Looking for advice / gut check

I totally understand what you are wanting. I’m just saying that you are looking for a unicorn. About the only way you will accomplish the freedom you seek is by being an owner operator. And that’s a whole nother can of worms. A local company isn’t going to just let you take a week off every couple of weeks. Sure an otr company will let you take a week off, but only after you have been gone for 3 weeks.

Honestly, I’m not putting you down for asking. I just don’t think you understand how trucking is. Why would you? You aren’t involved in it. I hope you do find what you are looking for. I just have doubts that it’s trucking.

Trust me. I know about not getting projects done. It seems like it’s a never ending task. But I think that’s part of farm life ain’t it?

Seriously though, good luck and I hope you do find that unicorn!

 

I think some megas have/had a program that you worked 10 on 5 off or 14 on 7 off. This was years ago. I don’t remember if it was Rohel or Schneider. Like I said it’s been a while and they may not offer it any longer. Sounds like what you want.

 

Roehl has some regional home every weekend stuff

 

Driving is the minor part of the the job. Putting up with customers and 4-wheelers is the primary skill. If you like being treated like a skunk with a leaky stink valve by about 95% of the people you will meet every day or watching one 4-wheeler after another try to commit suicide by truck a dozen or so times per day so they can retain their record of never being in the right lane for more than 18 inches or 4 seconds. With OTR you won't be home A LOT and there is only enjoyable driving once you get about 90-120 minutes from ANY large town. I liked the good part of OTR, and I drove almost 30 years, but the regular and routine parts, plus living the life of a stray dog, got to me and I stopped about a year ago. YMMV.

 

Most trucking companies allow you to take 1 day off for each 5-7 days you work/away from home. When any ad says "home most weekends" that is code for you could be home only 34 hours, the legal minimum if you run hard during the week. If you run just under 9 hours or work/driving per day you can keep going indefinitely. The words in trucking often don't mean what normal people think they mean and the ads and recruiters are happy to let you assume optimistic assumptions if it helps them fill another empty seat. About 80-90% of new CDL drivers leave the industry before they complete one year of work. The only way to know what situation and working conditions you are signing up for is to make the company put you in contact with current working drivers in the same division of the company, and preferably ones that live in your area. Recruiters words are just words. They do NOT obligate the company to ANYTHING. The day after you pass a drug screen and start orientation you will never hear from the recruiter again. "But Drill Sergeant, my recruiter said I could sleep until 8 a.m and I would have a private bathroom."

 

There are still some that have something like that. They call it a lifestyle fleet. Some had 7 on 7 off. Roehl was the 1st that i remember doing that. Wouldn't hurt to call them an see if they still do it and if where ya live would work for it. I believe I've seen marvin keller advertising something like that. I've seen some companies advertising 3 weeks out an one week off. Not meaning to sound rude or arrogant, but really you're gonna have to sit down an start making phone calls to companies. Make a massive list of them an just start grinding. What you seek can possibly be found but ya gotta start looking for it like a starving rat in search of cheese.

 

My first open deck load was oversized. I skipped flatbed and went strait to over dimensional. I would not recommend jumping into it like that.
However if you were a Marine. Sure, Marines can do anything, to include going to the moon. You will be fine, and it’s all “too easy.”

I’d find the most local company to you that runs equipment. Most of that is local with some regional. ( you want the time on your farm) See what they require to join up. If they need ____ then get ____ at TMC and leave them as soon as you get the required time. TMC like vets cause we do as we are told and excel.
Pretty much the secret to winning: Have a problem, stop complying. Find a solution. Overcome and do everything better than the one next to you. Never settle for good enough or the disgusting mediocre.

 

@blakjak --

Click on the following link, and read what opens up:

Life as a Truck Driver | Roehl Transport | Roehl.Jobs

It could well be that you need to spend more time talking to Roehl, if you want/need to be home for a week at a time.

Not sure if that kind of home time wiil get you to the financial goals you seek, either.

You may have to choose between the two, if you really want to pursue the world of trucking (at least, for a while).

Roehl does plenty of flatbed.

And Roehl will also PAY YOU while you get your CDL with them.

Just more food for thought....

--Lual

 

I'd check into local LTL companies and do local p&d. As close to banker's hours you'll get in the trucking industry. Regional stuff is pretty much just code for you get your 34 off at the house. Less time for the farm than you have now