Looking to go long haul for the first time (local driving since I got my license) any tips?

I've been driving local since I got my license in 2018. It was nice being home every night but now with COVID there doesn't really seem to be a point. I live in Ontario and we just went into a third lockdown and I think we all know this won't be the last. Weather is getting nice and I figured now is a good time to try it out. I'm also tired of reversing off the road into these death trap yards. My carrier always wants to preach about safety but then asks me to reverse off the road (or worse out of a yard onto a busy road blind with no help) with barrels of explosive goods on the trailer... Yeah, real safe. On the bright side my backing is impeccable.

Anyway since I've never gone long haul I'm not exactly sure what to look for. Obviously I want to aim for a higher CPM and I'm open to doing anything but flatbed (I have no experience). But I have a few questions:

1. When I look at ads I notice some people say things like 'we pay loaded and empty miles' which implies that some carriers do not? So does that mean some carriers expect me to drive for hours and not get paid because there's no load? Because I don't see how that's my problem as a company driver.

2. I hear some carriers pay for hotels during layovers, is that a rare thing?

3. Regarding drug testing, I see some Canadian companies that still do 'pre employment drug testing' even for Canada only runs. Are they still testing for marijuana ? I got pretty bored during all this lock down stuff and started smoking. I stopped two weeks ago and got some at home tests and am still testing positive...just wondering if I still have to wait this out.

4. Are you guys getting steady miles with all this COVID stuff going on? These lockdowns are really slowing my local work down (another reason im leaving).

If you guys have any words of advice I'd like to hear them. Oh and if you know of a place hiring around the GTA (or surrounding region) please let me know.

 

I can't tell if thats sarcasm or not. Not looking to go out of Canada and the CRB is not enough to live off of down here. I have lots of hobbies, but I'm just tired of the local thing. On average I have about 7 hours of on duty time in a 10-11 hours shift. I rarely get to drive anywhere and its annoying. Pre trip, paperwork, scanning BOLs, etc. I just want to drive.

 

Thanks for the reply, very helpful. I've always wanted to get into flatbed because the CPM rates are pretty attractive but I have OCD and it'd drive me crazy. I'd have to stop all the time to double check the straps and chains and would probably defeat the purpose.

 

Ah there's that boomer mentality. Then people wonder why younger people don't get into the industry.

If your argument was that a 'pro driver' should never take any substance that alters your mindset I could see your point. But the same people seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to have a beer or two at night. Hell according to DOT standards a 'pro driver' could show up completely hungover for a random (or actually drunk if you can hide it) and walk out with a negative, meanwhile the guy who smoked the week before and is sober would test positive.

My grandfather is like you, when he found out I smoked he told me how disappointed he was in me. Funny thing is my grandfather is a drunk, beat his wife and kids, has even punched me when I was 11. Yet has the audacity to tell me he's disappointed in me. What a joke.

If there's one thing I can't stand it's hypocrites like you.