guide that summer had to bail due to family emergency. He asked if I'd take him and he said he'd pay me and I told him he didn't have to pay me but after much insistance I relented. I Told him I'd take him and he could pay me what he wanted after the hike. After a nice 8 hour hike with several views of the lake and not too technical terrain and a mountain top snack he told me he had the best hike he'd been on and payed the $250 he had planned to pay intially.

Thanks Daniel and MM. And Old School I agree with you whole heartedly about work being a part of mans purpose in life and work that animates you and gives you purpose putting it on a spiritual level. I'm not sure what that is for me but I also learned that it's not so much the job I have but the job I do that makes the man. I did once have the fortunate opportunity to take someone for a paid guided hike and thought man I'd love to figure out how to make this a regular living. I guy I met a couple years ago comes to my area in my home state every summer from Manhattan and hires a hiking guide because he's not comfortable going alone and his guide that summer had to bail due to family emergency. He asked if I'd take him and he said he'd pay me and I told him he didn't have to pay me but after much insistance I relented. I Told him I'd take him and he could pay me what he wanted after the hike. After a nice 8 hour hike with several views of the lake and not too technical terrain and a mountain top snack he told me he had the best hike he'd been on and payed the $250 he had planned to pay intially.

Anytime. Glad to be of service. Its the reason I am alive.

Hey Tim, the solitude gets a lot of people. I was surprised by the amount of solitude you experience out there myself when I first started. I wrote an article about it one time:

Solitude Becomes Every Truck Drivers Heaven Or Hell

I realized right away I had two choices: either learn to enjoy myself and embrace the solitude or find a new way to make a living. I learned to enjoy the solitude so much that it really became an integral part of my life from then on. I've pretty much always lived alone, and when I wasn't on the road I've lived way out in the middle of nowhere.

I'm an avid hiker and climber. I live in the Adirondacks and I go hiking or climbing quite a bit. Unfortunately there are 10 million people that would love to make a living taking people hiking. I hope that thought wasn't much of an influence on your decision to leave trucking because for every 10,000 people that would like to do it, one makes a meager living at it. Without extensive hiking experience and a way to tap into a large base of clients there isn't much chance of making any living that way at all.

In fact, while you're dreaming, let's not forget how many of us would like to make a living golfing or fishing or laying on a beach in Florida. But hey, if you can find a way to make a career out of hiking, that would be awesome.

I'm considering the possibility of raising and training wilderness dogs. I have a German Shepherd that's been hiking with me for years and I can put a harness on him and belay him up and down steep rock. He's also great at trail finding, he knows to be mellow around other dogs, he's in incredible shape, and he knows a dozen or so commands now like how to unwrap himself from around a tree, stay, choose a different route, etc. Just like it takes people a long time to build up their fitness level and learn how to navigate the mountains safely, it takes a ton of work for dogs to learn the in's and out's of wilderness and mountain travel also.

So I think there might be a market for raising and training dogs for hiking companions, wilderness protection (bears, wolves, moose, etc), and search and rescue. I may take a shot at that one day as part of my farming business. I'm currently looking to buy a farm now but haven't found the right place.

So best of luck to you in your next endeavor. And I don't think you should view it that you were wrong about this profession. You just won't know what it's like until you try, and you gave it a great effort. There's nothing wrong with saying that trucking isn't for you.

Yeah it would be nice to get paid to play. That's not what influenced my decision though.