Local Central Texas (Austin, Temple and Waco)

Geez these folks make local driving depressing, I really would like to know where do you guys work 14 hrs a day.
If anything local driving is more fast paced and you get to know your customer base a bit more which at the long run it would help ya alot. To the OP dont get discouraged apply and get a local job where no matter if you stuck in traffic, customer or breakdown you will get paid no matter what. Also it will provide you amazing backing skills

 

Come on over here and I'll point you in the direction of several companies that will max that clock out, day it and day out. Sure there are companies that don't, but around here, those jobs that have the "banker type hours" either A. Don't pay worth a ####, or B. Are taken indefinitely. But around here if you can run 12 & 15, they'll take full advantage, and what's bad about it is, a large number of companies around here pay percentage vs hourly. That obviously excludes LTL work, but a lot around here pay percentage of load, or base pay plus piece count or some other half brained pay structure. You've got to do some searching for those companies that will pay you, "no matter what" as you put it.

If you've got a gig where you're paid by the hour no matter what, and they don't run you ragged, that's great, I'm happy for you. But myself in my previous job, along with several guys I know, ran to the very last minute of that clock quite often. It's not necessarily getting stuck in traffic, or at the shipper/receiver that is the problem, it's the work load. The theory isn't "ok they can driver 12 hours, so lets schedule 10 hours worth work so they have some leeway with traffic etc and get out here at a decent time" it's more like "oh hey, they can drive 12 hours and be on duty for 15! hurray!!, let's pile on ungodly amounts of work, who cares if they have lives outside of here?" But hey, that's trucking for you. Personal or family responsibilities be ######, we're all clocking out at 5 here in the office so we don't care, just get it done.

I'm not trying to paint a negative picture on local work because it's not ALL like that here in Texas, but the OP should also be aware that going local in trucking doesn't mean clocking in and running for a moderate amount of time, then going home and having adequate time do whatever it is, that he wants to do. UNLESS, you find the right job. There are certainly jobs to be had in this area, but from browsing the job ads I can tell you now, MOST that are currently hiring WILL run you to the max, and they'll do it often. For the OP that might be fine, but he's also looking for quality time with the family. There can be quite a juggling act when it comes to ADEQUATE home time when talking in regards to local work, than most realize. It can certainly be done, but you'll have to dig around a bit for the right fit.

 

With your attitude and mindset, I'm sure you'll done just fine wherever you end up. Good luck in your search and let us know where you end up driver. Stay safe out there.