Not for me
 

After training and going solo for a week I've decided that OTR truck driving is not for me. I'll be taking my truck back to Baylor in the next day or so.

Thanks to all on here that offered their advices. BOL to everyone.

Re: Not for me
 

ONE WEEK????

I"m not passing any kind of judgement, Coltsfan..... but what happened in ONE WEEK that convinced you of this? How was it so much different than everyone here TOLD you it would be?

Are you gonna look for a local job? Or are you getting out of trucking?

Best of luck to YOU, too! But, Geez man! I hope you didn't PAY for that training!

what was so bad about OTR that u wanna quit after a week? Just curious

wow! can't believe some else is asking the same question at the same time.. How he answered this one I'm really curious

Sorry to hear that, :cry: but maybe you need to give it alittle more time.


The first three months are the toughest, especially in all the weather. It sucks being away from family so long, if that is the problem, you make adjustments.

Try giving it alittle more time.

What does the wife think?

Re: Not for me
 

I trained for 6 weeks and have been solo for 1 week. 7 weeks total. It is not any more different than anyone here said it would be. I guess I'm just the kind of guy who likes to be around his kids, shower daily, and sleep in his own bed nightly. Shame on me for that. I was paid $400/wk for training.

As far as staying in the trucking business I don't know. If the job is right then yes I will. If I can't find anything I'll get back in the insurance biz.

That is the problem. OTR is not or a family man. Especially a young family with small children. They miss daddy and daddy misses them. The wife has handled it well but she is really stressed out handling everything all by herself.

I don't think he's saying shame on you. I took it to mean that quite a few of us were under the impression, from what you were posting beore, that you wouldn't like OTR trucking in the first place.

FWIW, at least you made the best choice for yourself before it had a chance to harm you or your family. Now, instead of wondering how it would work out for you, you know that it wasn't a good fit. You only live once, right?

You are preaching to the Choir, I know. Hope you find what fits your family. BOL

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.

Thanks aj, best of luck to you getting your degree. Sounds like a good deal.

I get it if it is not for you. To those you have made it there choice this song is for you.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WUrd...eature=related

Hang in there. It is called work for a reason. This is just to encourage those who are still working at it. I completely understand those who found that it didn't meet their needs. I want my husband home as soon as possible and not one more day then needs be. Sometimes I cant sleep thinking about him and losing him( so I understand).

I've been driving for a living since May 2000......only gone OTR for 4 months out of that time. The rest is local.

It's just too much BS to be away from home for so long while you can make the same money at home doing local work.

Good luck.