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

Doing something for long enough will always make you want a change. Like I said I've been doing local since I started so I'm basically going through what your are just on the other side. Can never use a bathroom at shippers or find anywhere to wash my hands, rushing all day, backing off the road on a busy street, having dispatch send me 3 pickups that close at 4PM at 3:15PM. I call them and say "i don't have enough time" and they expect me to call the customer and ask them if they can stay past closing. Seriously? Tailgate deliveries, paperwork, etc. I can go on all day about the crappy parts of local driving. Yeah it's nice to get paid and sit in traffic, but that's pretty much the only time I get to relax the entire day.

I've had enough. That plus if I got a OTR job I can get rid of my apartment, lower my insurance, won't be paying for gas to drive to work, way less commuting time, tax deductions on meals and hotels. That's a lot of saved money. With the extra money I make and getting rid of most my expenses I can probably save $3500-4000 a month. As a 27 year old, home time doesnt really mean much to me if I'll never be able to afford a home. You guys are likely older and probably bought houses years ago, have wives, etc so I'm sure your in a better position.

But if I don't do something like this soon, I'm going to be stuck renting for the rest of my life.

 

Thanks for the list. I'm really burnt out from local driving atm but I'll keep those in mind if I ever come back to local driving. To be honest I'm done with this rat race in the city and plan on buying some raw land up north and just building my own house. I was a carpenter before I got into trucking so I'm good with my hands and COVID has shown me that I really don't need anyone so I'm perfectly fine being by myself living in the middle of nowhere.. Just need the money to put 35-50% down on a few acres which I can easily attain if I drop my apartment and lower all my expenses and live in the truck. That or I stay in the GTA and slave away for the rest of my life. Even if I go outside the GTA to like, Hamilton for example houses are selling for 600k. You can go as far as London and the craze is their too. 5% down on 600k is 30k. 570k principal according to TD mortgage calculator is $2450 monthly (at a 2% rate which likely wont last). Around 3500 in taxes a year so about 300 a month = $2750, add utilities + maintenance lets say another $350 = $3100. Add in food, insurance, internet, fuel, etc probably talking $4000 a month in expenses.

Assuming I got that Pepsi job which is one of the highest hourly rates I've seen; $32 dollars, averaging 10 hours a day = $76 800 a year. After tax thats $57 513 which is around $4800 a month. Which would be great if you weren't 27 in the position I am in that I described above and bought a house for a third of the price. After expenses that leaves me with $800 a month. Add in a family, unexpected costs (car repairs for example), saving for your retirement/kids education. I'd either be racking up debt every month or living pay check to pay check.

I don't really see any way out of this conundrum unless I live in the truck/ my car for like two years saving. That or just move to the U.S which is difficult as a truck driver.