Burn out / fatigue | TheaterFire

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Early_Ad3574@reddit

Take vacation for a week. You’ll return motivated to work again. Thats what I do.

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I drove for 5.5 years. 8 months was dry van in the beginning, and then haz tanker the rest of my time. I LOVED tanker, it was my goal from the start. After 4 years I got tired of it and left for 7 or 8 months and hated my job so I went back to my old tanker job. I stayed about another year and finally realized I was totally over it and got a job as a federal contractor on an Army base. It wasn't the job itself that I was over with. It was the fighting the stupid 4wheelers every single day and on a weekly basis feeling like I was gonna die because they're so obsessed with their cell phones and other dumb crap they do. Oh and also because they put driver facing cameras in the truck. I left trucking in July 2024 and haven't looked back.

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Distinct-Event-7472@reddit

What did you pivot to?

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gin_n_juice86@reddit

Ammunition specialist. Basically I move ammunition and explosives to and from different test areas and bunkers. I get to see a lot of really neat shit that most people will never see lol

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Distinct-Event-7472@reddit

So are you enlisted or just a contractor still? I used to be in the military I know what you’re talking about

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gin_n_juice86@reddit

Nope. Never enlisted, this is on the civilian side. If you've heard of Redstone Test Center then you'll know what all we do

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Traditional_Ad_1360@reddit

I believe it is all attitude, I drove for 30 years and enjoyed 90%. But I am an outdoor type person and truck driving gave that.

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do-it-now-0829@reddit

How is Gemini to work for? I guess prolly not great if you are burnt out huh? You prolly make good money though.

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Great company to work for tbh , really laid back and I’ve never made less than 110,000$ a year . In the sleeper I’ve made 150-170,000 every year but I do stay out a lot more than the other drivers . Benefits are good . Pto is also good . I’d say go local if you have the chance . Local guys still make 100k+ . We get safety bonuses every 5 years . 15k for the 1st and it goes up 5k every 5 years after .

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do-it-now-0829@reddit

Dang!!! That does sound pretty dang good. Thanks for the info. Stay safe out there.

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Cardinal_350@reddit

I've been burnt out on it for 20 years. Simple fact is there's no other job where I can make the money I do with the level of education that I have. On top of that there's a whole bunch of college educated folks losing their jobs in droves right now to AI, outsourcing, downsizing. Would I like to do something else? Sure. But if I want to live the same lifestyle that I do it's not happening

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fresh-sodapop@reddit

I bet he ain't sad when that check comes through big dog just like he said. Its a grind.

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Yeah idk of many other trucking company jobs paying 3000+ a week , so I tend to deal with the mental strain

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Feisty-Tomato8812@reddit

Many LTL linehaul drivers, myself included are doing $2800-$3000/wk and home daily and on the weekends. My company runs the 60/7 clock so I’m never over 60 hours for a week and usually around 55. It’s out there, just have to find it.

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BrandontheCDLguy@reddit

That’s over 40/hr.

Are you in Cali or somewhere with an extremely hight cost of living?

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Feisty-Tomato8812@reddit

Nope, Michigan. .84 cents/mi and $36.50/hr for anything I do outside of driving.

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genocyde26008219@reddit

Name the company brother!

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Puzzled-Ice-8961@reddit

What company if u dont mind me asking
Tryna leave otr and get into ltl

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Godlyeyes@reddit

Wayne fuel transport pays 3000+ rn

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KingNebyula@reddit

What state is Gemini paying $3000 per week? They pay like 1500 down in Florida

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Brother I am in a sleeper lol that is daycab money

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0263111771@reddit

So daycab jobs pay more? I am just trying to learn the shop talk?

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nick-james73@reddit

~1500 daycab ~3-4k sleeper

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KingNebyula@reddit

How hard is it to get in on a sleeper gig? I know daycab there’s a giant list of applicants every time a position opens. I would do gross things for 3k a week.

