Home Time question from a newbie

I would try to get on at a DC just to be at home. Try some of the local companies like Waste Management, Is there any oil industry there some of the service companies will train. Before you know it your kids will be grown and you do not want to miss it.

 

Thats why its gonna be national otr for me....i dont need all the home time.

 

If you are wanting to be home everyday and off weekends, look into driving for a foodservice company. You will have to work at this job unloading a trailer with a two wheeler, but they pay well. $900-$1200 per week.

 

Who do u drive for jason?

 

there are more local jobs then one thinks
and i can't believe 95% of the OTR drivers want to be local
I certainly do not
but you need experience to get most of these jobs
all the training companies serve there purpose

there are class b jobs that pay week but again experiece
otr first time pretend it is a service deployment

you sell yourself short worrying about more pay in training hometime first 6 months
your looking at a career for the rest of your life


transam is all auto's with apu 2500 watt inverter built in fridge/freezer 4 week training then .30 cpm

 

The one guy also forget to subtract his food expense while being on the road, and that's a good 75 to 100 dollars a week even if you have a refrigerator. Unless you can survive on bologna sandwiches.

Also with the food service job. Most want you to have some experience, and even if you don't. Getting in and out of those restaurants are a pain in the butt.

Backing your trailer will be the hardest thing to learn, and if you are trying to go local. You will be backing close to 20 times a day in unfriendly public streets, and they don't have the patience to sit and wait for you to do 20 pull ups to get in the dock or back door area. So some time on the road to get your skills down will do you good instead of trying to do local right off the back, and like the driver said. Its very hard finding local work even when you have experience, but those food service places go through guys like otr companies. Just because people are always getting hurt or quitting because its too much back breaking work, and dealing with. Picky customers, and crazy traffic.

Also be careful with the flatbed companies because you are more likely to get hurt on the job, but they do offer the most home on weekend fleets. Also its about to get cold so freight will probably slow down in both divisions flatbed and van. Also more likely to get on some icy roads and tear up equipment, and an accident on your record could prevent you from getting a good local job in the future.

Most of the companies are the same and if you don't like the one you choose. Just go to the next, but the grass will be just as brown as the one you left. Like most have said though. If being away from your family is a big deal you probably better off staying away from this industry. We all have families as well, but we must make sacrifices to keep a roof over their head. God bless and hope you make a great choice.

 

ditto to this....I drove OTR for just a year or so. Then with a mail carrier for a about 6 months while waiting on a spot to open with what was then Distron in Greensboro NC..once I got started in the food service industry I never looked back, I did it for almost 30 years and paid for a home and put 2 sons through college..one of those through medical school. I'm retired now and living a great life....the one draw-back is the work, IT IS all hands on with a hand truck , but at 1200 to 1400 per week it is well worth the effort. Dinomite...I beg to differ on those food service companies going through drivers...its a hard job yes without a doubt...but not as bad as some think, as with any job you get out of it what you put into it. I'm only giving the OP my take on it after decades of experience doing it. It is definitely not for everybody, but for what he is wanting ( time with his family ) Its worth a close look. But thats only my opinion..others mileage may vary.......Headed out the door now to go deer hunting...you guys be careful...did I say that retirement is GREAT!

 

I am an o/o, just bought my own truck about a week ago, after working in the foodservice/grocery hauling business for 10 years. I start next week at All about Freight in San Marcos Tx.

 

When I pulled a flat bed, I regularly talked to Maverick and TMC flatbed drivers. Both companies were very well liked, especially TMC.