Local Work, Fedex, UPS, SEFL, Publix, WinnDixie...etc

From my point of view, its just different stokes for different folks. I've been OTR for many years. Currently I'm a local driver for FedEx Freight. I'm looking to back OTR soon. I make more money on the road. Plus I like doing and seeing something different everyday on the road. The rate per hour is good at FedEx, but not getting any overtime is hurting my pocket. They're cutting it out all together. Not to mention all the office politics. Put me on the road where I don't have to see my boss more than a couple times a week.

 

It all depends on the person, I personally could not and would not do true OTR (MUCH respect to guys who can/do). I run regional where I'm home one day a week, I make 65k but if I can find a local daily gig for about 10-15k less I would jump on it without a second thought. Everyones wants and needs are different. I don't have kids or a family but I do want to enjoy my life and you can't do that living out of a truck

 

I tried local before I bought my first truck, I hated the job. I worked 14 hrs a day drove home slept 6 hrs after being with family and do it 6 days a week sucked. I now have a dedicated route, home 2.5 days a week and I will take home before taxes 103,000 this year. Its the perfect fit for me.

 

Local is great for some and pays very well. There's a myth out there that local jobs aren't available for newbies, but it's just a myth. Personally, I hated local, stayed tired all the time. Preferred OTR running 48 states and that worked for me. Hauling groceries pays good, if you can deal with the jerks & thieves. If they can steal groceries off your truck, it makes their inventory look good and makes you look like a thief.

 

This is the exact reason for the high turnover rate! Newbies think they can go straight to local driving right out of school and when they find out otherwise they quit! I would say that 98% of the experienced drivers out over the road would prefer to be home working a local gig. With that being said, the line is long and full of guys who have heaps more experience than yourself. Put yourself in the shoes of the local employer, who are you going to hire if given the choice to drive your expensive rig with your valuable freight?

A. a driver who just finished school, has a total of 20 back ups under his belt and less than 500 miles of going forward successfully. Has no proven track record, can't shift and basically to sum it up, has no clue what they are doing.

or

B. an experienced driver who has a proven track record, a flawless one at that , can back up his rig anywhere, knows the mechanics of the truck and fix most minor things himself, is refined in his driving and won't tear up the truck wasting tires, brakes and expensive transmissions, knows how to conserve fuel, etc....etc....etc...

Who are you going to hire?

Now when the newbie finds out that the chances of him getting a local gig are very remote he is now forced to drive over the road and be away from his family for long periods of time just to pay the $6000 worth of schooling he just went through so his wife won't divorce him!

Does this answer your question?