Barracudadan, you hit the nail on the head. I am NOT complaining. I actually LOVE my job, and I could not see ever doing anything else. I really try and give 110% whenever I can. Just one trip alone, started on a Sat at 7:30 am , ended on Mon at 10:30 am. 51 hours away from home. ONE trip, and I still have the rest of the 2 weeks to go. lol. Yes, I get compensated well. In fact, many people biotch and moan about how much I get paid. Fact is, they would not put up with it for one second. I have missed many birthdays, weddings, football, wrestling, basketball events, and even funerals. I put in more hours away from home on one trip, than most people work in a week. Like everything else in life, it is a trade off. But it is a lifestyle, being on the road, that never gets old. Different people every trip. (that is a huge bonus). That said, when a person has pay discrepencys (bad SP) or any other problem, the Union is ready to help out. It is extremely hard to keep up with issues that might arise when you are away from home and don't have computer access. For years, I worked 3 pm to 11 pm. I was talking to a coworker one day, and he told me that his son was graduating, and he didn't even know him or get to see the kid grow up. Every day he would go to work when the kid was coming home from school. Every night, he would get home and the kid was in bed. On weekends, the kid was with his friends. All of a sudden, the kid is 18 and graduating. THAT is sad.