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TruckinTuba@reddit

There are a few, depends on the work, and the location

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GOGETTHEMINTS@reddit

I used to drive it sucks. I moved to a warehouse role it sucks. The older I get I start sounding like my dad and I’m 30. But he’s right it’s called work for a reason. Appreciate what you got because it could be worse.

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Thegrandestpoo@reddit

Hey

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Home time is dependent on regional manager , mine wants us out 10 days the off 3 days so home 4 days afterwards, we can stay out indefinitely though til we want to go home so that’s usually when money adds up . If you do the 10/3 usually your long week your check is around 3-3500 , your short week is around 1600 . Gross numbers there . As far as net I usually net 2100-2500 on my long weeks and 1000-1200 on the short weeks whenever I do go home . We get 50$ per diam daily since we are paid by the hour .

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Thegrandestpoo@reddit

Nice! Yeah my company does something similar, but we are paid by mile and activity. We will get paid by the hour per certain things though. They give us $42 a night every time we sleep in the truck, but we are home weekly

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RH00794@reddit

I used to work in IT. Lost my job the moment this pos orange turd took over. All cause the owner of the company I worked at cut jobs to save as much income as possible cause he had no idea where the economy was going to go.

I have an AS in CS and with how companies do the hiring process these days. I said fuck it and this was my thrid fall back career I had lined up since high-school. Been trucking since last May. Its been 1 year and i just became a mentor. Only doing this until I can get a local job with Costco or Walmart.

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International_Fold17@reddit

Change professions and we're in the same boat. Will never make the money I am now and I have been in the same line of work for decades. Once I do get out, I will look back for about 48 hours and then I doubt I'll miss it.

One thing that has helped is to find the time (however brief) to do something entirely for you, or do something to break up the monotony. That will be different for everyone (I'm volunteering at a farm), but you have to give your brain something different to deal with. Different genre of books on tape, treat yourself to a good meal without guilt, whatever. I appreciate you guys and what you do. Thanks.

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beavismorpheus@reddit

I was thinking railroad or commercial air pilot would be a nice step up. Is it hard to get on with the railroad? Airline pilot would be fun and a nice pay increase. Can you think of other jobs where you work by yourself? I was thinking night security guard and gardening, but those don't pay very well. But, would be in high demand if the economy gets worse.

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Civil-Airline-5727@reddit

I have a guard Card just in case

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Ek49ten@reddit

I have a bachelors in IT and left that field after 10 years about 11 years ago for trucking. I would be back to entry level if I tried to go back and wouldn't make anything near what I make at my local gig right now. Plus, the grind to stay up to date and the corporate bullshit with most brick and mortar office jobs is very real... The amount of soul sucking, complete time wasting interviews I've been to in IT is what really drove me out of it. It's hard to remember sometimes but when some of our standard trucking bullshit happens I try and remember those moments. A lot of people like to think "fuck this I want an office job" but it's not quite that easy especially with what's happening right now with AI. LinkedIn and youtube are filled with people talking about how difficult it is to find a new job right now in tech.

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Elderado12443@reddit

My daily struggle.

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Thegrandestpoo@reddit

Man, I feel this

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mutennn@reddit

This is sad bro

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Cardinal_350@reddit

Not sad. It's just reality.

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ATX_6@reddit

Yes I've been there constantly working 60+ hrs does damage incrementally then your just burnt the fuck out.. constantly exhausted every time I'd get home after being out a month plus and wanting to spend quality time with my family would get underscored by exhaustion.. only cure I've found is simply going to 40 which doesn't work otr or even local but I've found what I needed making less money but less toll on my body

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Tart-Resident@reddit

When I get sick of driving I’ll take a break for couple years and work in chemical plants and refineries. Make pretty good money working turnarounds. I can operate most heavy equipment and cranes.

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Aggressive-Oil173@reddit

Can you work at gemini with auto restriction?

