trucker wives I got an email from a mommy and she needs are thoughts on trucking

[semiwife]

 

Hello,

I did not want to join the group because technically my hubby is not a driver yet but is seriously considering it. I am looking for mothers/wives opinions on their hubby's truck driving. What are the upsides and downsides of it? I am kind of ify on the whole situation and am just looking for other womens input on the job. Hope you can help,

Alyssa

  So mommies plz help her on the upside and downside of trucking so i can email it to her and let her know what we all think about it and put her at eases

[truckermomma]

It depends on what kind of driving your hubby does, some are home every night some are only home weekends some are only home once or twice a month or less. When my hubby was gone 4-6 weeks at a time hauling household goods, i thought it was too stressful and tiring! When he was in town i was too tired to spend any time with him and he was too tired to really play with the kids. Although it greatly reduced his pay, he is now hauling grain and home every weekend now and that is much better for us. It is definitely worth the financial sacrifices. You do have to be a strong woman. You have to have confidence that whatever comes up while he is out of town you can handle! Good luck.

[kimberly1981]

My husband teams with Schneider and loves it.  It has been good income which allows me to stay home with my kids and spend time with him when he is home. The downside is that he is only home a few days a month (usually all at once if they stay out three weeks...by choice or if they stay out two then they r usually home (thursday night)  friday sat sun and head out monday.  The life style is hard to get use too but it does eventually get and the ladies in this group are a wonderful bunch and we are here for each other for support, advice or anything one another may need. 

[LevisWife8587]

**Advantages: you can choose a certain type of truck driving whether you want to be home every night, a couple of nights per week (one to two), or only a few nights a month. He could choose a particular route such as over-the-road, east coast, west coast (like my husband is going to be southeast regional mainly). This could really impact how often he was able to at least get routed through your town. Another advantage is that when my husband and I finally have time together we feel like we don't take each other for granted as often...We really treat each other as we did when we were dating instead of the complacency that entered into our marriage. Eventually we will make more than twice what we were making together and I may, depending on finances, eventually ride with him if I am not pregnant yet. It will give me an opportunity to see some sights and to spend time with my husband! My husband said that if I become pregnant he will take a job driving a truck where he is home every night so if your situation ever changes and you can make those sacrifices (including financially) then you have more than just one option. I am so thankful for my husbands insurance and benefits because medical and dental would really be a great asset. **Disadvantages: I sometimes don't feel like I am as close to him while he is actually out on the road. Sometimes if he is stuck at one place for a long time we will communicate for a longer amount of time. Other times I might only talk to him for 5 minutes in a day although it is starting to change into a little more phone time. He will be gone and we won't have Thanksgiving together but we had Thanksgiving dinner before he left because I didn't want him to be left out. Sometimes plans will have to be adjusted to fit a certain circumstance. The main thing to note is as with anything in life truck driving and being a truckers wife has its ups and downs but overall I feel that this will be a positive experience for us. Its all about how you look at it.

[irk_50]

I'V BEEN A TRUCKERS WIFE FOR 21 YEARS. IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GET USED TO HIM BEING GONE ALL WEEK AND ONLY HOME ON WEEKENDS. IF HE WERE TO QUIT DRIVING NOW I DON'T THINK I COULD HANDLE HIM BEING HOME EVERY NIGHT! I RAISED 3 BOYS PRETTY MUCH ON MY OWN. THEY ARE ALL GROWN AND ONE IS MARRIED WITH 2 KIDS. I FEEL LIKE IF I CAN DO THAT I CAN DO ANYTHING! :)

[Ginnette]

