Why do we stay OTR?

It's In My Genetics...

 

Unless your running your own show most local jobs are going to be 12-14 hours every day. Like in the oilfield running a set 12hr shift with a 4/2 schedule or 5/2 that's different. That extra 2 hours at home makes all the difference.

 

There’s really nothing like driving all night on a local route, getting back to the yard, getting in your car and sitting in traffic. Then you get home, black out your windows and try and sleep when others are doing daytime stuff. Then your dispatch complains about you turning off your phone to avoid telemarketing scammers and you have to tell him to get bent. I always get my sleep but night driving makes it more important cause it’s easier to get drowsy.

It’s always the day cabs you see speeding through construction zones or getting stupid trying to be first because they start trying to get home at or before a certain time because everyone looks at the clock when they walk in the door after work and they feel cheated if it’s 30 minutes later than usual.

You can keep it. Bumping the same docks all the time gets old. On the road you have freedom to run how you want.

I can understand how frustrating it can be wanting to be home at times but you are in an industry that dangles home time as a top tier benefit, it will be at the expense of your pay.

If you want to be local, I’d think the only way for me if I was younger, would be LTL for UPS or somewhere similar. Get a few years in while also driving Uber or something and you will eventually get a good route and can make bank and be home every night and weekends/holidays and have good benefits. It’s all about seniority there and the day to day office politics ain’t for everyone.

 

I tried local Beverage delivery for Coca Cola several years ago. Yuck!!! 12-15 hour days including commute. Having to deal with the "boss" and gate/ warehouse people daily. Dealing with product count before leaving, then again when returning. Reconciling all of the crap on the handheld, accounting for all cash and checks received from COD customers. Yes......lots of mom and pop c stores and restaurants are on COD! Filling out the paperwork at the end of every shift, blah blah. As an OTR driver I deal with none of that crap. Nobody calls me for weeks on end. The vast majority time I speak to anybody in the office is if I initiate the phone call. I get a pre plan on the QC, pick it up and deliver it on time. I am never given "impossible" delivery or pick up times. I have the freedom to contact Shippers and Consignees to pick up or deliver early if possible. I never wait for a day or two for another load. I usually have a preplan 24 hours before I deliver my current load. I have been self employed most of my adult life. Working for somebody else is just not my cup of tea. This OTR job that I have is as close to self employment as I have found. I get the job done and a nice direct deposit every Friday. Plus....a pretty good benefits package to boot.

 

Y'all should keep in mind that people's preferences may change over the years.

When I started out driving, I was OTR(in an International cabover, which should give you an idea of how long I've been doing this). I loved it. It meant I didn't have to interact with people much. I was a cold-eyed borderline sociopath; think TripleSix with twice the attitude and a tenth of the common sense. I never thought I'd want to do anything else...

And now, I run rural P&D and go home to my wife every evening, and if anyone wants me to go OTR again, they'd best be offering a guaranteed $200K a year for me to even consider it. The Lord gives us different stages in our lives, and what might work for us one year might be abhorrent the next.

 

What I hate:
Truck always has some issue that I have to put on my to do list
Scales and hours of service
no life no relationships
no daily shower
traffic jams/road closures
unhealthy lifestyle
parking

What I like:
I love the USA and driving through it
I pick my time off and loads
I probably save 80% of my income
I enjoy being alone

I do long haul vs local or any other job because I am not sure if I can deal working for a company again.

 

Sometimes when I am walking the dogs I walk by an office at a receiver or shipper and see their computer screen saver..what's usually on it? What we get to see on a lot of our days driving..sunrises, sunsets,.over a mountain landscape etc. I never could handle being stuck in an office. We get to see what most people only ever dream of..yes it's not all glamorous but it definitely has its high points.

 

I don't know why that's hard to believe. I'm changing careers midlife to go drive a truck. I have nothing or no one keeping me home. My wife left. I don't have kids. My parents are gone. I don't even have phone numbers for any extended family because we were never close. I get an occasional text from high school friends I haven't seen in twenty years. So I'm an example of what you claim you don't believe. I can't be the only one who has nothing left.

 

You don't have nothing left. If you could imagine having this planet to yourself. You wouldn't make it. I understand being to yourself for a moment or few we all need that. It is a blessing to walk through this life with meaningful people whether you call them family or friends.

Humans don't make it in total isolation.
You don't know us personally on this forum but you are having fellowship with us as I am with you. It is not just a "fake saying" I need the next man or woman to make it in this world.

Some made a path for us & you are making a path for someone else. Let those arms embrace meaningful lasting friendships. All the best to you on the journey because it's not long.

 

You're a good candidate for long haul trucking. Go for it. A coast to coast/border to border refrigerated outfit would be a good fit for you in your situation.
Don't let anyone talk you out of it. If you have to sit a long time during loading or unloading, remember, you get paid for that also. You get paid "stop pay" just for stopping at the shipper or receiver, then hourly pay after that.
Leonard's Express is a good place to start and there's plenty more. Leonard's Express hires every where; Carolinas, Florida, all over the place.
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