Serious question ,

There ya go,its what you like and prefer is all that matters.

 

I am going to take exception to this also. You have more of a life doing OTR? I did local for 10 1/2 years. Two stepdaughters in high school for a 6 year stretch of that. In that time we never missed a single game for their basketball or volleyball games, including parents night. I was the one who gave then driving lessons. We attended their high school drama productions. I got the father/daughter dances for four proms. It was also very nice to be able to make dinner and sit down with them for dinner at least 4 nights a week. The only anniversary dinner we missed was when my wife had to be out of town for her work. When the youngest one totaled her car we brought her home from the hospital. When their dog died I buried it. Was I home on time every night? Nope. But please don't tell me how much more of a life I would have had being gone.

 

To each their own. Period.

I "paid my dues" running OTR with Swift and made good money, upgrading to a dedicated team coast to coast run after six months, then upgrading to be a trainer my last year (note that I had three years experience from back in the 70's before getting back into trucking).

I loved OTR.

Those who say flipping burgers pays better don't take into account that the burger joint doesn't give you free rent at home and pay your utilities. OTR you can save bank, with only a phone bill, food, and incidentals to spend.

After two recent years experience I have my dream job, running mostly regional to the oil patch with some long hauls thrown in for good measure. I'm paid by the percentage of what the truck makes. Making good money with the ability to be home about half the time.

 

OP, I guess it depends on where you live.

You can make pretty good money hauling fuel, propane, crude oil, or chemicals locally, but you're not gonna get a job like that until you have some experience.

Also, I hear that the hourly rate to haul US Mail is pretty good, although you'll probably have to run regionally.

 

I understand people prefer OTR. My Father has many friends who live inside their truck week to week and maybe see home 1-3 nights a month.

I, myself, prefer to be home almost every night possible. I don't being in the thing 1-2 nights a week, that's OK. Anything more than that and I'm ready to ditch the thing. I enjoy my time with friends and family way too much to be married to that truck. I will get out of trucking if I ever had to do that (which I won't). There are a ton of other fun enjoyable jobs in the Upper Peninsula.

That being said, I'd LOVE to see an O/O OTR driver gross $250,000 a year (the truck, not what he actually makes).