Regional vs. Long haul

All depends on the individual and the individuals family situation. I prefer seeing all the states and not dealing with the same crappy region all the time. But I guess it also depends on what region you'd be talking about. "Western Regional" I could probably do longterm, but "Southeastern Regional", I could NEVER do that for even a week.

But not all "longhaul 48 state carriers" are the same. Many are just national, having you run one region this week, anther region next week, and hopscotch toward the other coast. I like carriers who have at least a 1,200 mile minimum average length of haul, with plenty of coast to coast runs mixed in. That way you can often often set your own schedule and run your preferred style.

But if I had a wife/kids then I'd have to completely rethink my occupation or at least consider a carrier change.

 

Long haul. Some people don't like to go too far from their home zip code and some of us prefer coast to coast and border to border.

 

ST's answer is pretty on point. There's also the money thing. I have an agent now that has the same dog food back east that comes out to the west coast or close, so a run that pays good, not great, all the way back east is feasible. Just because there is a way back.

BUT

We are talking about probably 2-1/2 to 3 weeks to make the big loop. This I simply cannot do, because it's way too long away from home, for the current situation.

I only run the western U.S., and you really can't beat it. Now if you were doing some Chicago to the Carolinas run and back, I'd gouge my eyes out. Or stuck on I-10, ZOMG.

This was yesterday.

 

I prefer regional but have a wife and kids. Getting home every weekend and once or twice during the week is mandatory for me. When I was young and single I only wanted long haul, felt like I needed to see everything!

 

If you don't have a spouse and/or kids at home, long haul would be a great fit. Otherwise regional will have you home much more often.

The best thing: if you try one or the other and don't like it, it's easy to switch.

 

It all depends on the individual. I've done both and I'd rather be local and go home everyday. The money is better too.

 

I am local, home daily. I wouldn't be against staying out one or two nights a week but I do have a wife and two small kiddos at home, so being gone for weeks at a time is out of the question for me.

Another great perk for me is getting paid hourly, with time and a half after 40 hours. This makes the job a lot less stressful. Yesterday I had a delivery and pickup at the same customer. I got there first thing in the morning for the delivery, but was told the pickup wouldn't be ready for another two-three hours. So I called the boss and let him know, then I kicked back and took a nap. Getting overtime pay all the while. When I woke up they still weren't ready so I got out and cleaned the truck up, polished the rims, etc. So I was still productive and not completely abusing the hourly pay.

 

Depends on your freight.

In my line of work, they will have "jobs" that come around that may require you to stay on it for months at a time. Had one in Amarillo that lasted for almost half a year. Talked to a motel and they gave me a monthly rate of $600/month for 3 months. "Home" every night. Some guys would rent houses, trailer their bikes in, even fly their families in every other weekend. Had one in 2008 in Alberta Canada. Left home January 17 and went back home the last week of December. Made enough money to pay the truck and the house off in a single year.

 

Ask yourself this,would you rather be home on the weekends and sometimes during the week or with long haulbe home once a month?With regional you'll get to know your route and less likely getting lost and won't have to worry about certain states where as long haul you never know from one load to the next where you'll be going till you get the load info.