Hey people, I'm new to these boards. And fairly new to trucking alltogether. Ran OTR (with CRST, didn't like teams.) for about a month, and have only had my license since March. I've been working at a moving company(North American Van Lines) since May running Local/Residential. No OTR.

My question is basically this. I'm reconsidering doing some OTR. The problem is I want a job where I can be home weekends at the least. I know experience plays a huge factor in job availability, or rather job 'choice'. So I'm asking, with my somewhat lax in the experience department where I should be looking, what companies, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks.

Wow... going OTR and being home every weekend is a tough bill to fill. You would need a Regional or Dedicated run to be home on weekends. IMHO you would be really really lucky to find a gig like that without putting in your time. Those gigs are most likely something you would apply for after being employed but I'm new too.... Do you guys agree with me?

You might find a leased operator who runs dedicated automotive. I ran for a guy that had 12 trucks leased to Rush Trucking. I ran a dedicated run from Decatur Ala to OKC. and return. Drop loaded trailer at OKC GM plant, Hook on to a trailer loaded with empty rac empty racks and return to Decatur, Then unload and reload at same place and do it again. The money won't be as good as a large company and probably no health ins unless you pay. If your close to a large urban area you might try a driver leasing co.

All its not really that hard of a thing to find.... Start looking for companies that have terminal or even better a company that is out of your area.... Call them up and talk to them about your needs... After loosing my job (company went out of business a few days ago) I have been offered several jobs that will get me home every week just because their lanes run threw here a lot..... Pay may be a little lower then other places (less then .40 them min I need) but there are jobs that offer such thing...

We're about to go local. Only a few companies here do that and they are the huge ones who have an OTR fleet, a regional fleet and a local fleet. The money goes down as you're home more, of course, but that's something you have to see if you can handle.

The other large company here that does local only gives the local jobs to seniors and doesn't have much local stuff. They use their OTR guys to go everywhere and anywhere.

This company has a local fleet, a regional fleet and an OTR fleet and it's great because you can move to any of them if you wish and an opening comes up or you can stay where you are. They have 900 regional drivers (for this small province, that's a LOT!!) and another bunch of local drivers plus an OTR fleet as well. We're going local for now because there aren't any regional positions but we can apply for them as they come up if we wish to in the future.

We're just happy to be home again so I can work and get our bills paid. OTR just didn't cut it for both of us being on the road and me not driving so this is what we're doing for now.

Just keep looking, don't just look at ads, go company to company by phone or email or, better, in person and talk to the people there. You'd be surprised how many companies are around you that may have just what you want but never have to advertise.

Local jobs are definitely out there. I'm home every night and off all weekend and still bring home over $600 a week. Look into companies that deliver to grocery stores (Meijers, Aldi (what I do), GFS, Sysco, etc.). I have the potential to make more if I want to work more but taking care of my farm I like being home as much as possible. Something else to look into. Also, you can expect to do more physical labor with a delivery company. But, we don't lift anything, all loadd and unloaded with electric pallet jacks and forklifts.

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2007 Kenworth T600 - 475 C15, 10 sp. (Company Truck )
2004 Chevy Cavalier - 2.2 5 sp. (My 4 wheeler )
1993 Chevy Suburban - 5.7 Auto (G/F 4 wheeler )

"Anyone who would trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both and deserve neither!" - Thomas Jefferson

In NC Maverick would probably have you home weekends.

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Not sure where you live exactly, but check out Averitt Express. They get their drivers home every weekend and I know from talking with other drivers/people in my class in training school that they treat their drivers pretty darn well. They're more of a regional "OTR" carrier, if that makes any sense. I think their website is averittexpress.com.

Hopefully if you live in their hiring area that will work for you!