Is the worst local job better than the best OTR job?

Why would you work a crappy job like that for a year? There's good local jobs and lousy local jobs- same with OTR.

There's so many jobs out there- if you find yourself in a lousy situation, local or OTR, move on.

 

I'm just trying to get started. I think a lot of times people get stuck at a crappy job and just don't know where to look.

 

It was the height of the recession in 2010. We were dealing with 15% unemployment and there is no shortage of truck drivers in my mostly rural, agricultural economy.

Even today, most local companies use hire through staffing agencies that are paying $14/hr and minimum wage is $10.15/hr.

Even food service trucks hand bombing 20k lbs a day here make $13/hr. These guys would rather be home everyday and earn $28k/year than go OTR and earn +$70k.

 

you gotta do what you gotta do I guess.. I can certainly respect that…I hear some of these horror stories and sometimes I think I'm spoiled living in this area.. Local work can be tough to get around here, but it pays very well and gives a driver a nice quality of life if you can get it..

 

Maybe in Canada. The average here is 20/24 an hour for local. I wouldn't even drive a class-b straight truck for that. You can make 12/14 an hour driving a delivery van around here.

 

It really does depend on where you are. The wage I retired from, was very good for this area. But in some parts of the country, it would have been considered "just scraping by."
Of course when I moved here from Cali, I knew what I was getting into. But the cost of living here was much lower than where we came from. But like everywhere else, wages haven't kept up with inflation.

 

Here's an idea, try one, if you don't like it, try the other. See which one you hate the least and stay with it. Local work is definitely for young guys. Did food service for 10 years before my body said no more.