Am I insane? Thinking about going back to OTR.

MACK E-6 · May 25, 2019

Russian Rabbit said: ↑

Actually, my situation is sort of turning into an OTR run in that i've had to stay in hotels more frequently lately. Usually i only average one hotel stay per 2 weeks, but now it's more like once or twice per week. One advantage of this is you can sort of make your own schedule to a certain extent.

Disadvantage---the terminal is short a tractor......
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Disadvantage for who?

It wouldn’t be as far as I’m concerned.

Majestic 670 · May 26, 2019

Truckstop piss no joke

Russian Rabbit · May 27, 2019

Longer wheelbase OTR tandem tractor = better for highway cruising vs. shorter wheelbase LTL single axle daycab....?

.....Maybe.......?

McUzi · May 27, 2019

Ultimately going OTR just isn’t a reality in my set of circumstances. OTR that’s home weekly with decent pay AND affordable insurance from a reputable company is seemingly a unicorn.

I had high hopes with Nussbaum but they have a waiting list for drivers in MA and their family premium would cost me over $200 a week. The good thing is, this research reinforces how well LTL is compensated overall.

MACK E-6 · May 27, 2019

Russian Rabbit said: ↑

Longer wheelbase OTR tandem tractor = better for highway cruising vs. shorter wheelbase LTL single axle daycab....?

.....Maybe.......?
Click to expand...

Perhaps...

At least in my position though I can use my truck for both jobs. Did a 600 mile hike Saturday.

bigheart1216 · May 27, 2019

at least calculate your expenses while on the road, showers if you cant get to where your company prefers you to fuel, reserved parking since E-LOGS parking is a premium, plus the ever rising cost of truck stop food. Alot of company drivers dont take into account all the hours they are on duty plus driving, they only look at the check at the end of the week. They don't break it down what there true hourly wage would be. Just my 2 cents.

McUzi · May 27, 2019

bigheart1216 said: ↑

at least calculate your expenses while on the road, showers if you cant get to where your company prefers you to fuel, reserved parking since E-LOGS parking is a premium, plus the ever rising cost of truck stop food. Alot of company drivers dont take into account all the hours they are on duty plus driving, they only look at the check at the end of the week. They don't break it down what there true hourly wage would be. Just my 2 cents.
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When I ran flatbed with TMC, I was pretty good at maintaining minimum expenses. When I'd fuel at any location on a fuel route, I'd usually be filling from a 1/4 tank. I would fill 50 gallons, hang up the hose and run another transaction to top off the tanks, always earning 2 showers per fill to keep a bank of shower credits. I filled my fridge with raw produce and meats, started to cook dinner in a 6qt instant pot before I began my day and left it on slow cook throughout the day while I ran. Would also keep some cold cuts, bread, peanut butter and jelly and brought my little Vitamix single serve blender to make fruit & vegetable smoothies in the morning. I happily paid for parking at a truck stop if I went through a rest area or two with no parking available and didn't mind because I considered that as a part of what the "per diem" helped to offset. That was a rare occasion since a majority of the time I was parked at the shipper or consignee 2-3 times a week for my 10.

In the end, I left OTR/regional/dedicated because of exactly what you pointed out, the true hourly wage just wasn't there for the work involved.

bigheart1216 · May 27, 2019

McUzi said: ↑

When I ran flatbed with TMC, I was pretty good at maintaining minimum expenses. When I'd fuel at any location on a fuel route, I'd usually be filling from a 1/4 tank. I would fill 50 gallons, hang up the hose and run another transaction to top off the tanks, always earning 2 showers per fill to keep a bank of shower credits. I filled my fridge with raw produce and meats, started to cook dinner in a 6qt instant pot before I began my day and left it on slow cook throughout the day while I ran. Would also keep some cold cuts, bread, peanut butter and jelly and brought my little Vitamix single serve blender to make fruit & vegetable smoothies in the morning. I happily paid for parking at a truck stop if I went through a rest area or two with no parking available and didn't mind because I considered that as a part of what the "per diem" helped to offset. That was a rare occasion since a majority of the time I was parked at the shipper or consignee 2-3 times a week for my 10.

In the end, I left OTR/regional/dedicated because of exactly what you pointed out, the true hourly wage just wasn't there for the work involved.
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Also 1 major thing I left out was the lack of a life & family. Now I know company drivers & owner operators can have dedicated freight have a regular routine, but it will be that 1 time they need to be home and there on the other side of the country. Most companies are not going to bend over backwards to move mountains to get you home(been there). Guys & Girls with families will miss out on everything and unless you have a time machine there's no way to relive that moment.

2BucTruck · May 27, 2019

If you're trying to maximize your earning potential and time at home, LTL is tough to beat. But I'm preaching to the choir here...

I drive a truck to support my family. I'm grateful to be home every day to spend time with them. Some drivers don't have LTL as an option.

silinus vers · Aug 28, 2019

USMC 3531 said: ↑

I don't think you are insane, I have had some thoughts of bailing from my place also, although I want to try fuel if I do, your issues are about the same as mine though, bottom of the board, the dirty trucks, getting a different truck every other couple of days, ect,ect, but three things you said really stuck out, home every day, 500 mile run, and most importantly the wife and the little ones at home, if it were me I would stay because of that, especially if you have a chance at a day run their eventually, I don't know, I am sure that OTR has its advantages, but that being away from the family constantly would be a issue for me.
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I did fuel in phoenix, it wasnt bad, I worked nights though. but like all local jobs I got sick of ending up at the same stations and dealing with rack issues.

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