Local vs OTR?

A Sense For Adventure will always win out......

 

Think wife vs. girlfriend

 

Depend on your priorities. I was recently faced with the similar choice two regional jobs. One was out 2-4 days then 1 or 2 days home, but company open 363 days/year. The other out Mon morn to Fri morn with weekends and holidays off. The first job paid better and better benefits.

I chose the second because I'd rather be home when my family is home on weekends. .A friend of mine runs his ### off 6 days a week delivers to Bklyn and Jersey, and makes better $ than me. I run NC to PA, very little traffic, beautiful scenery. I'd rather have time with my family and a stress free job, he rather have the money. It's whatever works for you.

 

Depends what you want and what works for the life style you want t live.

I ran local when I first started out. I bought a single axle and car hauler subbing for Hansen & Adkins doing new car deliveries directly from the rail yard.

Compared to OTR,.. I found myself working twice as hard (Much longer hours daily) than I do now OTR. My day started at 5am and often I didnt get home until 8 - 9 PM. 5 - 6 days a week. Money was good. My only issue was not having much personal time and being tired all the time.

Now I run OTR,.. I have no real set schedule. I set a financial goal,. once I reach that,.. then I head home and park for 1 - 2 weeks before I head back out. I generally stay out anywhere from 3 - 6 weeks. Then I take little mini 1 - 2 week vacations to reset myself and enjoy life, instead of watching it pass me by.

I find running this way to be much easier on me. Yes I miss my wife and friends while I am out. But for me its better than staying out 5 - 6 days and then home long enough to sleep and get laundry done before heading back out. Thats just as bad as working 16hr a day local. Either way,.. I had no time to enjoy anything. I now have time to enjoy myself and do what ever I want when home. .

I understand as a company driver this type of schedule is pretty much none existent. So you have to weigh the pro's and cons of what they expect from you, vs what would be easier or work better for you. Some guys need to be home weekends,.. even if its just long enough to get a 34 restart in,.. at least they checked in before heading back out OTR. I need more than that. It does not work for me.

If you have small children or a needy spouse,.. staying out for extended periods may cause too much stress and drama in the home. Some guys need the separation in order to keep the peace at home. Everyone is different.

Try looking at the bigger picture. Dont let money dictate where or how you work. The grass can be greener on either side. You make it green by choosing a working/lifestyle that you can live with,.. one that keeps you happy.

Thats that biggest thing for me. I'll take a cut in gross income as long as I am happy with what I am doing. No amount of money is worth being miserable/frustrated every day.

Hurst

 

Hourly pay and nightly sleep in my king bed next to my wife. Seeing my kid every day. For me this stuff is not boring. I have never considered otr and feel sorry for all the otr guys while I'm stuck in traffic next to them and my pay clock is ticking an they are working for free.