Is OTR For Me ?

The Shiva, I just want to say two things:

First, what you are experiencing is common to all new drivers. There is an element of stress during that training period that weighs more heavily on your emotions than you realize. I know you are kind of new in our forum, but we have had this conversation countless times with newcomers to the OTR life. It is always best to hang in there, and get on through to the time where you are running solo in your own truck, but even then those feelings of separation from your family will hit you at times with a disturbing amount of force. I'm not too proud to tell you that there were several times in my first few months on the road that, with seemingly no provocation, I just burst out into tears with feelings associated with missing my wife and children. What I find unique in my situation is that I was already accustomed to being gone and working away for lengthy time periods due to my previous career, but there is something about driving that big truck for ten or eleven hours a day that is so demanding on a whole new level that it just takes time for your whole system to adjust to it. So, abandon those thoughts of throwing in the towel and hold on tight!

Secondly, as has already been stated, you will be opening doors of opportunity for yourself by staying the course. Trust me any kind of local driving job in Chicago is going to be really challenging, but you probably already have that figured out. Hang in there, gain some experience and some confidence, and you will be able to find something that works for you and your family.

We just recently had a discussion with another new driver who was having considerable issues at home, and was about to throw in the towel on his OTR gig. I told him how I had taught my children to never let the "tyranny of the urgent" run their lives and force them into making bad decisions. Not everyone understands what I mean by that, and judging from the reaction to my comments by some they thought I was almost being heartless to the guy. But I meant it sincerely because I know that most of my life decisions that I made based on emotion turned out to be bad ones. The times I was able to use my head and think things through to a logically reasoned out conclusion were always good decisions in the long run. When you are thinking about how to take care of and provide for your family you want to be careful and logical in your thought process, don't settle for a quick cure for your troubled emotions.

Thank you OS, I appreciate you tKing the time to read my post and give me some very good advice. You're right, it has been stressful and I haven't even completed a full week of training, that with missing my family, I was tearing up. Probably would have bawled if I was with the trainer. Anyway, after some sleep and some thought I am sticking it out. I just know this training will be done right before Christmas. I will be requesting 2 weeks off before going solo, or at least till after the New year. Thanks again