Over The Road Pros and Cons

OTR Driver - U.S. Xpress (usxjobs.com)

 

I.wasnt either living.in Alabama.and Tennessee my whole life. You will learn it all, the rockies, cabbage in Oregon, Snoqualmie in Washington, The Montana passes, Donner in Cali 80 in wyoming ( the worst in the winter in my.opinion ) and a lot more. You are going to see how crazy other truck drivers drive. I expected better .U just worry about u and take.it.nice and easy. 7 years driving in all conditions.and I did it without a scratch knock on wood. Common sense constantly checking the weather and a slow roll in the winter you will do fine.

 

BAD NEWS: It is NOT a "driver's market" out there right now -- ESPECIALLY if you have no experience.

If you are a beginning driver -- for now, you need to TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET.

As I write this -- Werner is aggressively hiring drivers in the southeast.

Spend some time browsing this Forum -- & see if you can find threads about other carriers that are anything like this:

Back at Werner

-- OR --

Happy at Werner

-- L

 

Well, there you go. Remember, on a site like this, you are going to get all kinds of views, actually to your advantage. Years ago, we'd have killed for a site like this, and had to rely on some blabbermouth on the CB, or trial and error. This site eliminates most of that, but again, it can be overwhelming, as most new ventures are. You have the right attitude, and it may take a while, but you can do okay, as long as you have no ties hindering your success.
Again, not to be a wet blanket, but the "looking through a windshield, seeing the sights", is great, but a small part of the job. Remember, traffic, weather, missed loads, loading and unloading, HOS, breakdowns, even though, a mere shred of what they used to be, eating properly, health concerns, your PERSONAL safety. Many times deliveries and pickups are in the worst places, and many drivers have chosen to arm themselves, something I would never do for this job. My intent is not to discourage you, but to give some facts you may not have thought of. Good luck, I think you'll do fine provided you can think of those times when dry roads, no traffic, coops closed, ( that's another entity you better be aware of, the DOT) while you are sitting in a pileup and your precious time to drive goes away, along with the load you were SUPPOSED to pick up. That's the reality of the job.

 

Spot on.

The "job" is all the multitudes of other responsibilities & things that come with the territory. Dealing with all the issues & problems as they present themselves. That's the overwhelming majority of the actual job. Have to be able to problem solve & think critically on your own.

The driving is just the small part. The gravy on top!

 

Werner and Schnieder, they're fine in terms of starter companies. The biggest advantage of companies that large in my opinion is that they have so many divisions and can suit many drivers' needs. I've been OTR pretty much the entire time I've been driving with an exception of one year and change. The thing you'll need to understand with OTR trucking, it's all in what you put into it. The more you give, the more you get. Many guys think they can make the big money in OTR by running home each week. A true OTR company, you'll need about 3 weeks to a month out to really see some viable money. What I've always loved about OTR other than the scenery and going to cool places, is the freedom and liberation it offers. In your truck, it's your own rules. You don't necessarily have to play by all the societal norms lol. You do what you want in those 4 walls. From the job aspect, once you've proven yourself to dispatch, you'll be left alone to do your job. You won't be micromanaged on that level. I also like the game of trip planning. It can be a challenge. "What's my plan of action for getting the load there on time?" "Where am I going to sleep tonight?" When you first start, you'll be heavily reliant on truck stops and rest areas, but as you gain experience, you'll get creative on how to find places to park for the night. Inuse Google maps religiously to explore the areas I go to. You'll eat good out here, as there are so many places in which you can taste "their culture" so to speak. The cons, on occasion you may feel lonely. There will be days where you have to lay over and that can create those feelings. Sometimes shippers and receivers will derail your day, as will traffic.

For me the biggest con is grouchy truck drivers. They have this ability to sour many people's attitudes on the industry. They make folks rethink their life decisions constantly. I've seen some drivers really enjoy themselves til they come across one of these folks. Some of the best advice I ever received as a rookie was to stay out of the truck stop. Get your fuel, food, shower, get on down. Don't talk to too many drivers, or at least be very selective in who you talk to. You hang out on this forum long enough, you'll see some examples of what I'm talking about, and those members know who they are.

For me, it's been far more good than bad. If you follow the "ities" it'll be a great experience for you. The "ities" follow this equation:

Availabil-ity + Reliabil-ity = Longev-ity

 

Two years on at May