Experience Truckers Advice

Hello everyone, and thanks for everything you guys do. I have been thinking about joining the trucking industry for a while now, but due to having a fairly descent job as a diesel mechanic that takes care of the bills and provides a descent living for my family have hold off on doing it. I know that this is a personal choice but wanted to get some opinions from truck drivers that have been doing it for a long time. I'm 35 yrs old and grow up around the trucking industry as my dad was a truck driver all his life and I've spent many months with him on the road. I already have my cdl and actually drove for a few month with my dad when he was an owner operator and loved it. Unfortunately he got sick and sold his truck and I went back to being a diesel mechanic. Even though I have a good job that pays descent, I don't enjoy it very much and always have trucking in my mind. Only concern that I have is my family. I have a wife and two daughters 13 and 6 years old I fear that If I go trucking the relationship that I have with my daughters will change and not for the good. I know that many truckers here go through that and I would love to hear how you guys maintain a good family relationship even though you are gone. Am I crazy for even considering trucking having a job that pays descent and provides me a lot of time off and keeps me home even though I don't enjoy it? I appreciate any inputs and look forward to hearing from you guys.

Welcome to TT.

There are a few here, that have taken pay cuts, to start driving, because they were miserable at their prior jobs. As far as family life, find a carrier that will offer a good home time mix. ROEHL, for instance has some very flexible home time options.

Welcome Adrian. You have come to the right place.

Am I crazy for even considering trucking having a job that pays descent and provides me a lot of time off and keeps me home even though I don't enjoy it?

I think we all have a little bit of crazy in us for doing this. Not a bad thing, actually helpful in being successful. Seriously,...I spent decades in a job I was really good at but didn't really fulfill me, the last few years I was burned out and not happy. Fact is it took me most of my adult life to figure out it was the journey I most enjoyed, not the destination. Admittedly I love driving and I love trucks...always have.

My children are grown so I can't offer advice in that regard. I can suggest, that you and your wife must be in total agreement on this and understand what to expect. My suggestion is for both of you to review the below links and have a plan in place before you start school...

Truck Driver's Career Guide

Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving

Good luck!

I know I'm not super experienced, but this is what I've seen in the past few months. My mentor, 10+ yrs with Swift has made it work and he's got 5 kids. Mind you he's a division guy now and is home about every othet weekend and it's still wearing on him.

2 of the guys I went to the academy with that have young families have already quit in search of local jobs.