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curryshotzz@reddit

i believe so

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MentalOil359@reddit

You’re lucky to be driving for Gemini. I can never get on with them. Been applying with them for the past 3yrs.

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curryshotzz@reddit

its hard bro. so hard you actually have to network. I literally just got into pilot talking to one of their drivers on reddit. it took me 5 months but manager said one guy waited 3 years.

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Songgeek@reddit

This industry thrives on burnout. Many do. They hope they don’t have leave you with a 401k or any benefits. It keeps wages stagnant and the 70 hour work week standard. Cus the young and fresh are either more motivated or mentally prepared to “pay their dues”

The 40 hour work week is a bullshit concept and the 70 hour rule is a political exception to a soulless system in order to keep “society functioning” when in reality it’s there to keep you exhausted, prone to accidents, suicidal thoughts and burnout. All so wages barely grow, work life balance is non existent, and expectations are high.

The only reason we live how we do outside of work, with big TVs, nice cars, and in the debt we do.. no matter the industry is because we’re burned out. The mind has no time to expand, to wonder, to search for deeper meaning. All we can think of is this next toy, or experience (be it drinking, a movie, a meal out, strip club or vacation) or in general dopamine hit.. will fix our problems. We’re numbing ourselves because we feel our existence is meaningless.

We know why we keep working but we don’t know what’s after all this work.

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delawder29@reddit

Keep pushing man. There's always going to be a burnout with any other job you take. Should you take it of the job you'll look back on the one you have and want it back.

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InvestigatorBroad114@reddit

Take a week off. You’ll feel better

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ArikwithanA913@reddit

Im just starting out, only a few months in. I went from a regional position to a local position. Are you getting 3k a week because youre an owner op? or is that driving for someone? My regional dedicated route wasnt even $1500 a week. Unless thats just because im new…

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Willing-Sympathy-112@reddit

Take a vacation.

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Actual-Media897@reddit

I think its all the time you're putting OTR its burning you out. Had something similar happened to me. I was working local but had a terrible schedule. No weekends off and felt like a zombie. Finally switch to an open position within the company that had 3 weeks on 1 week off. Feels so much better getting to relax for a whole week every single month plus you stack up those vacation weeks with your off week! It's golden

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Comfortable-Fan5919@reddit

I would put money away for early retirement if I were you. We drove over the road for 20 plus years and the culture on the road has changed when my husband owned his own in the 70s. I got my CDL to help out and speed up paying off our mortgage and stash some cash in IRA. The hours , meals, and parking along with rest rooms all very much suck. Dispatch treated us like robots and the weather or construction traffic never crossed their minds. I miss some other friends who drive but I don’t miss all the crap we put up with in the end. Dispatchers should have several yrs of over the road experience to really understand their job and how people get held up. The parking I hope improves for those of you out on the road , there is not enough places to park when you’re running out of hours.

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AndromedanPrince@reddit

u hauling DEF?

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Emergency_Ad1152@reddit

I want to take the opportunity to remind young drivers on this post to create a way out before it's too late!

Do online school or slowly pick up a trade.

Do not let trucking be your only career option, your cdl is too fragile and your skills don't really transfer anywhere else.

If you're in a mega, chances are they pay for college, take advantage of it!

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TapWaterKY@reddit

And just to tack on some advice, save money and get ahead from the very beginning and live below your means. It’s very easy to make some questionable financial decisions when you’re new and enjoying trucking, but it just creates even more burnout when you’re suddenly feeling stuck because taking a pay cut for a career change is out of the question.

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Keep_Truckin_88@reddit

I really hope newer guys see these comments. At my last job, our employee parking lot looked like a car show in Dubai.

I’m watching these young guys buying Corvettes, Escalades, Hellcats. All I could think to my self is that now they’ve signed their contract with the devil. Now this is the bar they’ve set for themselves financially, that’s the burden they’ll have to bear.

