? for those who work on the road

[bbnate804]

how do you do it?! i got in with a company that was doing work in my area. after we finished the job near my house i was offered a job with the crew and i decided i'd give traveling work a try. so we started work on the new site and its about 3.5 to 4hrs from my house. end of week two and i've never been so ready to go home in my life. i definately like the work and the job (environmental site work/ heavy equipment), its a good group of guys and the equipment is almost always new rental machinery. i'm just struggling with this hotel, living out of a bag, not seeing family and friends, not getting to mess with my boat and tackle after work. my hats off to you guys that make your careers on the road, or you guys in the service away from home months and years and a shot. this just isn't much fun.

[-Joe-]

I'm an Industrial Electrical Contractor and have been doing this for many years. I'm usually on a job site a minimum 4-6 months. I gave up the motel deal and I pull a 37' 5th wheel and set up where ever I go. My kids are grown and my wife travels with me. We just view it as living an extended vacation.

[bilgerat]

Diesel engine field service tech. Been on the road 8 years now. I'm home most nights, but there are jobs where I can live in a motel for a couple of weeks.

In my shop, those of us that are roadies are there by choice. I myself hate being in the shop for any reason whatsoever.

[WarEagle24]

I traveled a lot working construction back in the 80's. Lived out of a suitcase for months at a time. In '89 I took a 12,000 year cut in pay to come off the road. It was worth every dime to be able to sleep in my own bed every night and to be able to see my son's ballgames.

[Treg]

I've been doing it since 1995. I travel 8-9 months a year, 11 days gone 3 home. Sometimes I get work close enough that I can go home at night, those are rare though. I miss out on a lot and sometimes wonder if it is worth it but the pay is hard to walk away from.

Right now my wife is doing it too. I am in Michigan and she is in Florida, our kids are in Ohio... Grandma is staying at our house. Crazy. Talking on the phone tonight, we feel like horrible parents right now!

[MasterCASTER!]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Treg &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> but the pay is hard to walk away from. </td></tr></table>

Don't forget the fact you got to fish with a local legend last summer..........

[mr.lennyg]

It's hard, I've been a truck driver for 38yrs. It's never easy I have gotten to the point in my life that I'm only out maby 2 or 3 days at a time,but back in the day it was very hard to stay away for 3 to 6 weeks. It's not easy and never will be,you just have to do what you have to do to feed the family. It will never get easy. If you can not handle a few days away you will never make it. ( God bless and good luck)

[bbnate804]

is it something you get used? i guess in a sense its easier then it could be. i don't have any kids. its just me and my girl. man i miss my own bed and home cooked meals (even if i don't cook em that good). keeping busy after work ain't been that easy either. i'm good when i'm at work and i'm occupied. when we finish up for the day i'm bored! i've already checked out all the local tackle places within reasonable distance. i'm always into something or working on something at home.

[Treg]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bbnate804 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">is it something you get used? i guess in a sense its easier then it could be. i don't have any kids. its just me and my girl. man i miss my own bed and home cooked meals (even if i don't cook em that good). keeping busy after work ain't been that easy either. i'm good when i'm at work and i'm occupied. when we finish up for the day i'm bored! i've already checked out all the local tackle places within reasonable distance. i'm always into something or working on something at home. </td></tr></table>

It certainly gets easier, trips go faster. It still has it's moments though... My first season felt like it lasted for ever but now they are over before you know it... But so arent the years, birthdays come faster now too.

Have your lady come visit. If you have the option, get the points cards to the hotels and save the points for free rooms.

My wife and kids come see me once or twice a year, the kids love the hotel pools!

[Treg]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by MasterCASTER! &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Don't forget the fact you got to fish with a local legend last summer..........


</td></tr></table>

and was schooled!!

[SOONER*REDNECK]

i understand the money, but i could not do it. I cant stand to be away from my dog for longer than a few days much less the family. lol...I dont have kids yet but when i do i dont want to miss out on anything

[ram1076]

Been involved in this scenario for 25 yrs and over the years i can tell u that even a good marriage wont last. I've seen many come and go but i would say on an average 60% don't make it after the 2nd year of this crap. Moneys great but unless you're single or you're values are different than mine(who's to say whats right and whas wrong) find something close to home if possible and do this as a last resort! just my .02

[Treg]

I have been with my wife for 18+ years. Have been on the road for 17 of those. What percentage are you giving us?

It can be a strain but so can't being together a lot! We make the best of our time together. I was going to fly in to spend the weekend with her in Orlando this weekend but tickets are over $700.

[oiltech09]

It isn't easy, try going to 3rd world countries, live in a compound in the middle of the desert and maybe 2 out of 100 people speak english. The beauty part was there was always a choice in food, you could have chicken and rice OR rice and chicken, it's all about the sacrifices in life you are willing to make to suceed. I did it don't regret but don't want to do it again. Best of luck to you

[BoatBuggy]

I was a road warrior for about 10 years. I still have about 1 million flyer miles but I won't step foot in an airport unless a family member is really sick and/or dying. In 1989, I slept in a Hilton Hotel for 205 nights and they gave me an expenses paid trip for 2 to the 1990 Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Are you working 7 days a week or are you getting weekends off? If you're getting weekends off, get your azz in the vehicle and drive home for a few days of home cookin' and a little

[petro]

I live on the road. In 2010 i didnt even have a home. Just stayed in hotels and girlfriends on weekends. Saved a bunch of money without rent and utilities. Have a place now but only there on weekends.

[lakefolk]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by wareagle24 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I traveled a lot working construction back in the 80's. Lived out of a suitcase for months at a time. In '89 I took a 12,000 year cut in pay to come off the road. It was worth every dime to be able to sleep in my own bed every night and to be able to see my son's ballgames.</td></tr></table>

i did the same in 85 only mine was about a 40k a year cut. and in 85 40k was a ton of jack.. worth every penny.. dont and havent ever regretted it. i missed one of my girls first steps. was workin a job where i went home every other weekend. i went home one weekend, got in late on friday nite and about noon saturday i realized my daughter was walking. went back and quit monday and moved to ok where im at now that same week. i havent missed any first steps, ball games, band concerts, school plays, or anything else my kids have had since. wouldnt take a million bucks to change any of it.
the money just aint worth it..........

[mattmann7]

Never an overnite roadie. But I double shifted for nearly 20 years. Worked side jobs and all the overtime I could get when employed by someone else. Then 7 days a week in self employment. I averaged 30 something weekends a year working.

One of the guys I worked with said your going to go home one day and your daughter will be calling you "uncle daddy". It actually happened.

Since I got divorced in 02 I havent worked but maybe 5 or 6 weekends a year tops. Totally lost the incentive.

[unklenew]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ram1076 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Been involved in this scenario for 25 yrs and over the years i can tell u that even a good marriage wont last.</td></tr></table>

That is just not true IMO, sorry but I have been working 6 months away from home a year for 30 plus years. Been married 21 years and can honestly say that in my epierence about the same ammount of married people, that travel end up in divorce as those that dont. One thing for sure in 21 years the "honeymoon" has never faded when I walk through that door for my time off. I'll agree it's not an ideal life, but even if you work at home your bound to miss a few ballgames or whatever due to schedules or other conflicts. It never gets easy to leave, but you learn to deal with the bad by enjoying your off time to the fullest.

[Igore67]

Did it for years before I had children, took a desk job several years ago and don't miss it.