Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

I have a question for single OTR truckers...

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Thee3ternal, Aug 30, 2014.

  1. Aug 30, 2014 #1
    Thee3ternal

    Thee3ternal Bobtail Member

    1
    1
    Aug 30, 2014
    0
    I'm thinking about getting into trucking myself main reason is cause I basically suck at working with others, and I don't mind being alone for long stretches.

    I don't know that I'd make a career out of it, just looking at it as an option to work 5-10 years save up a bunch, get out and move onto something else.

    Anyways one thing that's kind of bugging me is the issue of living quarters.

    OK so let's say I'm on the road 5 days out of 7, so home roughly 8 days out of the month.

    I can't see spending $700-800 or so on an apartment monthly being justifiable for a place to live 8 days a month.

    Obviously those are generic numbers, are there any alternatives that I don't know about?

    And no I'm not gonna live in squalor just because I'd be home so seldom, so getting some $400 apt. is out of the question.

    I have realized I can probably work something out with family for cheap but not trying to be like "hey baby come back to my parents house with me".

    But if it comes down to it that's exactly what I'll do to save some money.

    Is there any reasonable alternative or do you guys just bite the bullet?
     
    Thee3ternal, Aug 30, 2014
    Thee3ternal, Aug 30, 2014
    #1
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Aug 30, 2014 #2
    w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

    3,583
    4,094
    Jan 10, 2011
    Chicago, il
    0
    Trucking is a different lifestyle. Some people live in their truck and call it home. I have a room I rent out. Some people just keep their house.
     
    w.h.o, Aug 30, 2014
    w.h.o, Aug 30, 2014
    #2
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  4. Aug 30, 2014 #3
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,156
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    Just don't sell or move out of a rental until you've done the job (trucking OTR) 4-6 months and are sure you have what it takes to stick it out long-term.
     
    STexan, Aug 30, 2014
    STexan, Aug 30, 2014
    #3
  5. Aug 30, 2014 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    76,420
    176,969
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Another alternative is to have all the endorsements on your CDL so you can make decent money.
    Then just use your family address for mail purposes and stay on the road making money. Take time off in different parts of the country and either stay in the truck or an inexpensive motel. Most companies don't care where you take your earned time off. Many drivers do it this way. "This month I'll take time off in Florida and do some fishing & next month maybe Las Vegas and do some night clubbing."
     
    Chinatown, Aug 30, 2014
    Chinatown, Aug 30, 2014
    #4
  7. Aug 31, 2014 #5
    barroll

    barroll Road Train Member

    1,096
    544
    Nov 23, 2010
    Southwest Michigan
    0
    Don't worry about bringing women home. It won't happen.
     
    barroll, Aug 31, 2014
    barroll, Aug 31, 2014
    #5
  8. Sep 1, 2014 #6
    nofreetime

    nofreetime Road Train Member

    1,271
    1,310
    Oct 22, 2013
    0
    If your serious about that your talking to the right person about it and i can help you with that if you need it. You can put an insane amount of money away fast doing this if your smart about it, i do.
    Unless you have something going for you that will enable you to get a job with that kind of hometime as a rookie then not likely. Almost all carriers that hire new guys have much worse hometime policies mine a minimum of three weeks out and one day off earned per week, and a maximum of 4 days off at one time. However after the first year or two youll gain some experience and a job with that kind of hometime will be much more likely.

    So you want a nice place that you can live in part time and only pay part time so you have a place to take girls when your home. Sounds like a hotel to me. Given the amount that youll be home its actually a good idea. Unless if you kind find someone on craigslist that will rent you a room for cheap given the fact that youll gone most of the time. Would be a good deal for them who doesnt want a roommate that pays rent but is rarely home. Otherwise no there are no other options.
     
    nofreetime, Sep 1, 2014
    nofreetime, Sep 1, 2014
    #6
  9. Sep 1, 2014 #7
    kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,849
    46,930
    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
    0
    I too, thought it was a waste of money to keep a place I was never at. I really enjoyed travelling around the country, stopping to visit freinds and realtives when my loads worked out that way. I was single for many years and when I was in the area I stayed at my brothers place in the DFW area. I used his place as my legal home and address. That's for taxes so that's the address I gave the company I was with to mail my company related stuff, like my W-2 form at years end. You have to have a "tax home" according to the IRS in order to claim the PerDiem deduction. This is a big deal. The deduction for you if you are out 280 days in the year is over $13,000.00.
     
    kemosabi49, Sep 1, 2014
    kemosabi49, Sep 1, 2014
    #7
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.