time off

It varies. Depends which company and also whether you drive OTR, Regional, dedicated, etc.

If you don't have any experience, it'll be difficult for you to find a company that'll let you come home each weekend and still make money. Not impossible... but most of us have to work our way to that point.

 

I get weekends off.......

Fresh out of school and run everything east of the Mississippi......generally home Friday evening and out Sunday evening or Monday morning, depending on how many mikes I want to run and what kind of loads I want to take a chance on getting. I average around 2700 miles a week

Did I get lucky? Not really, as alot if them here would say.....I did my homework and knew where I didn't want to go and where I did.....and had an excellent background, employment history and driving record

Those jobs are out there, but they don't go looking for you like the bottom feeders do. You have to find them

 

This is exactly what I've been saying. If you sit back and apply on-line or go through a recruiter all the have is a name on a application. Then you take what they let you have. If I had to do it all over I'd wear out a set of shoes looking for the company I wanted to go to. The way I look at it is the priority for looking for a company would be going to them for an interview. After all those were exhausted I would look on the computer for the better companies and call them. Then last I would talk to a recruiter or take one of those pre-hires. If I did it this way when I did get a job I would be satisfied that I did everything I could possible do. If I didn't do it this way and went with what a school said I'd always wonder if I could have found better.

 

Well said GasHauler

 

Yes, you got lucky!

Is it possible, yep. Is it easy, nope.

The jobs are out there but you have to be in the right place at the right time. Personally I wouldn't go to school expecting to get a local job. If you don't land the local gig, then what? Your out $6000!

 

There seems to be some flatbed companies that can get you home on the weekends and a little more if your in the right area. I have yet to find any reefer or van companies. Still searching though!

 

Caution when you see "home on the weekends" That can mean from noon till three on Sunday afternoon!

Hope it doesn't sound negative when talking about home time or lack there of. This is the number one reason drivers quit within a few months. They just don't realize or it doesn't register as to how long 4-6 weeks is out on the road. Most of your recruiters are going to embellish a little on the home time too! As long as they can get you to day one of orientation they get paid. It just errks me to see you new guys spend all that money and time to find yourself out over the road pushing two months and your DM telling you once a day that they will get you home only to load you and send you in the opposite direction.

I try to tell new guys that if they are interested in trucking then great. It's an awesome and rewarding career! If you have family or little ones at home and getting home is crucial then I would strongly urge you to reconsider. 4-6 weeks is an average and not only that but if you aren't running 4-6 weeks then you aren't making any money.

I have been driving for 16 years now and have done solo and team. My wife drove team with me and we are now retired from trucking. Though I absolutely love trucking and extremely miss it, I know what it entails and I would not go out solo right now leaving my wife at home. After that month goes by and you start getting worn down, you just want to come home and the more you want to come home the more freight you get going in the opposite direction of the house.