Why does everyone think you have to go otr?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by S.V.Buyck, Feb 25, 2016.

  1. truckthatpassesyouby

    truckthatpassesyouby Road Train Member

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    Haha Arizona's 129° days are bad weather to me. I rather be in single digits.
     
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  3. ajohnson

    ajohnson Medium Load Member

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    You are way off. I know local drivers making 80k working 50 hours a week
     
  4. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    That would dertimine where you live. If your out in the middle of nowhere then otr is the only choice i would think.
     
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  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    A few reasons why these large companies push people into OTR;

    First because that is their business and most of their customers are not local.

    Second they have to fill these seats any which way, a rolling truck makes the money and a majority of trucks are doing interstate work.

    Third and more importantly your risk for an accident is something like 10 times more likely local than OTR so it is not always a good idea to put a driver in a truck who just got his license.
     
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  6. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    There... I fixed that for you... You're Welcome.
     
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  7. PowerBstrd

    PowerBstrd Light Load Member

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    Well, out in my neck of the woods, you're SOL without 3-5 years' experience OTR.

    Not only is it an insurance requirement; it also makes good sense.

    Worked for one local outfit that decided to hire a couple guys straight out of the local CDL school.

    First one dragged his trailer over the mechanic's pickup truck during his first (and only) week.

    Second one was batsh*t insane, roadraged, bullied four wheelers off the road and caught two speeding tickets his first (and only) week.
     
  8. S.V.Buyck

    S.V.Buyck Light Load Member

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    I guess it is just where you live. I've driven with some guys straight out of that can drive and I've worked with guys who can't drive in my opinion even though they had years of experience. It was a steep learning curve in my field coming out of school but I was blessed to able to handle it. I personally know at least 5 guys that came straight out of school and are making a good living. There isn't a fix for stupid, you either can drive or can't, yes we are all always learning but I think that too much of an emphasis is put on otr for experience.
     
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  9. GenericUserName

    GenericUserName Road Train Member

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    I absolutely loved going OTR. I was at a horrible company with an absolute piece of crap for a truck. It literally broke down near most major metropolitan areas and each time i called enterprise and went exploring new territories. I was already prepared to not make good money (actually the money was still pretty good considering few bills at the time) Yeah so that was 1% of OTR life and that was the part i loved. The other 99% of it can suck it.
     
  10. ajohnson

    ajohnson Medium Load Member

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    So what would going otr have done for those guys? I work at a small company, 5 drivers, only 1 has ever been otr and he only did it for 3 months
     
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  11. JudahMourn

    JudahMourn Light Load Member

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    Do you mind saying where you work? I'm moving to phoenix this summer with hopes of finding something,local,home nightly.
     
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