Taking a break
Posted by RoamingNomadSoul@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 23 comments
Have you guys every taken a long break from trucking? Like 1-2 years to either travel or do something else because you feel burnt out/ depressed? I’m thinking of travelling to south east Asia for a year to decompress and rejuvenate I guess. I been OTR for 3 years and barely taken home time. I would appreciate yall feedback. Thanks
Tapcofucked@reddit
Left in May of last year and haven’t been back in a truck yet. So far so good. My whole goal is to stay out of trucking.
0263111771@reddit
It would be ironic id you went to Asia and get a trucking job. Might be cool to see what they are working with.
Islanderwithwings@reddit
Yes I work 6 months and take 6 months off as an O/O.
But here's the thing, only Unions have job security. The shipper I have a contract with starts getting pissy if I'm gone for too long.
Truckers dont get FMLA. I think if you're in a union, you may be able to get FMLA if you live within a 60 mile radius of where you work.
You know why truckers don't get FMLA per the politicians? Because clowns will start claiming every Friday as FMLA so they can have a 4 day work week lol. This industry expects you to work 7 days/7days.
Other than that, become your own boss.
ashcheeeksss@reddit
That's not how FMLA works... the company MUST comply with/provided FMLA if they have at least 50 employees within a 75 mile radius of the "worksite" (which is, the office/site/terminal in which they work out of/report to if remote). Trucking companies included.
shorties_with_mp40s@reddit
Why not just go local then? I work 40-45 hours a week with the weekends off and still bring home $110k+.
genosx71@reddit
How
shorties_with_mp40s@reddit
What do you mean by how?
genosx71@reddit
What job pays that well with those hours
shorties_with_mp40s@reddit
Hazmat and working for a good company.
nortyflatz@reddit
Drive a bus in SE Asia!
You'll WANT to come back....
Wide-Engineering-396@reddit
Before you do , get your own dot #, when you decide to come back you can list it as 0/0, no missed time ,
totesnotfakeusername@reddit
This actually seems like a great tip.
Pakman____@reddit
Life's to short to not do what you wanna do. They might want recent experience at the bigger companies but you can start off again at a smaller operation. You'll probably make more money at smaller companies as well. That's been my experience for the most part.
MostlyUseful@reddit
I took an 11 month forced break…there were a lot of breaks involved in that…sternum, several ribs and a couple dislocations…hip and shoulder. I didn’t have much fun at all.
Silent-Room-4987@reddit
Watch out for lady boys
Seebs9@reddit
The issue is if you take a long break, it can be hard to get back into trucking. Companies want recent experience.
Dlast_sharp_needle@reddit
That pisses me off while every dispatcher claims they drove trucks but that was back in the 90’s lmaooo
MarmotWorldOrder@reddit
Which is why I don't understand why you're incapable of driving 6 hours into the night after starting your day at 5 in the morning.
Gonzotrucker1@reddit
I took 2012 off to travel Southeast Asia specifically the Philippines.
Gonzotrucker1@reddit
Had a job the day i stepped off the airplane. Same company took me back local.
P3tr0@reddit
I own my truck so getting back onto the road is a hell of a lot easier, but yes. I've taken off a month or two every now and then. I love I what I do, I just don't want it to be the only thing I do
MegaDuck71@reddit
Go for it. If you have the money and lack of commitments, go enjoy. I took a few months off recently to focus on my private pilot license and chill. I traveled Asia for a year about 10 years ago in my 20’s. I recommend some time in India and Nepal too.
Shouldn’t be too hard to find a job unless you spend more than a year off.
NakedAggression@reddit
I have. I easily found local jobs at mid size to small companies. Your ability to present yourself well and speak confidently is such a huge skill