I think I've reached the limit on how hard I can work.

[Tobin S.]

I've been working 12 hours a day 6 days a week for 4.5 months now. One hour a day has been for break most days. I'm averaging 66 paid hours a week. I'm a trucker. I'm also 46 and I've been working like this off and on since I started trucking 22 years ago. I think I'm just getting too old for this shit.

Last week was particularly hard. I run a dedicated relay route. I start out every day in Dayton, Ohio. I then go out to Pittsburgh, PA, pick up some freight, and then on the way back I stop in Columbus, Ohio and pick up some more freight. I then relay the load back in Dayton. A guy comes in and then hops in the truck and relays it out in central Illinois. Then a truck with team drivers in it picks it up and makes deliveries and pick ups in Kansas City and Des Moines. They then come back with a load and relay it back to the other guy in Illinois. He brings it back to Dayton and we start all over again.

Well, they had a blizzard out in Missouri and Iowa last week. On Monday the team that delivers out that way was four hours late getting to the relay point in Illinois which puts everyone behind. Then on their way back out to KC they jack-knifed in St. Louis. Nobody was hurt in the accident, but they heavily damaged the truck and put the route another 8 hours behind schedule. The route was then a total of 12 hours behind schedule.

That fucks up everything on the route. We then have to run as hard as we can with the minimum legally required amount of time off to get caught back up. A combination of doing that and then shuffling a few drivers around out of our terminal based on when they could start got us caught back up by this morning. I'm due back in Dayton by 4:30am and that is exactly when I got back this morning.

I felt like I was ready to snap like a dry twig this morning. I mean I felt loony. The reason I've been working so hard over the past 4.5 months is because we are short-handed out of that terminal. I do not know what the hell is taking so long to get someone hired on, but they are going to have to get moving on it because I've just about reached the limit on what I can tolerate. I don't think I can handle another week like last week any time soon.

[vsrazdem]

1. I don't know how you manage doing that driving.

It has got to be hard on you to do. I know how you feel. I work 65 hours a week, but I have it pretty easy as I am a medical transcriptionist and work at home. I used to be able to make the same amount of money working 40 hours, but about 8 years ago most of the transcription companies got bought out by India and our wages were cut and production levels increased. Now I have to work 65 hours a week at 2 jobs to make what I was making when I worked 40 hours. Looking forward to January when I start getting Social Security so I can use that to pay all my debts, and then maybe I can go down to 1 full-time job. It will seem like a permanent vacation. One year I tried working 90 hours and it just did me in. I hope things get better for you soon. Especially hard at this time of year.

[vsrazdem]

2. PS - after working so long at home I can't stand even going out to drive on the weekends.

Especially at this time of year. I think I would probably have a stroke from high blood pressure and screaming if I had to be on the road that long.

[Tobin S.]

4. It requires patience

And patience gets harder to produce the more pressed for time you are.

[Tobin S.]

3. Thank you.

Let me put it this way. The people working the line at the NoDoz factory had to put in overtime last week, too.

[safeinOhio]

5. Best of luck.

I use to work like that. Now retired almost 17 years. Best 17 years of my life.

[Sherman A1]

6. I feel your pain

I was a Receiver prior to Retirement and enjoyed talking with most of the drivers whom I met. When the chain I worked for acquired another one about 25 years ago we went to 6 day weeks and that lasted for some 5 years, until we hit one of the periodic "The Sky is Falling" moments (must be contract time) and it was cut hours as fast as they could manage to do so. During the time frame I also operated my own business and was heavily involved with that industry's trade association so I was doing around 70 hour+ weeks for that period. Thankfully I was in my 40's and could deal with the wear and tear on the body. It helped pay off divorce debt, put the new step daughter through college and built the 401k.

Sorry you had a lousy week and Yes, they need to get some more hands and feet in your terminal, but we all know that there is a nationwide trucker shortage (for now, until the autonomous vehicles arrive) so I wouldn't hold out much hope for relief. Do what you can , where you can to take care of yourself and best of luck in the charming winter weather to come.

[guillaumeb]

7. Inquire at the USPS about positions.

The Postal Service uses contract drivers.

Good luck.