Truck driving....

[josephback]

Considering a life on the road. If you’re a truck driver or know one, does this life necessarily hinder spirituality(specifically things like Mass attendance) or will most employers give you at least Sunday off? Thanks in advance.

 

[JM3]

Considering a life on the road. If you’re a truck driver or know one, does this life necessarily hinder spirituality(specifically things like Mass attendance) or will most employers give you at least Sunday off? Thanks in advance.

Over the road drivers do not get days off when they’re on the road. They accumulate days off (one for every 7 out). While some truck stops have little chapels, most do not and churches are not located close to truck stops. Until you’ve been out for awhile, you won’t have enough money for taxis to get to the church. The only time I was able to go to Mass was when I had relatives in the area.

A dedicated driver could, possibly, get sundays off.

 

[Dale_M]

A year ago, the newspaper of the Diocese of Providence (Rhode Island) ran a profile about a young couple who were over the road truckers for two years.

Before trucking Paul and Ann were able to attend daily Mass on a regular basis. They would go to adoration together and join other young people for prayer groups. But once they started trucking it was really only possible to attend Sunday Mass.

“We’ve really missed those things, especially being part of a community,” she said. “Now, there are times when we’ve had to walk five miles to get to church because of where we have to park our truck. During the summer we’ve come into Mass hot and sticky from walking from a truck stop. Rainy or snowy days always keep things interesting.”

thericatholic.com/news/detail.html?sub_id=3283

Being young probably helped on those Sundays they had to walk miles in bad weather. And knowing that their job was a temporary one, with an eventual end to the hardship of reaching Mass, probably encouraged them as well.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

I used to travel all over the country doing federal government contracts. It sucks it is hard it is awful to be away from home. The only difference is that I would able to get to Mass as I would be in a motel for months on end and was in the same town so I would always be somewhere in town near a Catholic Church.
That’s right there is no way to get to Mass driving a truck. The never being home part turns me cold. been there done that. I would rather be a bus driver (done that too and loved it) or a drive locally or drive for brown. It gets old real fast being on the road. It seems awesome at first like for me, 3 days and it got OLD!!!

 

[josephback]

Over the road drivers do not get days off when they’re on the road. They accumulate days off (one for every 7 out). While some truck stops have little chapels, most do not and churches are not located close to truck stops. Until you’ve been out for awhile, you won’t have enough money for taxis to get to the church. The only time I was able to go to Mass was when I had relatives in the area.

A dedicated driver could, possibly, get sundays off.

That’s what I was afraid of. Cross that off the career list I want to make more than my current $11,000 a year. I work at McDonalds:ehh: There’s nothing really wrong with it, but…-what if this is as good as it gets? I skipped Mass today with no excuse. Trucking would apparently make repeat performances far too easy.

Thanks to everyone for their replies

 

[JM3]

That’s what I was afraid of. Cross that off the career list I want to make more than my current $11,000 a year. I work at McDonalds:ehh: There’s nothing really wrong with it, but…-what if this is as good as it gets? I skipped Mass today with no excuse. Trucking would apparently make repeat performances far too easy.

Thanks to everyone for their replies

I made $40,000 the last year that I drove OTR. That was 5 years ago. Owner-Operators usually make 6 figures. There are pluses and minuses to every job. You have to decide which one out weighs the other. Perhaps talking to a career counselor might give you some ideas.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Considering a life on the road. If you’re a truck driver or know one, does this life necessarily hinder spirituality(specifically things like Mass attendance) or will most employers give you at least Sunday off? Thanks in advance.

I think you would qualify for the exemption to Mass, since you would be traveling and you would not be purposely avoiding or being negligent of your obligation (I’ve seen this asked several times to the apologists). You could go to weekday Mass when you got time off, but I realize that does not fulfill the Sunday obligation.

Have you considered other kinds of driving jobs?

There will be a certain … how to say it …way of life with over the road trucking…It’s not a moral way of life. I would urge you to explore other possible career areas.

 

[NetStar]

Considering a life on the road. If you’re a truck driver or know one, does this life necessarily hinder spirituality(specifically things like Mass attendance) or will most employers give you at least Sunday off? Thanks in advance.

My husband and I “teamed” for years over the road. Nope, can’t get to mass, not when the truck is rolling all the time. Then we took turns taking the Truck out Solo. Still made it hard to get to Mass. Yes we are Owner Opps. Although some may say Owner Opps make 6 diget figures…that’s true, until you take out the Truck Payment, Trailer Payment, Fuel, Fuel Taxes (every 3 months) Insurance, Heavy Duty Road Taxes, Plates, Oil changes, Tires, Maintance, and the list goes on. What you really end up with at the end of the year, is pretty much a Min. Wage Job income or Even Less for the past few years. With the price of fuel and no ones paying much for shipping…it’s been Less.

We’ve each been a Company Driver in the Past too. Some Companies keep you out for weeks at a time, (Like 8 weeks) and true you “earn” one day off for every 7 you work. Not much “home time” if you think about it. And if you have family…that’s not good for you or them.

Take it from someone who is still into Trucking…Don’t get into it. Sure it’s nice to see the country, but being able to go to Mass, spend time with the Lord and being able to recieve the Lord at Mass will give you so many more rewards.

The only reason we’re still into trucking…we live on the west side of Michigan and there are no jobs. I couldn’t even get a job at our closest McDonalds if I wanted to. There are just way too many people in our area, without jobs & loosing their homes. There are tons of people who’ve applied and are on a “Waiting List”.

 

[mariagoretti24]

Are you discerning a vocation? (I just assumed you are because it’s in the “vocations” forum.)
I’ve heard that some vocation directors suggest jobs like truck driving to people who are discerning a vocation because it provides a lot of time to spend thinking and praying about whether God is calling you to a religious vocation.
Just something to think about…

 

[josephback]

I’ve heard that some vocation directors suggest jobs like truck driving to people who are discerning a vocation because it provides a lot of time to spend thinking and praying about whether God is calling you to a religious vocation.
Just something to think about…

The priesthood would scare me to death. I know there’s a need, but…-there’s just no way Responsible for other people’s souls :nope: I have enough trouble with my own