Girlfriend of a newbie trucker

by Heather
(St. Pete, FL)

Hello All,

I am so glad that I found this website! After reading here for an hour or so, I am feeling much better. My boyfriend has chosen this career out of nowhere.

He used to drive buses for the county. Suddenly, he quits his "home every night job" and greyhounds it out to Texas for Truck driving school. That was August, and now it's January.

I was trying to see the benefits of this decision. To be frank, I've been struggling to pay all the bills and still be supportive.

How can a person gross a thousand dollars in a week and only have a couple hundred dollars deposited to his bank account? Between the cash advances for food, showers, laundry and tolls, the truckers life sounds like a broke and lonely way of life.

I read that it's only like this for a couple of years. I can understand now that just like anywhere, he has to start at the bottom. I just have to be there for him. Listen to the frustrations of the life he has chosen. Remind him that it will get better.

Those newbies who have chosen to be truckers, might smell and really need a shower, need a shave and haircut, and pee in bottles, but they all keep this country going.

And the tenured truckers have a heart of gold. They are supportive, patient and generous. In fact, someone randomly bought my bf a shower the other day at a truck stop.

I'm grateful that they are being safe drivers, helping those in need and making everyday sacrifices that most people "me" take for granted.