I’m not knocking anyone that buys these cars, to each their own. My point being, I knew how much we all made, it just never made sense to spend that much on a car payment, to put that much financial strain on yourself.

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Civil-Airline-5727@reddit

I’m throwing everything in index funds

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ronda200@reddit

Literally what I was thinking. Starting to make good money now and saving myself an emergency fund and investing the rest. Maybe make a business down the line but the investment comes first.

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Civil-Airline-5727@reddit

There's just too much uncertainty right now with the economy and the war. The trucking industry is very volatile. I just started and I'm a rookie and I think I need an exit plan already lol.

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ShadedPerspectives@reddit

Straight up, im 26, started when I was 21 and went from making 30k a year to 120k within the first 2 years. Im ready to get out but gotta take care of those questionable financial decisions before I do because I can't make similar money right off the bat somewhere else. Looking at 3-4 years till im debt free, gonna find a way to get out of trucking earlier but im stuck till I get a good portion taken care of.

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Successful-Error7448@reddit

Trucking is a plan B or C. Should be unit till you have enough to pay for school out right or start a business. Never let it be your only option.

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surplus_labor@reddit

My wife reminds me that “all jobs suck.” I try to do things off-duty that help me feel some joy. Musical instrument, walking pad, learning to tattoo. It’s not much, but the alternative is to make less money doing something I’m passionate about. In my case, that’s impractical before retirement (@62-70).

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Over-Map-6890@reddit

Then there’s guys complaining about the smallest things , make it make sense. lol take a vacation.

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Ok_Time474@reddit

Invest invest invest till you don’t need to drive or as much anymore

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firemarshalbill316@reddit

I don't run hard and don't get burned out. It's something you have to setup individually with your dispatcher and managers. You are not a robot. Your physical health and mental health are paramount. If you are chasing money dump some of the unnecessary liabilities eating your check up. Work out even for a little bit especially after driving resets your brain and bring cortisol levels down.

Do little things to help yourself, take more frequent breaks. I do short breaks every 2-3 hours of driving. I'm never in a rush either. Don't care about time lines or appointments. They don't even give them to me because I told them not to.

Communication with your company is key mate.

Be safe out there.

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Zestyclose_Brief8627@reddit

Do you need spend more money with lot lizards bro

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Keep_Truckin_88@reddit

For context, I worked in food service for 11 years and became the definition of burned out. I bounced from company to company, trying to find a job that worked for me. Between the extremely long hours, the overbearing corporate oversight, and the hypocrisy, it got to the point where the physicality of the job was less draining than the mental aspect. I was tired of working for corporations and everything that came with it; there is too much to elaborate on here, but I’d be happy to discuss it with anyone interested.

Long story short, after discussing it with my girlfriend, I recently took a driving job with a family-owned company and I love it. I haven’t been this happy in years. Yes, it was a pay cut, but what I lost in money, I gained in peace of mind.

I think the most important way to approach this is: do you need the money? Can you find a comparable position, or potentially take a pay cut, to find happiness in a different driving role? Have you done a full audit of your goals and finances to decide what it is you want to do with your career?

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DesertPunked@reddit

The only way to mitigate burn out is by working less, and getting into more extracurricular activities outside of work. This job consumes us, and most don't realize it.

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ExpensiveRain4934@reddit

Brother, if you're feeling like you need a mental leave, please 🙏 take it. I stopped driving once before (about a year off), and yes, the motivation come back

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Mirindemgainz@reddit

Just gotta find the work life balance you can handle im in beverage and we’re component and I barely work over 40 and make 1500 a week minimum and I love it because I’m home with my kids everyday at 1pm latest. I work hard but it’s worth it.

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IgnoringHisAge@reddit

Have you taken some basic vacation? Sometimes as little as 4 days off without any expectations for myself that I get anything done at all is enough to perk me up.

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bentstrider83@reddit

I'm only feeling burned out due to the length of time I'm out on the road and the small amount of money being made. If regional Loves/Gemini pays $3k/week for the same amount of time I put in with food grade, I'd feel a lot more motivated.

