6 years OTR but struggling to get back in it

DeathByCheetos · Feb 26, 2023

gokiddogo said: ↑

It might be more than just, try tanker, open deck, haul cars, milk or whatever. Are other things in life becoming more important? Do you want to have a family someday? Sure, other careers may not pay as well in the beginning, once you are licensed you should make comparable money and likely have more job stability. There is huge demand for basicly any and all trades. You sound financially intelligent saying you take time off and travel, you are in a position where you don't need the 80k or whatever you make driving a truck to earn less for a few years while you are working towards another career. That gets much more difficult when you have kids to feed. Just try and imagine what your life will look like at age 30, 35, 40, etc., and take whatever steps you need to make it look how you want it to look. Personally, I've been at this since 2007, I'm only 35, and I'll be ###### if I'm in poor financial and physical shape when I am older forcing my decision to still drive. If I'm doing it at that age, it's because I want to, not because I have to. On my terms.
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Honestly that is what I am still trying to figure out. Past few years i have decided it makes more sense to work 1-3 months driving then when i want to take a break to travel out of country rather then renting or staying in America. I save a lot more money this way even with two way plane ticket and other costs. Thank you very much for the replys

DeathByCheetos · Feb 26, 2023

gokiddogo said: ↑

It might be more than just, try tanker, open deck, haul cars, milk or whatever. Are other things in life becoming more important? Do you want to have a family someday? Sure, other careers may not pay as well in the beginning, once you are licensed you should make comparable money and likely have more job stability. There is huge demand for basicly any and all trades. You sound financially intelligent saying you take time off and travel, you are in a position where you don't need the 80k or whatever you make driving a truck to earn less for a few years while you are working towards another career. That gets much more difficult when you have kids to feed. Just try and imagine what your life will look like at age 30, 35, 40, etc., and take whatever steps you need to make it look how you want it to look. Personally, I've been at this since 2007, I'm only 35, and I'll be ###### if I'm in poor financial and physical shape when I am older forcing my decision to still drive. If I'm doing it at that age, it's because I want to, not because I have to. On my terms.
Click to expand...

Honestly that is what I am still trying to figure out. Past few years i have decided it makes more sense to work 1-3 months driving then when i want to take a break to travel out of country rather then renting or staying in America. I save a lot more money this way even with two way plane ticket and other costs. Thank you very much for the replys

abyliks said: ↑

Where do you live? Perhaps someone can come up with a suggestion for local work
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Currently live where ever. Cheaper to be out of the country on breaks then staying in America at the moment i have found. A local gig would be nice but to my experience with local so far was you work so many hours you might as well be over the road.

DeathByCheetos · Feb 26, 2023

gokiddogo said: ↑

It might be more than just, try tanker, open deck, haul cars, milk or whatever. Are other things in life becoming more important? Do you want to have a family someday? Sure, other careers may not pay as well in the beginning, once you are licensed you should make comparable money and likely have more job stability. There is huge demand for basicly any and all trades. You sound financially intelligent saying you take time off and travel, you are in a position where you don't need the 80k or whatever you make driving a truck to earn less for a few years while you are working towards another career. That gets much more difficult when you have kids to feed. Just try and imagine what your life will look like at age 30, 35, 40, etc., and take whatever steps you need to make it look how you want it to look. Personally, I've been at this since 2007, I'm only 35, and I'll be ###### if I'm in poor financial and physical shape when I am older forcing my decision to still drive. If I'm doing it at that age, it's because I want to, not because I have to. On my terms.
Click to expand...

Honestly that is what I am still trying to figure out. Past few years i have decided it makes more sense to work 1-3 months driving then when i want to take a break to travel out of country rather then renting or staying in America. I save a lot more money this way even with two way plane ticket and other costs. Thank you very much for the replys

abyliks said: ↑

Where do you live? Perhaps someone can come up with a suggestion for local work
Click to expand...

Currently live where ever. Cheaper to be out of the country on breaks then staying in America at the moment i have found. A local gig would be nice but to my experience with local so far was you work so many hours you might as well be over the road.

