Say What?

Question: How do you maintain a family life while on the road?

Larry Hobbs, 57, Corbin. KY  
Professional driving experience: 24 years  
“First of all, you have to like your job, make good money and provide for your family. It’s like any other job. If you don’t like it, you make yourself and your spouse miserable. If you like it and make good money, life is a lot smoother. On top of that, I get home every weekend. I won’t run if I can’t get home.”

Clint Schindewolf, 25, Quincy, OH   
Professional driving experience: 4 years  
“Well, I am fortunate enough to be home at least four nights a week. I’m usually only gone one night a week, so that works out well. As far as an over-the-road driver is concerned, I guess it requires a lot of phone time and things like that.”

Sheila Zeigler, 49, Tylertown, MS
Professional driving experience: 15 years    
“My husband and I run team, so that solves the problem right there.”

Wesley Yoder, 44, Stuart’s Draft, VA  
Professional driving experience: 20 years  
“I’m home every weekend. Communication is the key. With the cell phone, my wife and I probably communicate as much or more than a couple that is home all the time. I know some married couples and each of them has an eight- or 10-hour a day job. They can’t talk to their spouse as much as I do when I’m driving down the road.”

Brian Cooper, 37, Woodville, Ontario, Canada  
Professional driving experience: 19 years  
“I’m married, and I get home every night now. I used to drive over-the-road, but I wasn’t married at the time. If you’re going to go long distance and you’re going to be away from home all the time, in all honesty, the perfect person is a single man or woman who has no connections. It’s a lot easier. I know married people who can make it work, but it certainly helps if you run within a 500-mile radius of home.”