I've been researching and looking into companies for the past month now.
There are some that are really good but the hometime is bare minimal for some of them. 1 day off for every 7 days worked.
My last OTR company I would work about 29 - 32 days and take a week off. I think 1 week off was good for me because I felt refreshed and ready to hit the road again after a week.
So my question for drivers who are used to 1 month out and 1 week off, did you ever switch to a company that had 1 day off for 1 week worked? If so, were you able to get used to it and avoid burnout? Or did you get too burned out eventually and switch to another company with better hometime?
This question isn't really for drivers who have always worked at OTR companies that had 1 day off for every 7 days worked and are okay with that hometime. This question is for OTR drivers who got used to 1 month out and 1 week off and then SWITCHED to a company doing 1 month out and 4 days off. It's also a question for people who genuinely enjoy being home for hometime.
I tried the local thing and I'll be honest, after doing OTR for 2 years and getting 1 week vacation each month (for hometime, didn't matter that it wasn't paid), I don't know if I could ever go back to just 2 days off per week and get my measly 1 or 2 weeks of vacation per year. So this isn't really an "OTR might not be for you, you should do local" because I tried local already.
Just wanting to hear from other drivers. I really don't want to turn away good companies because of hometime but I also REALLY hate switching jobs and I don't want to get burned out and have to switch jobs over hometime (or lack thereof) either.
Do you ever get used to such minimal hometime without getting burned out?
Has anybody gone from 4 weeks out/1 week home to 4 weeks out/4 days home and gotten used to it?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BeHereNow97, Sep 6, 2021.
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The first company that I work for, I was staying out anywhere from 30 to 45 days at a pop and then going home for 3 to 4 days. It wasn’t enough. Not at all. The company I work for now I stay out about 7 to 10 days and go home for 3 to 4 days. It makes all the difference you can imagine. I stay motivated.
In my humble opinion, psychologically having ran both types of schedules, something around seven days on and three days off or eight days on three days off in that neighborhood, is the best psychologically. Trucking companies probably would come out much better in the long run running drivers on a schedule like that. You’re constantly refreshed and willing to drive much harder. After about 10-12 days most of us start burning out and 1-2 days off isn’t enough. -
Rocks, Speed_Drums and Lennythedriver Thank this.
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I didn't like going home for a full week. It messed up my rythms. I even got paid for that week I was off, and still I'd rather just have off about 3 days unpaid.
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Oh @otterinthewater You need to chime in here and let this driver know how infrequently you go home
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My company gives 1 1/2 days off for every 7 out. I usually stay out for 10-12 weeks and take 10-12 days off. None of that clean out your truck if you want more than 4 crap. Leave my truck at the terminal, leave all of the stuff in it. Come back, go to work. Last time I dropped it off at the terminal.....came back....oil changed, APU serviced, new steer tires, 4 new drive tires. Never requested any of that. They maintain their equipment well. Back to the original subject......No, 4 days at home is not enough for me.
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1 day off per week..
Suddenly Schneider’s 6 days off per month sounds good, and you keep same truck. -
I can do it, I just didn’t care for it. The other aspect is if a trucking company runs you hard, 500 to 700 miles a day. Consistently. You can still get in a good 120 thousand miles or more a year and run like an 8/4 rotation. -
3 days off per week. Work to live, dont live to work.metallifreak10, ncmickey, Mototom and 3 others Thank this. -
Brettj3876 and '88K100 Thank this.
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