Vito-

OTR is not what I wanted to do in the first place. I was going to stick it out for a while to get some experience so I can get a good local job. I got a taste of it and tried to like it and make it work with the family but it's just not worth it to me. For some people in different circumstances it is a great job. Just not for me.

Colts Fan

I don't Blame you, I too am a famly type guy I guess.. At least when there little! :lol: But I do know what you mean, it is hard on the wife, and the children.. We could probly do fine, but there in the heart, and even though we don't like to admite it, it hurts..

I did the same thing after a year or so, then went local within 200 miles untill I got hurt.. I do miss it!

John, good for you. OTR sucks. A dead-end burnout job. Only good if you wear a turbin or speak broken english. I hope things work out for you in your new endeavors.

Look hard and the right local job will come.

Local is where its at. :wink:

Do you ever have anything else to say ? :roll:

Start knocking on doors. Living in or near a major metro area the local driving jobs are there even for a newbie, most of them never make the papers though. You have to just go into the terminals and put in applications.

I shower everyday on the road, but that may just be me?

I think it is just you. Kudos.

Family is always more important than some stupid driving job. Its just a job, it aint a "lifestyle" as some would have you believe.

If you really need to drive than go local, but in reality, flipping burgers gets you more $$$$$

Join the club, Coltsfan.

I quit driving OTR after 2 months, which is 1 week longer than you managed, before I had the same realization. I also had the same problems with it..being away from family and all that jazz.

Initially, you and I probably got into it for the same reasons, the promise of good money and jobs anywhere. In my case, I was bringing (or rather sending) home about $400 per week, which is usually less than or close to the same amount as working fast food.

Initially, I was going to spend 2 years OTR so that I could "qualify" for some of the better jobs, like fuel hauling, or LTL freight. After spending 2 months on the road, I could justify that kind of time investment for a job where I will plateau at a relatively modest income.

I decided that I would rather invest 2 years into something with double (and in some cases triple) the income of the average OTR driver. I decided to go back to school and am currently pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Science and CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator) certification.

After 2 years in school, the base salary for the average Network Administrator is close to $50k per year and with 5+ years experience it's close to $90k per year.

$50k per year to start, home at night and on the weekends, sitting in an office in front of a computer every day, every major holiday is paid time off, overtime after 40 hours. It's kind of a no-brainer when you look at the difference.

Coltsfan, I personally commend you for realizing that trucking wasn't for you and deciding to do something about it rather than sitting there bitching and moaning constantly.