Trucking seems like a miserable job
Posted by RoamingNomadSoul@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 72 comments
I’m naturally an observant person, being a truck for 2 years, some days I would sit and watch people from my window or at the truck stop. I realized, most truckers seem sad internally and not happy. I mostly see this from middle age to older folks. I don’t know exactly how long they been in the industry but seems to me at least 5+ years. Just wondering, how are yall doing mentally? Do you feel sad, lonely, depressed?
Fractured-Justice@reddit
It's because trucking is for a specific type of person people who just love doing this stuff. We love driving being out on the road and all that. The problem we have is people aren't joining because they like doing this work people are joining just for the money which is understandable It's a job. But if you take a job just for the money but you don't like doing it. You're going to be miserable.
spartanantler@reddit
You mean Autistic/ADHD/Anti-Social types?
OrangeSpartan@reddit
Haha I'm audhd and just pivoted to try trucking. Getting learners as soon as medicals clear. Seems like a job that might actually let me work without feeling like I'm either bored to death or gonna burnout and explode
jennoford@reddit
Well many love it after 30 years because they are able to stay away from a miserable at home life.But fr do you think truckers should be showing joy and excitement? We are not customer facing so don’t need to put on pretend smiles.
Ok_Gotcha1@reddit
This is something to consider. One of the things that makes me like my job is that I can yell, shout, complain, and brood very openly. I can also be self forgiving, recover from feeling defensive, and feel hurt alone, too.
I've never had a job I could express these things at.
My driving remains the same, my disposition is the same at customers, I follow directions and take criticism as needed, etc. I can just... be real between.
Tripalicious@reddit
You should try operating a train and then you'll see how good you actually have it
spartanantler@reddit
Ah the ole “ You should try this occupation to see how good you got it” comment.
alluringBlaster@reddit
I have a friend who operates a train in a major city and it sounds horrible. He used to make jokes about pink mist but mostly he just goes to therapy a lot.
supernova-juice@reddit
Jesus
I know a guy who became pink mist.
ComprehensiveDark814@reddit
Walmart drivers always look happy to me.
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
Don’t do OTR. Be home every weekend or more.
Grand_Chocolate_6863@reddit
OTR is probably miserable
FrYoungtrad@reddit
...because they're men. Any man doing a job in the USA is going to show signs of mental unhealthiness no matter what that job is. This is one of those statistics where correlation really does indicate causation. If you're a man in the USA, you are going to suffer psychologically just by virtue of being a man in the USA. It is statistically unavoidable.
Gr00veChild@reddit
Truckers aren't only men for the record lol.
Kramersblacklawyer@reddit
Always been a loner but jesus there's something about being alone out in the middle of nowhere for weeks at a time that will have you dialing every number in your contacts. I found myself yapping to anyone that would listen at some point and that's some shit that I would never have done when I wasn't on the road.
DreamsServedSoft@reddit
you aren’t a loner. most humans aren’t and it’s extremely detrimental to humans to be alone but for me there was an overwhelming sense of relief when I never had to worry about human interaction for long periods of time. I loved not having to worry what anyone thought of or said to me. i miss that about trucking but I don’t miss feeling like I was stepping into a portal that deleted time
Heather_Val@reddit
I feel this, minus the deleted time. I have nothing at home, and have no plans as of yet.
jinkeeez@reddit
I went through that too, never was one to try to drum up conversation w the gas station cashier until I was out on the road and by myself everyday
RoamingNomadSoul@reddit (OP)
I kid you not I’m going through the same thing
Chocolateapologycake@reddit
I was OTR teaming and I was absolutely miserable. I am now local and have working hours of less than 50 hrs a week. I am happy and I have started losing weight and having new hobbies. I really think it’s the OTR. You never get away from the work.
Desperate_Fee_808@reddit
With all the money I’m saving and making..none of that lonely shit comes to mind lol..plus I always meet ppl while I’m traveling and I have really good social skills so all that lonely..miserable talk is for ppl that were already emotionally weak before they started
Ban-KaiZenkai@reddit
I did for a bit 10 years ago and got back into 6 months ago.
