My Experience as a Line Haul Driver

Man I remember when you were at LS you would make the best of your week off, boating, friends, chicks, etc. You might have had to put in 5 weeks for that week off, but you seem to be absolutely miserable with CT, even with the alure of home daily and weekends off it still doesn't seem to be a good fit with where you're at in life. I recall you stating how much money you were able to put aside in your first year of OTR and I know many guys our age, and older who would love to have a bank account with those kind of numbers in it. You're not making much at CT, plus you're hit with the daily expenses of a normal, home everyday life. I guess the question now is whether you're wanting to bank a few more years with the kind of living LS can give you, or are you really ready to settle down and "just get by" like you're doing at CT?

You're still young, the stability of your future is in your hands brother.

 

I think you would change your mind given the right company. One that paid by the hour, overtime after 8 hours, an 8 hour guarantee per day and a Monday thru Friday work week.

 

Nights isnt all bad. It can be a little tough living in a different time frame than most BUT while most are snoozing you are moving about the quiet highways and streets.

 

I'd just keep my eye on Craigslist and your ears open. I didn't like my first freight gig either and ended up only doing 3 months with them before I found a much better one willing to give me a shot.

UPS Parcel is still the top of the heap as far as pulling freight wagons is concerned. They do occasionally hire outsiders. I'd work for them someday perhaps.

 

AT
haven't posted in awhile but keeping tabs/reading your posts: what you say I think for most is very true. OTR is not easy-especially if you want a family wife or ''normal'' life. On the other hand- you really do not like the job you have now -despite being home and having the time to do those ''things.'' Sometimes you need to just step back a bit and really exam it all. What do I give up if I go back OTR? As someone posted earlier-you sure did make the most of your home time and you really did seem to get it when you wanted it with out alot of trouble. Stay local: what do I gain by staying at a job I don't like.
I left a job a few years ago and took a huge pay cut-depsite I really loved the job- it was killing me and over all the pay cut and change was worth it in the end.

I hope you find what works best for you!

 

Dude, you're still young. Go OTR and bank up your money. Then when you've got plenty saved you can come off the road and find you a nice job where you can have a "normal" life and don't have to worry about money.

 

I'm not truly on salary. I pull dry bulk tanker and anyone who has ever done it knows there are slow times. What my boss does is takes anything over my weekly salary, holds it for the slow weeks so I get a full paycheck every week whether I work or not. He has it on my pay stubs what he's holding back and if I ever need money all I have to is call and I will have a check in the mail. May be a little different way of doing things, but over winter it sure is nice collecting a paycheck and not going to work vs. unemployment. And NO I am not planning on leaving this job anytime soon.....I work Monday through Friday and have weekends off.