Hey y'all my name is Lacey. I've been around the trucking industry my whole life; from my dad and uncles driving, to my dad becoming a dispatcher , to being a truckers wife. It's been an interesting life. The trucking industry can be a close knit community. If you become an over the road driver you will meet drivers from all over the US. But even if you're a regional or local driver, you'll meet a lot of different people, some of which can be pretty interesting.
It takes a lot to be part of a truckers family, especially if you're you're an over the road trucker. You can miss a lot of things like baseball or softball games, birthdays, choir or band concerts, swim meets, dance recitals, and sometimes anniversaries. It's can be a sacrifice sometimes, but even when you miss all these things, the day you get home off the road will be the happiest day of the month or week for your family, and hopefully for you!
Home time…… it's an awesome time, but there are some things to keep in mind for both your spouse, and for yourself. Your spouse is going to be ready to go out, have a break from the house, and will have made a honey-do list. And you're just going to want to relax. Spouses: keep in mind your trucker has been gone a while and has been working hard. Now I don't deny that you haven't been working hard, believe me, I know you do. But they need some time to relax and unwind from the road. Now Truckers: keep in mind that your spouses have been at home holding down the fort while you've been gone. They're ready to have some help and maybe even take a break from the kids, the house, and the cooking. Both of you need to be aware of how the other is feeling, and it might be a good idea to setup a loose schedule which gives each of you what you need.
My husband and I have kind of figured out how to work things out. Not always, though. Believe me, we don't have everything figured out. But we try to make sure we fit in down time, family time, and some 'us' time, even if it's just lying in bed watching a movie together after the kids go to bed. We have kids ranging from 3 to 16 years old, so that's generally why we have to watch a movie in our room. The teenagers have run of the living room on the weekends.
It can be an interesting life! Well I hope this has been helpful to those of you starting out in this industry, or those of you considering a job in the trucking industry. You can find me on the forum if you have any questions about this. I'm TruckersWife09.
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
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.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
by TruckersWife09
Home time is precious to an over the road driver and their family, and it's painful when it gets cut short by an unexpected call from the company.
by TruckersWife09
When your spouse is on the road and you're home taking care of the family, it's tough on everyone. Communication and understanding is key to making it work
by TruckersWife09
It takes two special, committed people to make a long distance relationship work. Trucking is tough on relationships, but you can learn to make it work.
by TruckersWife09
Marriages in the trucking world are very difficult to maintain. The separation is tough on everyone. Here's some helpful advice to get you through.
by Rhonda
Life on the road is challenging, and drivers are on tight schedules. But this was one of those days where I made a mistake that made things even worse!
by TruckersWife09
Truckers miss a lot of special events back home and it's tough on everyone. A simple apology or being understanding can help keep the family close.
by Rhonda
Every truck driver fears a family emergency happening when they're out on the road. It's a helpless feeling, and there's little you can do to prepare.
by Dave Ashelman
Many folks come into truck driving believing they should be treated like gold without having to prove themselves first. That's simply not how it works.
by Brett Aquila
Isolation from loved ones may be the hardest part of trucking. Sadly, returning home may not end that isolation. It may just reveal the worst consequences.
by Becky Prestwich
Truckers face a litany of challenges on the road every day and new drivers often learn about them the hard way. Here's a few of the big ones you'll see.
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TruckingTruth was founded by Brett Aquila (that's me!), a 15 year truck driving veteran, in January 2007. After 15 years on the road I wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker. We'll help you make the right choices and prepare for a great start to your trucking career.
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