Are you content???

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by milkinitman, Apr 17, 2014.

  1. milkinitman

    milkinitman Bobtail Member

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    Apr 12, 2014
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    If your Otr do you ever wish you were local?(probably many of you) if so why? And its a two way street.If your local do you ever wonder what long distance would be like? And why? Maybe regional would be a happy medium? There is no right or wrong answer.I was just curious on peoples perspectives.I drove regional, am now local, but have always wondered about coast to coast mostly because I just like to see the country.
     
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  3. cabwrecker

    cabwrecker The clutch wrecker

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    When I was OTR I wanted to be local.
    Now that I'm local I want to be OTR again.
    It's a never ending cycle of grass being greener on the other side.


    (PS-I'm going OTR again in the future.)


    EDIT- I don't feel this is a good explanation of why I liked being OTR, and why I thought local was a good choice.

    When I went OTR, it was to pay college tuition- I was at the time, 10k in debt with student loans and was still going to college. Albeit, online courses, I still attended while on the road.
    Did the whole, trade a year contract for cdl training and a job with FFE. In all honesty, FFE sucked. It could've been worse, could've been better.

    Chalk it up to a mistake and move on. Finished my year, caught a plane home and hit the ground running applying for jobs, left-right-center. With my CDL/experience, got a job in no time. Work for a small fleet in Cleveland and while the work isn't awful, it's not great. I do about the same amount of work as I did at FFE. I feel more valued and can even cuss (repeatedly and often) at my boss. I once formed an entire sentence where every other word was a swear, remarking on how another driver had just left at lunch and never came back; I'd gotten stuck with his route.

    Fact is: I made a little less OTR, but had more in the bank. Living a local job, I'm paying rent/utilities and car insurance/renters/temp disability...At the end of the day, I'm coming out at a net gain, but less than I was when I was otr.

    I miss OTR for a lot of reasons, and sickeningly truthfully; I miss living in the truck. I had a great setup. Two fridges, cooking platforms, regular access to wally-worlds for fresh foods, sattelite radio/TV, books/magazines/video games...ect-ect-ect.

    I'm planning on going into specialized flatbedding haul, with regular hometime and am looking forward to it.


    Still in college, still finishing a degree, but it's a business BA. I was a digital sciences tech/networking technologies degree major beforehand. IT isn't for me. Love computers but I don't see it working out.


    OH well, that's life!
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2014
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  4. Bumpy

    Bumpy Road Train Member

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    New Ulm,MN
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    Started OTR to "get away" so local driving is out. My last Regional gig I was home to much so giddy-up..Back to OTR I went!!:biggrin_255:
     
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  5. milkinitman

    milkinitman Bobtail Member

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    Apr 12, 2014
    WI
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    I forgot of course maybe some people want to leave trucking altogether.pursue a completly different career.
     
  6. BrenYoda883

    BrenYoda883 Road Train Member

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    I am content for right now... I am on a dedicated and am home weekends... I like the runs I have and am making decent money... I do feel like I have the best of both.. OTR and Local.. I get to be out in my truck running all week, and then get to come home for a day and half.. sometimes two days..

    Ithere are things I do miss about doing all lower 48.. so, I think I will go back to it eventually..
     
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  7. RTSXPRESS

    RTSXPRESS Bobtail Member

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    Apr 8, 2014
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    got cdl working in truck shop. was trained as otr 2 months. worked local 11/2 yrs. just went regional this wk. I think this will be best bet as I will get thru house 2-3 times week on dedicated run & still get 2800+ miles wk.
     
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  8. Freddy57

    Freddy57 Road Train Member

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    Mount Vernon, MO
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    I like longer runs, short runs bore me. I prefer at least 2000 miles when I close the doors on the trailer. Local work is just too much loading and unloading for my taste. That said, I don't want anything to do with local hauling.
     
  9. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

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    I dunno.
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    During the day when I am working "local" I want to be OTR...when I get home to my family everyday I want to stay "local".

    I am content...I realize how hard it is on a woman when the father is gone and she works full-time and takes care of two kids.
     
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  10. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    IN
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    I'm content being OTR, I live every day like I'm on vacation. Works for me, but other people are different. Weird, huh?
     
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  11. Mev

    Mev Road Train Member

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    Local ....YES , ... Regional - home on weekends sort of thing .

    ...... Coming home is like a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel ,

    It something you can look forward to , as opposed to another night at a noisey stinky truck stop .
     
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