It's not BS. It does put a personal burden on the family. Especially a young family. When I first started driving, I had a five year old and a one year old. You have no idea how hard it was to leave them not knowing when I would see them again. It may be two weeks, it may be four weeks or more. Typically the truck driver is home but four/five days a month. That's two months out of an entire year.Originally Posted by cbr900rrguy
It is hard on the driver because he is out there driving half the day and the other half is spent resting/sleeping. In a truck. Without a wife/girlfriend and children. They're going on about their lives (as best they can) without you around. You're stuck.
It's hard on the wife (if she is also a mother) because she is at home with the husband to help take care of things. Children especially. She is having to raise them by herself. Not easy by any means. Emotions run rampant as well. It doesn't matter if your relationship is strong as an ox. Try going a month without seeing your significant other. The emotional support isn't there as well as physical support.
It's hard on the children just as bad. Mainly the younger ones. They practically grow up wondering who you are. You have to watch them grow up via photos. All kinds of missed events in their lives.
It's not an easy life to be a trucker. It's fun in that you get to see the open road and things you may have thought you'd never see. My first month I saw Niagra Falls, Canada, NYC, The entire new England area, walked up and down the beaches of the Great Lakes, shared roads with original Amish people and loads of other cool stuff.
But to say there is no burden in the family is completely crap. Later, QD.
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