Cons:
It’s hell on your health, there are exceptions but for the overwhelming majority this true. Our bodies weren’t built to not move.
It’s hard on younger families. Not getting to spend time with the little one or your spouse if they’re not able to go on the road with you.
It can be stressful from idiots on the road, crazy weather (when the weatherman says stay inside we usually get to drive through that shit), taking a wrong turn or road closures.
Isolation can be difficult if you’re not okay being alone. Until you are then you just don’t want to deal with people’s bullshit and prefer being alone.
Pros:
Job security. I don’t think there is another job out there that tops trucking in this area. Especially once you get some experience.
Pay scale. While there are lower paying jobs out there the ceiling can get pretty high with more specialized roles.
Autonomy. You are left to your own devices for the most part and this is one job where you can tell the boss no because of the first point.
Traveling. We get to see some of the most beautiful sights that our country has to offer.
RedlineM5@reddit
Aside from dispatch...no complaints.
lifesgood127@reddit
As with any industry, it very easily can be.
I was otr for less than a week and absolutely hated it. Then I was local doing pneumatic and didn't like it. After that I did port local doing the same route every day and was contempt. And now I'm in ltl and I truly enjoy it. It's all about finding what niche you look like. I have friends who left local to go back to otr because they genuinely liked that more.
The tricky thing about it is if someone doesn't change jobs when they realize they aren't happy with it, the longer they stay the more 'trapped' they are in staying at a job they hate. Even if people are hiring nearby job searching can be physically and mentally exhausting so it becomes a thing of it's safer to stay where you're miserable than risk finding something you like
DWPAW-victim@reddit
I generally dislike being a driver but it pays the bills and I’m home everyday. I tried factory work and HATED it a lot more than driving. I’d rather work in the office doing reports or something
Fli_fo@reddit
Trucking has downsides. There are many different jobs within trucking though. And every time I check I see that the pay is actually decent compared to many other low skilled jobs.
People being miserable, well, that's not only in trucking. There are miserable people everywhere.
deezkeys098@reddit
No friends family only calls once a month other than that it’s a great job. I’m my own boss for the most part can listen to audiobooks all day don’t have to deal with work politics. As I said if I could get to a gym more regularly and had a chance to talk to someone more/every day I think it would be perfect
Gilgamesh2000000@reddit
Let me know what job comes without misery?
CrwnViic@reddit
I've been miserable with every job I've had so far, including trucking.
Cheah978@reddit
I was much happier running OTR then I am now being local… I think when u get in the industry u have bright eyes and can see all possibilities but as u get further along u end up stuck & what started as a choice ends up becoming a sentence… truly tho the only time I get lonely is when I don’t have other truckers to complain to who actually understand the gig lol
Outside of that OTR was living the dream
I worked when I want I vacation when I want I go home when I want… outside of talking shit to dispatch during football season nobody bothered me… anytime I missed my girl I’d fly her out to a random city I was in
She was always happy and excited
We got to see the whole country together Got to travel to some cool places
We both drive our dream cars And we got a nice lil condo with all the resort style amenities, trucking literally saved my life
I love this job
Hopfrogg@reddit
Serious question. How? Did you just quit when you wanted to take time off cause it was easy to get another OTR job?
Cheah978@reddit
Nah, i never was a company guy, I leased a truck as soon as I got my CDL & learned the game, no way in hell was dispatch about to tell me to park my truck and walk to Walmart, no way was I going to take a load through a blizzard, I took some L’s but I’ve been in control of my career til now( local driver now ) got almost 15 years behind the wheel
Big_Chemical_5165@reddit
Did you meet your girl before or after you started trucking?
Cheah978@reddit
We dated for a year & broke up before I got my CDL I got on the road and was posting pictures all the time;
We reconnected and been together ~12 years now
underfed_225@reddit
Trucking gets more difficult every day with the increasing number of cameras checking every aspect of the truck drivers life
firstblush73@reddit
I just left the OTR trucking industry, and yanno ... I WAS miserable.
