OTR driver vs. Dedicated driver

OTR: Different routes, different customers, different schedule

Dedicated: One customer, regular routes and schedules.

 

Dedicated is where the money is at and less BS.

 

It's also where the rates get cut and those dedicated lanes go away. OTR for me, I get bored.

 

Well there is dedicated route.

But most places that means Dedicated to one Customer.
In some cases all loads will pick up at a particular Warehouse/DC.
Even that's not always true anymore.
Sometimes you may go from one Warehouse/Plant to a Customer and back to a different plant.
It's really best to get details from whatever company you are talking too.
OTR is usually from anywhere to everywhere, depending on the company you're with you may never end up at the same customer more than once.

I guess in general your loads/routes will be more predictable if you're on a Dedicated Account.

 

Dedicated is steadier and usually pays more but is more boring. I'm considering a pay cut just for a change of scenery.

 

My wife and I did a dedicated account in which we worked for one particular customer with terminals all across the country. We pulled their trailers which were in good condition. They had a trailer repair guy at each one. Loads were all light so we never had to slide a tandem/weigh a load. Mostly drop and hook. Best part was that most of their terminals were near major cities so we could drop the trailer then bobtail to explore the places we were in. Plus, it had a weekly guarantee so if we had a bad week....we knew we would still do okay.


New drivers should seek out dedicated accounts like this instead of Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc. Those Dollar accounts....my wifes favorite saying for those is "you haul a lot of Dollars but make none yourself".

 

Dedicated has different definitions especially where I'm at, in Hazmat Chemicals/Tanker...I wouldn't touch a dedicated load as an O/O unless it pays really well.
Dedicated usually means to go out with a load and come back empty. No back haul as the trailer may only be spec'd for that load. Or to that customer.
OTR is the preferred situation where you run the system with various loads. More money in the end when it comes to my situation.

 

About 1 1/2 years ago my dispatcher called me into the office and sat me down. Told me he needed me for this dedicated route from South Jersey to Michigan. Needed drivers who can get the load there with no problems. Agreed to try it out for a little bit as a test run to see if i like it.
Still on it and don't think i will get off it anytime soon. 3000+ miles a week and i am home every 3rd night from 10-15 hours by my choice. When i do a 34 reset i get to the store the night before, get unloaded off the clock the next morning and then park on the side of the store just for 1 more night and my 34 is done. really just doing a 24 to complete my 34.

 

I'm on dedicated, I pick up at a DC deliver to 1 or 2 stores and that usually uses my 11, I usually pick up dunnage or run empty back to the DC, break for 10, pick up go to another 1 or 2 different stores, then back again. Monotonous, yes, same scenery, yes....Home every other day YES, Son can ride along and not get bored from being in the truck for 20 to 30 days out BIG YES!

If I was single or did not have my young son I would go OTR or regional just to be out and go different places each trip. When I was OTR, it was like opening a mystery gift as to what load or shipper was going to come across my QC every trip....