Question:
Ok, I finally am almost ready to go to trucking school and start driving. However, there's one problem looming in the future. My mother has cancer, and she is certain to pass on soon. It may be three months from now, or it may be three years, but it's bound to happen, and when it happens I'm gonna need 3 to 6 months leave of absence in order to take care of her affairs and her estate.
So my question is, would a trucking company be willing to give me an unpaid leave of absence to take care of this, and then let me start driving again when everything is finished? Or would they tell me that I have to quit, and then reapply later, and maybe not get hired on?
Thanks

Answer:
Lebowski:
I can't speak for anyone else here but, I would consider all options before you do anything.
All employers will give a leave-of-absence for a family death, yet they do expect it to be a "reasonable" amount of time ... 3 - 6 months would not be considered reasonable.
My suggestion is you contact an attorney and get her affairs in order now --- then, when (God forbid!) the inevitable occurs, you can take the reasonable amount of leave and still maintain your driving job.

Answer:
werner gives people 30 days to return
I started in the fall and took my first vacation starting at the end of june,after about 3 weeks I went back.
I was unpaid
I don't know how long you have to be with them before you can turn in your truck and disapear for up to 30 days though or if the policy still exsists.Over 30 days you have to get rehired and start all over towards earning your paid vacation time,raises ect.
I would guess most carriers would rehire you,if you do a good job.
zigzag

Answer:
Dont leave her. My girlfriend of 4 years has disease in her nervous system which causes pain and swelling in parts of her body. I hated driving and being away from her. You could be on the other side of the country and get a call that she is really sick and there would be no way for you to get there in time. Going home and then having to leave 48 hrs later is a really bad feeling, espiacally if she was sick. My advice, be there for your mom. Dont leave her side to go drive a truck. It will affect your job performance and cause alot of grief if she was to pass on and you wouldnt be able to see her. I know if I was sick and dieing I would want my family with me. Family comes first in all situations. Put the driving truck thing on the back burner for a while.

Answer:
I appreciate all of the advice. I think Kramer is right, I'm going to have to delay getting into trucking. I hate to do it, because I'm DYING to get out on the road, but it would just cause too many problems if I were to do it right now. Dagnabbit.
Thanks again.