Truck Driver Work Life Balance: Making the Most of Free Time

Trucking is a great career for those who want independence. Many students who come to Truck Driver Institute are drawn to a career in trucking for the freedom they get on the open road. They correctly see trucking as a career that offers financial stability without the boredom or structure of an office job.

But while truck drivers are independent on the road, they’re still working.Trucking is a fast-paced career, and while you’re driving, it can be tiring work. If you’re an OTR driver, you might be on the road for weeks at a time with limited time off.

Still, maintaining your truck driver work life balance is possible, it just requires planning and putting good habits into practice. Learn more about how to find the right balance and get started at TDI.

The Reality of Truck Driver Schedules

Fortunately, there are truck driving rules and regulations in place to make sure that you’re behind the wheel for a safe and reasonable amount of time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration established Hours of Service (HOS) regulations to prevent carriers from forcing drivers to work excessively long shifts that could result in accidents or falling asleep behind the wheel. 

The main rules are:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit. Drivers can operate their vehicle for a maximum of 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once you hit 11 hours, you have to stop.
• 14-Hour Duty Window. Your 11 hours of driving must fall within a 14-hour window. Once you start your workday, you have 14 hours total to complete all your driving and on-duty tasks. After 14 hours, you can’t drive anymore. This means no four-hour breaks in the middle of your day.
• 30-Minute Break Requirement. Still, you have to take some breaks. Drivers must take at least a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time. 
• 60/70-Hour Weekly Limits. You can’t drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 days. 
• 34-Hour Restart. To reset your weekly hours, you must take at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. This essentially means that after a full week on, you need to take a day-and-a-half off.

While these are pretty reasonable rules, they can get complicated by the unpredictability of life on the road: delays, traffic, weather, loading/unloading wait times. Sometimes you’ll fall behind schedule due to factors outside your control; that’s part of the job. 

Home time varies depending on the carrier you work for and what type of driving you do. Local drivers can expect to be home every night, while regional drivers are often home on the weekends or a few times during the week. But OTR drivers are only home every few weeks; generally, they get home for a day-and-a-half for every week they’re out.

Common Work Life Balance Challenges for Truck Drivers 

With such demanding schedules, truck driver work life balance comes with some challenges, both at home and on the road.

• Missing family milestones. While drivers can try to schedule their home time around big events, inevitably, they might miss some, too. This can be particularly difficult for truck drivers with children.
• Difficulty maintaining relationships. It can be hard to date or connect with your spouse from the road. Calling and texting can help, but you may not always have as much time as you’d like with your partner.
• Limited control over schedule. You can often decide what time of day works best for you to drive, but you probably won’t have control over the routes themselves or the deadlines. 
• Health concerns. Truckers often have irregular sleep patterns, limited exercise options, and if they aren’t strategic, poor food choices. Those health sacrifices can add up.
• Isolation and mental health considerations. Many truckers like the solitary life, but we all need people. Trucking is by definition an individualistic job, which can be difficult emotionally.
• Little time for your passions. If you’re an OTR trucker in particular, you may have little time for hobbies, especially those that can’t pack up on the road. You likely can’t join a local sports league or play weekly trivia as easily as the average person. Still, there are ways to carve out space for yourself!

Strategies for Improving Truck Driver Work Life Balance 

You can still have a life outside your career as a truck driver. Truck driver work life balance just requires some strategic decision-making so that you don’t burn out at work.

Choose the Right Truck Driving Job

There’s a big difference between different types of trucking jobs. OTR drivers are away for long periods, but local drivers usually come home each night. Choose a job that fits your personality, responsibilities, and lifestyle. If you know you need to be home each night for your kids, that’s okay! Just choose the right job for your situation.

There are also significant differences between companies. Make sure your company has home time policies that work for you and scheduling that fits your life.

Maximize Your Time Off

When you’re off, make the most of it. Plan quality activities during home time or on your days off from the road. You’re traveling, after all!

And when you are home, try to stay present. It’s time for you to recover, yes, but it’s also time to connect.

Taking Care of Your Health

For some truckers, the last thing they want to do after a long day of work is exercise or eat a healthy meal. But for a long career (and life) in trucking, it’s absolutely necessary.

During your time off, put together an exercise routine for a tight space, or get into exercises that can be done anywhere, like running. Though you don’t always have much time between shifts, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

And keep some time for your passions, too. Bring art supplies to use or an instrument to play on the road if you can. You may not have a ton of time, but doing the things that bring you joy will keep you going.

Take the First Step and Become a Truck Driver with TDI

Truck driver work life balance is achievable with intentional choices. Know your limits and needs, and always make sure to share them with your employers. The job doesn’t have to consume your entire life—you deserve free time, too.

If the trucking lifestyle looks like a good fit for your career goals, consider getting your trucking education through Truck Driver Institute. In just three weeks, you can be prepared to take your CDL exam and enjoy our over 80% job placement rate.

Call Truck Driver Institute during business hours at 1-800-848-7364 or contact us online to learn more.