Alas, the whole "distance from hiring spot" thing drops the ball each time. Relocating to a hot spot is the only option at this point. But between the small checks and bills not being paid, it's like a push-shove battle. That $62k/year on my 2025 W2 was pitiful. Definitely not getting out of that hole in the non Hazmat side.

Seriously also looking at jumping into TX DCJ or some other line of work I could get into within my HS education bracket with steady work and pay.

Burned out from high work hours and low pay? Yes.

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Leading_Strategy_627@reddit

Take a few weeks off. Don’t do just one because it goes too quick. Sometimes we eat,sleep and sh!!!t trucking and a break is very well deserved and needed. Have a number #2 “thing” you like that will get your mind off trucking. Good luck.

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Gonzotrucker1@reddit

I’ve been at it over 30 years. I’ve been burned out for the last 15 years. I didn’t go to trucking school. I got my cdl at 21 with a small company just 5 trucks. It’s the only job I’ve had my entire life, and it’s all I know. I’m stuck because the money is so good for someone with no education or skills. I really hate driving so much now. It’s only getting worse. It won’t get any better. Technology is making the job less enjoyable every year. They want robots now and not humans. Stare straight at the road all day, and don’t move your head.

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robexib@reddit

If your company gives PTO, fucking use it. "But they pay out at the end of the year!" Cool, your employer would replace you tomorrow if they found a sweet deal they could swing, and then in many cases, they're not required to pay out.

The time and peace of mind is worth a few extra grand of conditional pay.

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gh3tt0gangst3r@reddit

The worst part about this job is the compete idiots that drive their cars on the road. I've been driving 11 years but now I'm at ups so I only have to work 8 hours per day. That's the best part about it. Working less is great because you can actually do other things. Only working everyday is not a great way to live. If you have vacation, use it and maybe even take a leave of absence to see if you miss trucking. I don't but I get paid 120,000 to work 8 hours with a pension and free health care so I don't really care. I'm not sure i would want to work somewhere else though. I guess I'm saying that it's probably not going to get better. Maybe change to a company that you like better? I really like ltl stuff and I would have better enjoyment from my job doing that. Find what you really like about trucking.

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derpmcturd@reddit

Im sorry did you say 4k a week? Are they hiring people with no fuel hauling experience? Asking for a friend (im the friend)

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Exciting-Car-3516@reddit

I mean trucking isn’t a job or a career is a lifestyle. It’s like been a hells Angel. Just work your 8 months and enjoy your 4 months off drive when you feel like it and sleep when you need rest. Don’t take it too seriously

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AroundGoesThe18@reddit

Vacation. Im a single guy so its relatively cheap for me to do whatever I want to go do, but you'd be surprised how much good a 3-4 day stretch in a cabin in the middle of nowhere can do for you. Even if its just a nice hotel in a city - being able to go somewhere to turn off your phone and relax works wonders.

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IBringTheHeat2@reddit

What’s regional fuel hauling like?

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Can’t speak for other companies but every laid back here at loves , no scheduled delivery times , you make your own schedule and work as much as you really want to . Only con is being away from home really . Free showers , free laundry . Always have parking bc we can park anywhere at the store and not get towed lol

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IBringTheHeat2@reddit

What’s your run like? You just go from refinery to store back to refinery? I’m a UPS driver so kinda wonder how you guys run. Do you get to bid on a route or is it random where you go

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Just random , sleepers do long hauls so we usually do 1-2 loads a day vs daycabs who do 3-5 a day

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IBringTheHeat2@reddit

What’s your pay like?

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freshasfvckk@reddit

If u have the funds maybe take 6-12 months off and just chill or travel, u might not be as burnt out as you think some people just need a vacation lol

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Sparks_PC_Building@reddit

You NEED to set goals. You NEED to set actual goals. Get a cruise, make the sailing date your goal. Get a hotel in a nice place and have a dinner for yourself on a day off. Set a date for it. Want to buy something nice, only set aside a portion of your check to it and work towards the item one check at a time. You aren’t a robot, don’t act like one.

