i have no desire to drive OTR at this point in my life, but if i ever did?

Local day cab is not truelly blind side backing, i had to throw that in there, no pun intended. There's cons n pros from the employers standpoint for each. Either local or OTR can adjust accordingly , but you generally like one poster said won't hear OTR companies reaching out in there campaign for local drivers to come on board for OTR., unless they have a few daycab positions that come up. Just my 2 cents.

 

Today most OTR carriers are begging for warm bodies. Might have to run with a trainer for a while and/or take a driving test. However if you want to change over go for it.

 

I think there are a few more differences than that. A guy who's made a career of local driving and decides to go OTR suddenly may as well be a rookie. OTR drivers are far more battle tested. Its a totally different ball game. You don't have a routine anymore. If a CDL holder has only been local, he would need a little OTR training, the hard part is getting an experienced driver to train him.

 

I have had two local companies tell me point blank that they don't hire OTR drivers because they find the work (LTL P&D) too hard and quit soon after being hired. They want experience, just not OTR experience.

 

i am of the opinion that “otr experience” pertains to most everything except driving of the truck. driving is the easy part. i think dealing with shippers, receivers and general trip planning is where the experience shines. i’ve been local my entire career (10 years at this point). i don’t know jack about how that other stuff goes. but you want a truck in a spot it barely fits in? i’ll blindside it in there off the street while finishing up my sandwich and completing a phone call. i’m linehaul now so sadly i don’t get to have fun and challenge myself near as often like grocery delivery did.

i always saw otr as a last resort. i’m not a socialite. but i do enjoy my home, kids, friends and general horseplay way too much. plus at this point i think it’d be tough to match income and benefits without working A LOT more over the road. everyone is different, take my opinion(s) with a grain of salt.

 

Maybe. Maybe not.