I have been Married to a truck driver for 17 years It is a second marriage for both of us we have 3 children together.I have 4 and he has 1 from our previous marriage.He used to be a local driver when that business failed he started to drive for an over the road company .He cant sleep well when he is gone (he comes homeless than 30 hrs. a week. He was so overtired and irritable when he came home) He started becoming abusive to my children. I layed down the law and told him the next time a child is hurt I will call the police.Last year in March he came home with crabs not the eating kind.He swore to me for 9 months he didnt cheatI know how you contract crabs I told himI wouldnt stay with him unless we go to counselling.The counsellor told him basically he was not being a husband or father and needed to change his response was to disappear for 3 months not evan talking to his family. He then called me and asked to come home he said he would change .I told him he would have to go back to counselling and be home for at least 48 hrs a week. This lasted a short time he never talked about any problems just wasted time at the counsellors and started again coming home less than 30 hrs a week.His company has dropped all benefits we pay for our own Insurance his paycheck is less than half  what it used to be My brother works at walmart and comes home with more so I now have to work 6 to 7 shifts a week to get by.He wont evan change to a company that pats better. The only reason we are still together is for my 11 yr old son.i will divorce him when that son is 15l  he is my youngest.( The porn the drivers pass around is also a problem) His father is a minister .I guess he was to busy with the church to teach him morals.Last year when he left my son asked me since daddy is cheating on you why don't you go out with someone he could see how unhappy I was.I had to explain wedding vows to him and how wrong that would be because I am a . I don't recommend this life to any one.all my husbands friends from work are all divorced some more  the a couple of times.I have made my husband aware how I feel and will not stay with him if he doesnt change to a local driver he says it isnt the right time I told him 10 yrs ago I needed him to be a local driver he has promised me for the past 6 he would .

[jtaylor03]

i have been a wife of a truck driver for 3 years now it was hard at first being alone with my son who is now 5 but i got use to it after a while we talk on the phone alot i like knowing that he is on the other end of the phone even if we arent saying much of anything he tells me what he is doing and seeing like right now he see's snow and he complains even mile of the way but im use to it its hard raising my son on my own he is a real handfull at this age but i just tell him "pappy will be home soon so we need to behave and help me out around the house so he will be happy when he gets here"and straightins right up.its hard im not going to lie about that i miss him everyday even though i am talking to him on the phone all the time he comes every two months and when he is here it goes by soooo fast.And then its hard to say good bye.but the pay is good and i just have to keep telling myself he is doing what he needs to do to support his family.Now i recommend that you dont listen to those wives or should i say ex-wives that say all drivers are cheaters or those wives that say its going to cause nothing but trouble because that is not true not one bight not all men are the same and not all drivers are the same you know your husband and im sure you trust your husband so you go with what is in your gut and what you are feeling if you feel that driving is what you want him to do and what he wants to do then support him every step of the way and eventually maybe you will get to join him sometime i did and i loved it seeing the country it was amazing.if that is something he wants to do then i say go for it.. :) enjoy my email address is [e-mail] if you ever want to talk or if you have concerns of any kind i will be here for you 

[angellady196901]

i am a truckers wife also i am a trucker myself for 21yrs what does this mommy need to know

[Labonza]

Upside:  good money, appreciate time together more, time to work on YOURSELF, closeness with your kids, the thrill you feel when he's coming home...the thrill you feel when he's leaving (haha, sorry...I just had to add that...it's a joke between my husband and I "so glad your home! When do you leave?", we talk more than we did when he was home, we LISTEN better to each other

Downside:  very short vacations, I have to do all the lawn work, once in awhile I'm lonely, in the beginning I worried a lot...sometimes I still do, keeping him on a healthy diet is hard, missing birthdays and family functions.  I have found "the downside" dwindles as time goes on.

[Hubbys]

Upside

Having the bed to yourself Good money, independent lifestyle.

Downside

Being alone @ home with/without kids, independent lifestyle, coping with all the decision making.

Funny, for my family; Dad being a trucker has strengthened our ties as a family.

We fight less and have learned to seize opportunities to be together. Like if he is passing within 50 miles of the house we road trip for dinner or a drive by hug. Sometimes we go and just hang out in the truck and watch a movie.

[KatieSutton]

My husband is not a driver yet either and I wasn't sure if I should join th group yet either. I was hoping to get this same information, just looking for other womens input. It's nice to know that in all aspects of your life there is someone out there that is going through what you are and that you aren't alone.