What's It Really Like To Be OTR?

I just can't believe those "regular" people who are willing to do a 1 hour commute twice a day, fighting morons on the road the whole way. Sounds much better to me to just shut it down wherever looks good, kick off the boots, and get some sleep 10 minutes later.

 

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It’s not perfect, but I like my job. My company gets me home for the weekend (usually Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon). I eat great on the road because I prepare my meals on Sunday to take to the truck (I use a $79 Walmart dorm fridge, works great). I cook or reheat my food using a toaster oven.

I have long days and I have short days, and I’m on a dedicated lane that pays a salary so I don’t worry about miles, it all evens out.

 

Look into regional, where you’re home a couple days per week.

Local isn’t great. The only difference is you drive to/from home on your 10hr break, from 14hr/long days, which lessens the time you actually have at home and to sleep. Plus, local pay is usually less.

 

Well you do get to fall asleep on your dinner plate, or shortly after you sit in the recliner..

 

try it out, you’ll see that it’s easily habit forming

 

The part about working from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep is pretty much correct. It is exhausting and can feel like a solitary confinement jail cell on wheels.

After about 7 years of driving trucks I'll say even though it has been largely stressful, there were some good times as wel. I've had terrific times when getting stuck with plenty of downtime in big cities, rented a car or rode my bicycle to go exploring. Made money, bought things I otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford, be self-sufficient in general.

To wrap things up I'll say this - if this job seems like it may be miserable for you, don't get caught in the cycle of 'work hard, play hard' where you earn money but then waste the bulk of it on good times to de-stress on your days off. Instead use trucking as a means to an end. Work hard for 1 or 2 years saving as much of your income as you can, and use that savings as a cushion after you move on to something else or invest it. As an OTR trucker you'll hardly see your 'home' so if you rent, turn your place in since you'll pretty much be living in the truck. Save that money, see about staying with family or a friend on your days off and offer them a little bit of money for those days.

 

I’ll get right on it lol

 

Earn a single day off for every (up to 70 hour) week you put in? Come again? Are we prisoners or tireless robots that don't deserve a some adequate rest days after grinding it out for 2 or 3 weeks?

See my rant about companies who tell recruits they will have to "earn" one paltry day off for every week they put in. Get outta here with all that! Lol

https://www.thetruckersreport.com/t...ds/work-time-home-time.2474441/#post-12400614

 

This is what it’s like, one wrong turn and you gotta drive your way out.

He’s got a lot of driving videos.