Motivation is not something that comes and goes. It’s something you give yourself. Burn out happens yes, but it happens faster when you don’t give yourself anything to aim for. You want a house as your goal, sure! But remember to give yourself smaller goals too; that way you get that dopamine of achieving something.

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dirtfxther@reddit

Get a class job with better work life balance and find a side hustle you enjoy. Or take the pay cut and spend all your time having fun. Or continue doing the same thing and be burnt out forever

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BigCheeseTheThird@reddit

If you have savings quit and take a month or more off, rest and travel, your licence and endorsements will still be needed when you get back... if you want to come back.

I've dipped in and out of truck driving a couple times it's the long hours for me. Honestly just living to work most the time but I can still afford to go on trips out and do cool shit even though we are going through the millionth economic shock of my lifetime. But living to work gets to me and every 5 years or so I change out of trucking or just crash out for a month and go travelling.

Mental health is important. I lost my mind a couple years back (depression, suicidal ideation, adultery, divorce I CRASHED OUT) unrelated to trucking and now I take my mental health seriously. Don't push yourself too hard, don't let yourself be burned out for too long, don't be in a bad relationship/house/town/family etc. or anything. You can bottle it up but your subconcious will find a way to get those feelings out. If you need to quit then quit or else you might just crash out instead.

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iAMtheKM@reddit

Burnout is real I feel like I get it every year 😭😭 have you thought about switching to something local or different job for the short time? I do about once every other year and every time I switch I get the itch to go back to driving long haul 😂 If you're in a good place financially (no too big debts or major commitments) it could benefit you

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TapWaterKY@reddit

I feel ya, driver. Feels weird going from absolutely loving trucking and not even feeling like I was working my first couple years to being incredibly burnt out now on year 5.

Have you ever done local? Getting away from the ‘lifestyle’ aspect of regional/OTR and treating it just as a job and nothing more would help the fatigue, I’d think. I know as an OTR driver, it’s hard to decompress from bad days when all I’m doing is moving 5 feet back to the bunk at the end of the day lol. Much easier to relax and unwind in your home

Obviously I know it’s a bit trickier for your situation since you’re already at one of the best trucking gigs.

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JLRD9319@reddit

I’m dealing with major burnout rn as a local driver. 12 hour days suck. I feel like I’m home for 10 minutes before I’m back in my truck lol

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Successful-Error7448@reddit

Local would be fine if it’s 12 hours out and off weekends.

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TapWaterKY@reddit

I believe it lol. I guess that’s a trade off — the benefit of getting to leave work everyday means you have to factor in your commute and errands while still working crazy hours.

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Greedy_Grape8482@reddit (OP)

Yeah I was local when I started here , will probably return back to it next year . You know the live had faded when those big checks don’t even put a smile on your face anymore

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Redsoxdragon@reddit

Take a week off every few months. Even if you're not on vacation,since time to properly fuck off from work does wonders for your head.

Also, get a girlfriend and a dog. It's nice to look forward to coming home to someone. That little bit of move carries you so much

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cryincryo@reddit

motivation never came back for me. i'm only 29 so i got to thinking about the future. really wasn't looking forward to spending the next 30-40 years of my life behind the wheel

best thing i did was get out, even though it meant taking a pay cut

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TapWaterKY@reddit

What’d you end up doing after getting out?

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cryincryo@reddit

stayed with the same company. private fleet, so we manufacture & our own products. i just got out of distribution and moved to the operations side of things. $150k/yr down to $90-120k depending on overtime throughout the year

i would think just about any private fleet in the petro/chemical/industrial gas industries would have similar opportunities. take marathon as an example. i imagine it would be fairly trivial to transfer into process operations with enough experience as a driver with them

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