OTR or local??? Quick decision needed!

So, I am ready to give trucking another shot. I am set up to start orientation next Tuesday with Swift. Today, I get another job offer. It's from a contractor who delivers for the postal service. Basically you drive your car to the hub post office, pick up your tractor/trailer, and drive to a satellite post office. Then you have to come back in the afternoon, and drive it back to the hub and unload. Although it is a swing shift position, you only actually work like 4 hours a day. Being that its government, the pay is high, but it is hourly. The owner said my route would pay roughly $900 every two weeks. I'm in a pickle because it sounds like it would be the same money I would make OTR for the first year or so. I'm not crazy about the swing shift though, and I won't get all the experience I would get OTR. Any suggestions? Anyone know someone who ever hauled mail? Any advice?

 

That's kinda my point. From what I'm reading, driving OTR I shouldn't plan on making much more then that in my first year anyway, especially starting with Swift. So, if the money is basically the same, why shouldn't I just stay home and do it here.

 

I see what your saying, so let me rephrase. What I meant to convey was that the hourly rate is high, because it's government pay. The bad part is this route doesn't get the hours, so the weekly pay is low. So if I'm only going to make $450 or so a week no matter which route I go to start with, shouldn't I take the easier route and stay local?

 

My friend works for them, which is who gave the good word for me. His route is a longer distance, so he works more hours, and obviously makes more money. He loves it, and says it's the easiest thing he's ever done. Of course, when the last driver left, the driver who did the open route moved up, and now I'd be stuck with the bottom route understandably. Like I said, other than the swing shift it sounds like a sweet gig, especially if you can make it work till you get a better paying route. I wish I had more time to entertain the offer, but as I stated earlier, I'm scheduled to start with Swift on Tuesday, and I'm meeting with this owner in the morning. I hate having to make decisions like this.