Seriously Thinking about training to become OTR long-haul driver

I've been reading your thread this morning and am noticing a recurring theme - time off. You seem to be focused on this. If you read these forums and talk to truckers at a truckstop, you'll find that time off is a luxury afforded to the few not the many. If your not driving, then you are costing the company $$. Simple economics.

Also keep in mind, that your truck is your home. If you don't have a functional APU, then you will be sleeping in freezing cold or searing heat. Regardless of compnay idling policies, some states don't allow it.

I'm not a driver yet, but have been researching this for a couple of years and just started a short list of companies to contact. I've been on a ride along a few years ago. I highly recommend this, because it can be an eye opening experience. I was fortunate to have an o/o friend.

Research then reeavaluate - repeat as needed

goodluck
sherd

 

Like the poster above said, it seems that you are mostly worried about hometime. Im not a trucker yet but have been following threads for a while and have applied to a company to get started. What I can say, from what I have read and seen... if you are worried about being home then trucking is probably not for you.

Most people are out 3 to 4+ weeks at a time and then get home for maby a couple days. Simply fact is that the company is not making money while you are home and neither are you. Its not like a normal 9 to 5 job. You dont work like that and you dont get paid like that. Yes you could get lucky after a few years and nail a local run that gets you home every night and maby some weekends off. Those jobs are very few and far between because there are alot of drivers and alot of drivers are after the same job.

Your experience will most likely run along the lines of being out 4 to 6 weeks. Being home when your DM gets you there and not necessarily when you want to be there. Being there for about 2 days. Your truck is your new home. To be honest... if you are the type that wants to be home every week or even every couple weeks then you likely will not make much money. Especially being new because you are going to get low pay per mile and all the crap miles until they trust you. If they have to keep finding you routes home all the time then you are likely to sit alot waiting on loads. Waiting on loads means making no money.

Not trying to be mean just trying to tell you how I understand the trucking business to be. Unless you are ok with all this then I suggest a different career might be better for you. You could end up in bad debt as a trucker who is more concerend about being home then anything else.

 

Read everything you can on the companies that you see out on the road.

If one of them seems cool, go park in the local Truck Stop and start talking to drivers. This is the only information that counts.

Currently loads are UP and this is good for driving and making money. This is bad for time off and sightseeing. Get that out of your brain.

I figure you have to do your time with the OTR Carriers so you can get the chance to pick your new employer later.

Without some OTR time you are not marketable.

Figure that most companies have the mindset that "Anyone who can handle 6 months of OTR is a 'driver'". Insurance companies think this way and trucking companies think this way. You do at least 6 months - one year if you are going good - and you proved that you can handle adversities and you have the miles behind the license.

I'm jumping in with a carrier I have spoken to, interviewed their drivers and have crawled around thier trucks. I can handle them for a year. After that I'll apply for a Dedicated Lane with better home time. They do pay well also, provided you work your buttocks off.

Pay your dues and work very hard. Prove your worth and I would bet your emplyer will make things nice for you to stay.

That's my plan.

 

I have only read the previous 4 posts, but I think it is a little funny to see 3 non-truckers telling another non-trucker what to expect out of his trucking career.

If home time is your biggest concern, find a local job. Drive a dump truck, make local deliveries, etc. The pay won't be great, but you will be home. If you determine you need more pay, then decide whether it is worth saying good bye to your home life.

On the other hand, there are jobs that offer you both home time and income potential. I seriously doubt you will find them on this site. More than likey, it will be with a smaller local firm. For example, most of my drivers are out for 5-6 days and home for 34-48 hours depending how the week works out. Sometimes they get home during the week, but it would basically be to sleep, and then leave early in the morning. I do have one driver that is home at least every other day. He started as a local driver for us (pick up and delivery, hourly wage), and progressed to become a short haul OTR driver. He does not make as much money as my other drivers. I think he told me he took home $800 working 4 days last week.

You have to determine what part of the package is most important to you.

 

Strive for what you want to do, but be ready to do what you have to do.

I was fortunate that the cost of Trucking School was given to me as a gift and I am unemployed so time is not really an issue.

I looked everywhere for a local gig but with Construction being low there isn't much in my area to do that Experienced Drivers are not already doing. So local opening are rare.

So my plan is OTR. Do my time, get the experience I need to compete in the local market.

Whatever you do is OK, you can always change it along the way.