[aspin]

Hey guys. I've been driving OTR about 8 months now...Why is it that no matter how hard I try I cannot make myself happy on the road? I dream of being home, of having my old life back, and when I'm home, I absolutely dread going back on the road. I sit there and worry myself sick dreading going from place to place to place. There are moments when I feel awesome rolling the truck down the road and I enjoy seeing the countryside, but I'm not sure if I'm really able to truely adapt to the OTR lifestyle. I just dread going out on the road. I thought it was the companies but I changed companies and just finished orientation and I'm already dreading going back out. Do you think this means OTR isn't for me? I like get depressed when I'm out there. Maybe a local job will the answer for me? I love driving the truck itself but being OTR I do not like. What advice to you have? Any solutions to my dreading going out? What about loca jobs with my experience? Please help!

Andrew

[MADLUX]

Stick it out for 4 more months, then you can get any local job you pretty much want, and be home every night.

[red12]

I understand where you are coming from. You have alot more exp than me but I dreaded what you are dreading. But I was out for 3 days and im missing being out on the road. im ready to go back out. Maybe get xm satilite radio or something.

[YoungZ.W.]

I agree with Madlux. Having one yearOTR experience will open up many other trucking postions for you. What are of the country do you live in so we can try to list some options for you for later on. BOL

[groovemachine]

I haven't even been otr yet, but I would just say you are only 4 months away from qualifying for a lot of local gigs.

Stick it out and keep your eyes on the prize...and stay safe!

[aspin]

I live about 20 min away from Little Rock, AR. I just feel bad because I dreamed of doing this and now that I've done it it's like it is out of my system and I don't want to do it anymore. Where at first I was excited now I'm burned out on it. Does that make sense to anyone? Makes me feel like I'm just not cut out to be a trucker,

[groovemachine]

Sometimes you don't know if a particular profession is right for you until you try it out. It's not so much a failure as just something you found out about yourself. Stick it out and then get a local job...you could also contact your HR and see if they have counseling available or something like that.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by aspin

Why is it that no matter how hard I try I cannot make myself happy on the road?

Likely because the road isn't for you. A more normal job would likely fit you better.

I dream of being home, of having my old life back, and when I'm home, I absolutely dread going back on the road. I sit there and worry myself sick dreading going from place to place to place. There are moments when I feel awesome rolling the truck down the road and I enjoy seeing the countryside, but I'm not sure if I'm really able to truely adapt to the OTR lifestyle. I just dread going out on the road. I thought it was the companies but I changed companies and just finished orientation and I'm already dreading going back out.

Life is too short to dread going to work every day. If you don't like it, get out and do something else. No shame in that.

Do you think this means OTR isn't for me?

Yup.

Maybe a local job will the answer for me?

Possibly. Depending on the type of local job. Some of them do not allow you to have a life outside of the truck either, with working 15 hours a day, and going home just long enough to get 8 hours of sleep just to go back to work again.

I love driving the truck itself but being OTR I do not like. What advice to you have? Any solutions to my dreading going out?

Get out of OTR and do something more to your liking.

What about loca jobs with my experience?

Slim chance, but not unheard of. When you are home, start asking around at the local companies in your area, don't just assume that all of them want a year experience - you never know until you ask.

[sidman82]

Maybe team driving can be for you?.. If not, I would try local. I love local. Been doing it for 20 years. I don't have much hair left either :shock: Especially in the area I'm in.

I would go over the road if I was not married with children. Just to see if I would like it better then local.

Good luck to ya.

[YoungZ.W.]

Ok aspin, Both Yellow and Old Dominion have terminals in Little Rock if you think you would like to go local. Hope that helps. Good Luck.