The Railsplitter said: ↑

When I first started driving OTR, I'd willingly stay out a month or more at a time... I was a bachelor like you, OP, so it didn't matter if I stayed out longer, as I was having a blast and learning all kinds of things on the road. Later, I switched to running out and back with smaller outfits, though I'd run clear across country from coast to coast under one load. Sometimes I'd do big ol' triangles to let my hours recoup. Maybe you should try an outfit that runs out & back, or even look for local work, though I always preferred OTR myself. Don't discount the possibility of finding a gubmint job with that CDL-A, driving a truck for Public Works (or whatever department) in some town or county... those kind of jobs usually involve more than driving, but the hours are set, the money is steady and the benefits are good. Pay may not be very much at first, but the benefits outweigh that factor. I agree with other hands who have replied here, it sounds like you need a change of routine to get out of that rut, aye? Just my $.02 on the subject...
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I think i wouldn't mind local but the problem is the pay to the overhead costs of just basic essentials now an days. Plus being home for only 2 waking hours of the day after a 15-18 hour local shift then sleep is worth the trouble for the also lesser pay..I do agree though some change in the hauling may be the answer to keep it interesting rather then just OTR dry van. fighting with brokers, dispatchers, loaders and shippers all the time haha. Thank you very much for the $.02

lual · Feb 26, 2023

DeathByCheetos said: ↑

Honestly that is what I am still trying to figure out. Past few years i have decided it makes more sense to work 1-3 months driving then when i want to take a break to travel out of country rather then renting or staying in America. I save a lot more money this way even with two way plane ticket and other costs. Thank you very much for the replys

Currently live where ever. Cheaper to be out of the country on breaks then staying in America at the moment i have found. A local gig would be nice but to my experience with local so far was you work so many hours you might as well be over the road.

I think i wouldn't mind local but the problem is the pay to the overhead costs of just basic essentials now an days and of being home for only 2 hours of being awake after an 15-18 hour local shift then sleep is worth the trouble for the also lesser pay..I do agree though some change in the industry may be the answer rather then just OTR dry van. fighting with brokers, dispatchers, loaders and shippers all the time haha. Thank you very much for the $.02
Click to expand...

The vast majority of the local shiftwork I have done has been FAAAAARRR LESS than 15-18 hours.

If you've spent most (or all) of the last 6 years doing OTR dry van....plus all that other.....then I would respectfully submit....you will find a good bit of tanker duty to be....a vacation (by comparison).

I would also submit...that one of the easiest ways to transition over to tanker...is to start out by hauling fuel (yes, it's true).

It's surprising how much money one can make (especially in certain markets)....with hauling fuel.

Of course--some carriers will also let you do this as an owner-op.

With fuel--you can be home daily, run regional, or even go over the road -- depending on the carrier and the market.

Just more food for thought....

--Lual

bryan21384 · Feb 26, 2023

I think maybe you should consider a job in transportation and logistics thay doesn't involve driving. Maybe you ate too many cheetos......

lual · Feb 26, 2023

bryan21384 said: ↑

Maybe you ate too many cheetos......
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BIN-GO...!!!

--Lual

cuzzin it · Feb 26, 2023

Chinatown said: ↑

Which milk company did you have issues with?
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Milk transport service/western dairy transport. I worked there in a time of big transition. And they sucked at that time. Payroll constant missing. Equipment not getting repaired when put in shop. That was in 06, i have heard those problems have gone away

DeathByCheetos · Feb 26, 2023

bryan21384 said: ↑

I think maybe you should consider a job in transportation and logistics thay doesn't involve driving. Maybe you ate too many cheetos......
Click to expand...

Lol, I was expecting at least 4 comments about the name by now. Well played on being the first

DeathByCheetos · Feb 26, 2023

lual said: ↑

The vast majority of the local shiftwork I have done has been FAAAAARRR LESS than 15-18 hours.

If you've spent most (or all) of the last 6 years doing OTR dry van....plus all that other.....then I would respectfully submit....you will find a good bit of tanker duty to be....a vacation (by comparison).

I would also submit...that one of the easiest ways to transition over to tanker...is to start out by hauling fuel (yes, it's true).

It's surprising how much money one can make (especially in certain markets)....with hauling fuel.

Of course--some carriers will also let you do this as an owner-op.

With fuel--you can be home daily, run regional, or even go over the road -- depending on the carrier and the market.

Just more food for thought....

--Lual
Click to expand...

Thank you again for the information. I always expected tankers being a bit more of a hassle. But it seems like something i should definitely consider and do some research on going off of how your making it sound.

Chinatown · Feb 26, 2023

Indian River Transport is a decent food grade tanker company.
Plenty of other tanker companies across the USA to choose from.

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