should i leave my job for lower paying company?

Seems like you already know what to do. None of us here can make that choice for you.

 

If you are ok with the pay cut , go for it ! Life is to short to be unhappy!

 

I think it all depends on your financial situation as well as your happiness and it sounds like you know what you want to do. None of us can tell you whether to stay or go, that has to be a grown up decision you need to make. I know that in my family's situation right now, we couldn't afford for my husband to come off the road and take a significant pay cut. In fact, he is currently looking for a higher paying job.

 

Stick with it and work towards that local run. If you love the place then that is saying something. Choosing another place for lower pay and the negative reviews would be a mistake. In my opinion. Just talk to your company and see what the future would bring to you if you stayed on and gained seniority, you might be surprised what pops up. Never switch to a place unless you absolutely feel that it's a Win win for you. Getting a lower paying job that has you home everyday, but that you hate the company or the work, is going to wear on you more than being OTR.

I, like you, am really struggling with OTR right now. I have always made more money, working less, working locally than OTR. But due to some circumstances, OTR was my only option. So I'm going to stay out and save money to give myself a better situation when I come off and go back to local work.

You might try switching or adding some hobbies to do while you are out on the road. I bring a guitar, laptop, and a kindle app for my smart phone, plus I bought a new camera and have been learning that. Those things more than keep me busy and shift my focus from wanting to drive through a SHippers office or something lol!

 

I wouldn't drive a truck if I couldn't drive OTR
everyone is different
I have made lots of money in life and less money in life
made so little thought my kids would eat the next week
made so much I didn't think I could spend it
none of it matters past being satisfied
looking back and having no regrets

 

One thing that I forgot to add is, what exactly don't you like about OTR? Are you dryvan? Have you thought about expanding your career to another bracket of trucking? I have yet to meet a flatbedder, tanker yanker, Boat-hauler, or Oversize that has said ,"This sucks! I'm going back to hauling a dry van" LOL.

Maybe even working for a concert hauler company and haul stuff for music bands? I turned down a job hauling race motorcycles for Kawasaki, that I am still kicking myself for not taking, years ago. It was most likely a once in a lifetime deal.

 

He works for DOT foods He's a lumper/driver that's the only reason he is making that type of money, and be honest dude. That unloading is killing you. So go to the other company and stop breaking your back unloading trucks, but if its local you might still be a driver/lumper.

 

Ever heard the saying there are only two good jobs out there the one you just left and the one your going to if you like the job you got stay there the next job wont live up to what they tell you

 

Local work is monotonous, boring, tedious and can possibly drive you crazy unless you're a slightly OCD nut job such as myself. I happen to like my routine and get VERY upset when it's changed.

When I was OTR, I had a lot of amenities while I was running. Dual fridges, satellite TV, satellite radio, mobile WIFI, asus g-75 (gaming laptop) and various other things to keep my going while I was OTR. I enjoyed it, only because of the sporadic, but lengthy downtime I experienced.

Try improving your life in the truck, OTR, before you go local.