Great questions KP, and let me try to address them. First, let me say that I love my job, and I really enjoy being OTR. That doesn't mean there are no frustrations, or that things always go right. I have several YouTube videos up where I go much more into detail on these things. However, with that said, I truly love working for Millis. My dad was a trucker, and my wife's dad was a trucker and I have a lot of respect for the industry. Regional is often coveted because it gives you a lot of hometime, and once you have a few years over the road, the decrease in miles is made up for by the increase in CPM (Cents per Mile) so it kinda evens out. First, when offered a regional job I had two things in mind. That $800 guaranteed is gross, not net. By the time they take deductions out for health insurance and dental and vision and 401K and life insurance, and school, and hotel, and if you buy a company inverter you end up with close to $200 a week in deductions after taxes are added in, so that $800 starts looking more like $600 to $500 and I'm $20,000 in debt. I need more than that. With my average miles right now...and not counting my hometime week, I bring home...take home...nearly $800 a week AFTER deductions. So money was a huge factor in my decision.
The second factor in my decision was the truck. Regional Drivers have a smaller truck with a coffin sleeper and I'm 6'4 and 321 lbs. I just don't fit in that small cramped space. I looked at the truck and decided I didn't want to be confined to a space that small. The road trucks for OTR drivers have much larger sleepers and more space to move around. I LIVE in this truck and I want to be as comfortable as possible while doing it.
The Third factor was that I have some long term goals in trucking and I want to learn as much as I can and experience as much as I can. I live in Texas, and honestly, I love the state, but I'm bored with it. Since being OTR I have Run Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illionois, Indiana, Missourri, Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, North and South Carolina West Virginia, Virginia, Massachusettes, Michigan, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Why would I possibly give up such a great adventure?
Maybe some day I might be okay with being regional, but not right now. I need the freedom of the road, the solitude, and the miles. I generally average 3,000 miles + unless I'm going on hometime or there is a breakdown, so my paycheck is consistently higher than what it would be regional.
I love my job, I like my company, and I am enjoying my work for the first time in a very long time. Hope that answers your question.
Burleson Terminal
Discussion in 'Millis' started by stevenneill, Nov 19, 2013.
Page 18 of 18
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josepholson, Finalsomnia, damalden and 1 other person Thank this.
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I was curious about regional too. But I don't like that coffin sleeper either (and I'm a small guy!). Plus, I live 2.5 hours away from a terminal. So Regional would be had for me. How would I get home...commute 5 hours round trip? No can do. I don't beleive they would let me take the truck home that far, that frequently. So, I guess to run Regional one has to be near a terminal. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding some things.
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Hey Steven, just curious if you checked out FFE before choosing Millis and if they were ever even a contender?
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