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Duty vs. Daddy: One Trucker’s Story of Finding Work-Life Balance

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With long stretches on the road and only short, intense bursts of time at home, maintaining work-life balance comes as a challenge. Veteran trucker Trent McCain took the extra time to connect with his daughter in the cutest way possible.

Shaun Cronin of Irish Examiner tells the story of How McCain’s 9 year old daughter, Joselyn, struggled to find a babysitter for her doll, Abbie, so she called on “Grandpa Trent” for help.

McCain reported on Facebook that “he didn’t want his daughter thinking he’d neglected the doll all day.”

McCain certainly made sure we wouldn’t forget about him or Abbie. According to the Irish examiner, to assure Joselyn that Abbie was in good hands, he posted pictures of his trip throughout the day. Read more here.

McCain isn’t alone in his efforts to balance work and family time. Countless drivers invest in both their jobs and families. Roadmaster Trucking School offers a few fun ideas for CDL truckers working on building and maintaining strong family connections.

  1. Postcards and letters: Handwritten notes are rare. So, taking the time to write a short, meaningful note brighten your child’s day.
  2. Social Media: McCain used Facebook to share pictures and moments from his daily life, with family and friends. Social media is particularly useful if you’re crossing time zones because you don’t need to coordinate meeting times.
  3. Home Time: When you are at home, use the time to do something memorable. In addition, avoid missing important moments in your children’s lives. Helping yourself and your kids savor the moments together make the moments apart easier.

A work-life balance is an important part of being a CDL driver.  Let us help you find yours. Drive My Way lets you select lifestyle preferences to find the best jobs that fit your needs. Register here to get started!

The Unique Fabric of One Trucker’s Life

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Zoe Sutton and her dog

The spotted bags are sewn carefully over four hours and is one aspect of this trucker’s life. They’re made from cowhide that Zoe Marie Sutton buys on Etsy and EBay. Looking at them you would think they were manufactured at a high-end department store.

In fact, Sutton stitched them at home on the weekends. That’s because Sutton, a professional cattle hauler and regional driver for Butler Trucking, gets home time most every weekend.

Threading the Needle

When Sutton started sewing just one year ago, she found she had a natural gift for the pastime. Sutton has had a CDL trucking job since 1999. Given her familiarity with cattle, crafting items from cowhide seemed like a perfect fit for her.

One of Sutton’s most popular pouches

In the last year, Sutton has sewn aprons, potholders, pillowcases and dresses from all kinds of fabrics, but it’s her cowhide pouches that are most popular with her audience.

“I do a lot with fabric, but I really like cowhides,” Sutton says. “As someone who hauls cattle for a living, I enjoy all the different patterns they come in. I think they’re quite pretty. Plus, cowhides are very sturdy.”

Sutton contemplated what use she could have for pieces of cowhide she had purchased online.

She decided to make pouches from them. Her idea was a hit. Sutton sells her merchandise through her Facebook page. Her cowhide pouches run between $55 and $100, depending on their size. Sutton prices her goods based on comparative items she sees online.

She came to sewing quite arbitrarily, simply by deciding she needed a new hobby. “My cousin was sewing a lot and posting pictures on Facebook, so I thought it would be fun to do,” Sutton says. “I started piddling around.”

‘Creative Outlet’

“Piddling around” by now has flourished into a full-fledged talent for Sutton. What’s more, sewing allowed her to tap into her creative side, something she had not done in ages.

“I’ve always really enjoyed art and being creative,” says Sutton, whose mother also sewed. “As a kid I would draw and take pictures. And then, as I got older I lost some of my creativity. I enjoyed sewing to give me something to do besides work. It offered a creative outlet. Sewing filled that need.”

Sutton enjoys losing herself in the quiet that sewing provides.

She threads her needle, lets her thoughts wander and savors a respite from the daily grind.

“I love that I’m making something from nothing,” Sutton says. “When I sew, the item is always inside out. When it’s time for it to be done, you turn it right side out, and that’s fun. All of a sudden, you have this item you didn’t have before. It’s rewarding.”

Truck drivers are full of surprising talents. So, what’s yours?

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