Knowing that a company is using you as if you were a robot, where safety is PREACHED, yet dispatch puts you in situations daily, where safety is overlooked. The sleep can be minimal, and horrible. You're faced with hours of dealing with 4 wheelers who have no concept of what an 18 wheeler will do to their vehicle, when they oull idiot maneuvers. Alongside rhat, you're dealing with foreign truckers who run by their own set if rules, completely outside of what is the norm, and you are far away from friends and family. You spend HOURS everyday, keeping morons and yourself alive. Its exhausting.
The upside? You can make decent money for the first time in your life, if you are frugal and do things a certain way.
I got out, but damn, that was the most miserable 3 years of a career ive held, in my adult life.
Pakman____@reddit
Ha, I been a miserable fuck since before I started driving.
In all seriousness I'm not miserable and I actually like my current job. Main reasons are, I'm making good money and I'm not sleeping in my truck, my company puts me up in a hotel every night.
Ayrria@reddit
I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years. I’m 41 years old. I’m doing great for the first time in the last 10 years of being on the road. Helps when you have a partner who is worth a damn and treats you well (he’s also my co-driver - met him on this subreddit lol).
Voxicles@reddit
Shut up, Meg
PanzerWaffle@reddit
I'm just doing this because I have to. It's better than being a pharmacy technician. I work at night, drive 40 miles to work, do 13-14 hours, another 40 miles home, 7 hours of sleep to do it again. I have 6 months of experience.
I'm sad because I'm constantly searching for a better opportunity that just isn't there. I can't seem to find a more sustainable/comfortable job. I've tried everything, garbage companies won't hire me. In this past 6 months, I've saved more money than I did in 1.5 years at my previous pharmacy job. At least I'm getting somewhere financially, I guess.
I don't mind the work, but the lifestyle sucks. I'm not lonely, just a bit hopeless. Yeah, I guess I'm miserable. I would do anything else if it paid 65k+ with a better work life balance.
Lopsided_Beautiful_1@reddit
I will say once you get a year in , should open up more opportunities and you will find something much better. After 2 years, you have lot more opportunities as well. Just keep your CDL clean and drive safe.
Kevo_xx@reddit
Exactly, the first year weeds out a lot of people who don’t understand that rookies need to pay their dues and deal with the absolute worst aspects of the job before they can move onto something better. After a year a lot of doors open up and once you get two or three years of experience and a clean solid record under your belt you can really make some great money with very little nuisances.
The first year is rough. You’re being paid shit with shitty schedules and working conditions but once you get past that it becomes a solid career.
MrLitt1111@reddit
Im in the same spot always searching for a better opportunity with more time at home. I'm hauling fuel locally so the pay is decent but its like financial handcuffs working 60-65 hour weeks, I know i wont make the same pay anywhere else without getting a union apprenticeship or going to college :(
Kevo_xx@reddit
I’m a local driver and I love it. I can’t even fathom going OTR and having to live in and sleep in a truck but some people enjoy it. The thing is, there are a lot of nuisances in the job. Truckers used to be the cowboys of the road and now we are put into truckers cages because shippers and warehouses don’t want us to even use their bathrooms. We have to deal with delays and shitty dispatchers lying to us, struggle to find somewhere to park to be able to take our breaks, etc. If you see a trucker with a stoic face, they probably had a hell of a day and had to deal with bullshit from other people and they’re over it.
TajnaAmour@reddit
The only thing I have a serious problem with are those EVEN in the industry that come for you just to mess with your things. Mess with your truck that could be potentially life threatening. I'm glad I do my walk around religiously so I am able to catch things but, sometimes the things I catch have me grounded for so long that my day is wasted.
duhrun@reddit
It is and we know it.
homucifer666@reddit
You've been a truck for two years? What's that like? I imagine those road bumps are brutal.
torpthursdays@reddit
I tried being a bicycle once but I was just two tyred
No_Edge_7964@reddit
Hehehe was thinking the same thing 😂😂😂
RoamingNomadSoul@reddit (OP)
A transformer. I’m Optimus prime
Perfect_Brilliant_48@reddit
I’m a high school drop out. Did otr for 9 months and found a local job that pays great but has no benefits. it’s the easiest and cheapest way to make 80k+ year. Those unhappy people you’re seeing are otr guys. It’s a terrible job to have but it’s necessary for everyone to have what we have. Can’t wait till we figure out how to get the otr loads delivered without needing a human to drive it there.
