OTR driver vs. Dedicated driver

It is OTR but local. My division is Intermodal. We take real trailers, not containers, off the rail yards and deliver to customers. Some drop and hooks some live unloads. Also doing the reverse bringing empties to customers for drop and hooks and live loads. Then drag them to the rail yards specific to their destination.

Scheduled deliveries have to be on time so we have to get to the rail, hook the load and be at the customer on time. For live loads we have to procure an empty trailer and get to the shipper on time. Most times dispatch schedules an empty, other times we are on our own to find one. Local knowledge is quite valuable.

Hours are all over the map just like OTR. 3 am deliveries a few hours away. or like today, I finished my day and do not have a preplan for tomorrow. Our dispatch is 7am to 8pm. I will be up and ready to roll at 7am.

I was home at 18:30 today to let the dogs out, change into comfy clothes, playing on the computer, cooking dinner cause the wife had a doctor appt after her work.

Company driver paid the same amount any day I work. M-F and weekends by volunteer. Truck breaks, flat tire, trailer broke, I watch tv in the bunk or exercise while getting paid.

Some days are 8 hours, some are full 14. It averages out.

Mikeeee

 

Thanks for telling about your day, Forgot to mention the dang Choo Choo Trains, Never on time, Never !
Lucky SOB if picking out of the yard, That sure makes it semi-less stressful and no worry about boogy down the road.

Clarify: Choo choo's sure make for a long dang day.

 

On time more than not. For us, I would put them at 80-90% on time.

And if the train is late, I document it on the Qualcomm and wait for marching orders. No service failure on my part. And the clients no it is an intermodal load so not a late load on my company's side.

Mikeeee

 

The weirdest thing about being dedicated as that the shippers, receivers, and even people at the truckstops I always went to treated me like I was their best friend and would stop whatever it is what they were doing to talk to me. Whereas over the road you are just another slab of meat on a conveyor belt (which doesnt bother me). I like OTR since I began to miss certain runs I used to do and not having to drop and hook in bad weather four times per day. The yard dog sometimes cranks the trailer all the way up which gives you a workout when your trailer is dropped on a muddy hill.

 

I think it had to do with them seeing me everyday as a dedicated driver. I went to that same place before as an otr driver and the only thing they ever said to me was "sign here" and "have a safe trip".

 

OTR was fun seeing new scenery but i like being home. I drive dedicated lanes now and go home every friday evening and leave whenever I want monday. I can still take OTR runs if I want but I personally love the idea of dealing with most of the same customers and I most definitely enjoy being home.

 

Yesterday.

I got the green after unload and went in for bills. 8 other guys in line and I am waiting by the back wall for my turn. The clerk, who I know from when she was at another cold storage, yells to me at the back of the room, "were you 31 or 37?

I got my bills, made a quip that got a laugh from those behind the counter and half of those waiting in line and was on my way.

Mikeeee