Does Anyone Else Prefer Being On The Road?
Topic 21870 | Page 1
I think that's how most people feel in the beginning. Everything is still new, fresh, and exciting. But after a few years it can become a grind. I personally prefer local.
I completely understand what you mean. When I go home, there's so many people I have to go visit, so that no one feels left out lol. I'm more busy on my home time than when I'm on the road! I'm always ready to get back in the truck after about 2 days. I think that's a good sign that you're enjoying what you're doing!
I am the same. My little hometown can be a toxic place that i lose some of my optimism when i am there for too long. That coupled with personal bs at my parents house.
On the other end of the spectrum being out for too long can really beat me up as well, so i have to find a happy medium.
I drove over 12000 miles, from end of June to beginning of August, last summer. I drove a suburban with a 5x8 trailer attached. The smooth roads, the courteousness of the other motorists, the breath taking views, the list just goes on & on. I’ve been in the concrete jungles of NYC since 1969, I think it’s long overdue. Yes, the endless farms & flat prairies were a bore but I will count my blessings this time around. I much prefer the flat prairies when driving an 80,000 lbs truck than going up & down the scenic mountain passes out west.
P & D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Cato, life on the road is one continuous adventure. I never tire of it. I'm excited to start each new day - doesn't matter if I'm starting at one a.m. or high noon. For some it becomes a grind, but for others it's like adrenaline.
I'm glad to see you enjoying yourselves - there are very few jobs that give a person the rewards that trucking does. If it's just a good paycheck a person is looking for then there's plenty of local type driving jobs available for a driver with some experience, but if it's adventure that motivates you then driving Over The Road gives you just the ticket you need to fill those desires.
I understand what you're feeling completely. I always enjoy being home a few days and seeing my family, but after just a few days I'm stoked to get back out there and start getting something accomplished. Life as a road warrior has some wonderful benefits.
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
To get paid? Absolutely. There are a lot of things I love about this life.
But not enough things to not make me miss my family.
I feel largely the same. I do enjoy my home time, and the vast majority of it is spent with my toddler granddaughter. The rest of the time, I have many chores to attend to. Things that need to be done while I'm home around the house or with my vehicles. It doesn't matter how much I do when I'm there, there always seems to be more to do the next time I come home.
So once my wife and I get back on the road the vacation starts again. Being an OTR truck driver with my wife traveling with me is a pretty carefree adventure for us both. If I could bring my granddaughter with me I'd never go home.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Cato, you may enjoy Reading This Article. It puts some of what you're feeling into perspective.
I just returned to the road after 1-1/2 years home on local LTL. I enjoy it out here. You make your own rules. You want to succeed...you wake up at 4am and get ready to roll. You push your hours to get the maximum benefit for both you, your company and customer.
Plus, the commute to work is awesome...3 feet. Lol. Roehl gets me home on weekends to see my son, so it works for me.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
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I've been with Prime since Sept in my own truck since the end of November. I picked up my wife before Christmas and have been out since. We went through my hometown last week and decided to take a 34 at the house. After sitting at the house (doing laundry and catching up with friends) we both decided we preferred being out on the road. Being at home was almost more stressful than being out on the road. Does anyone else feel this way?