Mozzatav@reddit
I genuinely wonder. Currently looking deeply into trucking because I think I could be a decent candidate. I don’t have a family waiting for me at home and most of my friends are already online anyways. I like driving and I don’t think I’ll ever be happy no matter where I go, so maybe I can just be unhappy in a truck making decent money, keeping mostly to myself.
RoamingNomadSoul@reddit (OP)
Try it out and see if you like it.
HowlingWolven@reddit
I’m not doing great. It’s very isolated.
RoamingNomadSoul@reddit (OP)
Same
AaronTuplin@reddit
I was depressed before I started driving trucks. The money helped me do a little better. I wish the hours were more in line with the real world
HelloGlarc@reddit
I am a loner
RoamingNomadSoul@reddit (OP)
Me too but this shit it’s like too much loneliness
Financial-Walk-4660@reddit
Are you able to take a pet with you? That could help with the loneliness.
HelloGlarc@reddit
You are loved
Player2orNot@reddit
There’s all types of careers where people are miserable. I enjoy seeing 25k+ hitting my bank account each month. It’s stressful at times being an owner operator and worrying about mechanical issues but I’ve got goals that keep me motivated. I’m definitely not miserable. Financial author Chris Hogan had a saying he used a lot on the Dave Ramsey show before he got busted for dipping into the honey pots at work by his ex wife - Focused but not finished.
Bagzthehoney@reddit
It can be a difficult job at times but I love what I do I have no complaints
Codexe-@reddit
i really appreciate the candor. I'm considering buying a truck, after saving up. I make better money than I've ever made. I don't want to go back to being poor. But I am so miserable in the truck. I love having a nice little cabin. But I've never worked for a company that makes any kind of sense. Everyone in the industry is an actual sociopath.
One-War4920@reddit
I was depressed prior to trucking, but if I'm anywhere trucking related, I purposely look miserable so ppl leave me alone
ss5dyson@reddit
It can be. Everything is your fault, nobody cares about you......at all, you'll be mistreated on all levels, from pickup to delivery, parking can be hard to find, you'll lose a lot of time sitting, the cops and DOT are always lurking, ppl can't drive, and don't get me started on winter driving. Trucking is not a job. It's a lifestyle.
MarmotWorldOrder@reddit
There are good and bad days. Most days, I enjoy it. I've been able to have a lot of fun and work toward financial goals. When I'm rested, I tend to feel better overall. I only started being somewhat social at the end of year 1.
No_Edge_7964@reddit
I'm not happy in this career. I'm miserable but I know for a fact I would be more miserable at any other job
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Yea I was a truck driver for a while now I drive a garbage truck. It was Lonely....especially with social media because I saw everyone start getting engaged and having kids or just even meeting their girlfriends and I was over the road working all alone...shit I still feel that way being a garbage man takes up so much time but it's still a slightly more social job. Idk it was fun while it lasted and trucking served its purpose but yea it's lonely
DragonFly_927@reddit
Would it make them happy if they had a loved one ride along?
MrLitt1111@reddit
Nope lol it takes a very specific type of relationship. Can't imagine my in-laws who always argue being together 24/7
DragonFly_927@reddit
Awe
AgapeAnus@reddit
It's a really hard job to remain happy in unless you're a very specific kind of person, and alot of people think they're that person until they're too far in and changing careers would be too difficult to pull off. Especially if you're talking about running OTR solo.
I've known people that were happy in this career. I'm happy in this career even if it's hard sometimes and I actually really enjoy running solo OTR. But for many, no, they're not happy.