JCAT introducing himself

What's up fellow drivers?! Jcat here! I'm currently seriously considering becoming an OTR driver. I've been a taxi driver and Uber/Lyft "chaffeur" for quite some time. I've racked up 500k miles over the years, so I'm pretty experienced when it comes to that profession. I'm very used to long hours, especially now that Uber has driven our fare rates so low. Lot's of experience driving in a dangerous city in all kinds of conditions. Currently drive a compact SUV. That's a little bit of background for you.

Anyway, I am really excited about driving team OTR, and of course, the more I research, the more questions I have. I've boiled it down to a couple of specialties, both involving OTR. I'm really only interested in team driving, not for the extra money (that's only part of the incentive), but because it seems like if you do hit it off with someone and they are good drivers, you are safer because of it. Not really interested in hanging out much in truck stops or sleeping in their lots overnight.

Since I'm down with team long distance driving between points A and B, the 2 positions I'm most interested in are dry van OTR (the more distance between A and B, the better, as my personal preference. The reason being, I want to travel and see the more remote parts of the country. I'd actually prefer to be out in less populated regions for the most part.

The other position that seems appealing is flatbed OTR. So in other words, flatbed but with really long distances between points A and B. I'm in good shape, but I know that flatbed is physically taxing. I'm in my mid 40s, so I need more rest between the rigors of manual labor. Also, I figure the muscles and conditioning involved in flatbed probably require a little time before one's body is fully built up to handle that type of work consistently. But I love the idea of having a job that is also keeping you in shape! I guess my question is do such flatbed positions exist? Where the trip itself is super long and allows the body to recuperate a little before unloading and getting a serious workout again?

 

no

 

Yeah, I've actually some of RVT's videos, I guess my question that wasn't answered is if there are flatbed jobs that require significantly less physical labor and more really long distance driving. I suspect there are, but I've no where to look for those jobs, and what industries they'd be more likely to exist in.

 

I just want to add, I don't mind the physical labor, but I'd need to have some breaks in between the rigorous stuff. When I say "breaks", I just mean making a long delivery trip, like from one end of the country to the other, north south, east west whatever.

 

thanks for the info!

 

I guess I should add I'm Texas based, and would love to have the home time there, so I guess a Houston, Dallas or Austin home. I have family, including a toddler.