Local isn't always the best option!

Well, OTR might seem like a better option right now just because you have not seen that side of the coin. Sometimes the grass only seems greener on the other side of the fence because there has been more crap spread around on it to make it seem that way. Not sure who you are with but being the new guy you are going to get the crappy runs and the worse truck in the yard, weather the oldest truck is a 2009 or a 1984 rust bucket. As far as tanker backing, some people would be surprised as some of the places that tankers have to squeeze into, and then out of. If you have not quit yet, I would just hang with it for awhile more just for the experience it will provide you, unless the pay is not cutting it, or the equipment is really that bad. Good luck.

 

Your problem is not a local job, it's the job itself. I'd never pull anything but tankers now. Besides, most tankers jobs require extra training which benefits you. It is true that most OTR companies do not consider local jobs as any experience. That really bothers me because I'd like to see these people that make those decisions take my 85' super tanker and drive around the congested city all day long and think it's easy. I've done both. I've pulled doubles,triples,vans,flats, and tankers. I've run most of the states except the far north east and hauling 6 loads of gasoline in the city has been by far the most taxing job I've ever had. It takes more skill and concentration to do that day in and day out maybe that's why my company wants in city experience over OTR experience. But were self-insured and can make decisions that make sense.

 

I wonder how anyone got the idea that tankers don't back up. I back more than almost any OTR driver and a lot of the places I have to do it at are way too tight for a van. And their ain't no yard dog driver to do it for me.

 

The whole "experience" thing to me is a load of #### anyway. If you drive a truck, you drive a truck. Local or OTR, tank, van, flat, dump, whatever. Done deal....the rest is job specific.

 

Thats not the way OTR companies look at it or local companies look at it either. Lots of local companies require min 2 years OTR experience, OTR companies require 1 year, some 6 months, never made sense but thats the way it is.

BTW I'm local now after 35 years on the road, I've had enough, lol.... I shuttle trailers thats it

 

You should think it over before you leave a local position. by being home every or every other day you have a better opportunity to find a better local position. you need to consider the OTR lifestyle. if you have family/close friends, you wont be with them much when your gone. if you have any decent hobbies consider them gone when you are OTR. i wouldnt judge local because of a not so great company or crappy equipment. I have never seen a new driver get a new rig and a primo run that other drivers with seniority want. stick it out and get a years solid experience.

 

yeah i think its the company you work for not local gig, i just got a job at ups freight and have only about month and half worth of driving, before was working for a local company hauling produce, doing few pick ups a day and few drops and about 150 to 250 highway miles and would be making decent money, but i quit cause you cant go wrong with ups ad its 25 min away from my house compare to an hour, look around before you take leap into going otr if you have family and kids