"Cause I hated every minute of it. That was back in the early 70s and I spent all one winter driving for a friend who was leased to International Transport. In five months I saw my wife and kids three times, I spent an ungodly amount of money for food on the road, and i was lost most of the time. I met every grouchy farm equipment dealer in several midwestern states, tarped things that were never meant to be tarped, and had my first dealings with the mega truck company mentality. As soon as the good weather started I went home, got a job hauling local, and for me OTR now means anything east of Reno and I don't go.
I only did OTR for 4 months over 9 years ago. The reason I quit and went local was simple. Basically, I was homesick.
Old Dominion bought my employer and did away with my twice monthly trips from TN to L.A., but most importantly they did not allow drivers with pets authorized by old company to bring pets. Philistines! I got back into it after almost 20 years, mostly for the glamorous lifestyle and free coffee.
Because to them I was only a number. 3 weeks out and home for two days. Woops you have been home too long. Get back to work. Tho when my 34 rolled around the DM needed to have the weekend off after doing 40 hours. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight If there was a company that would let me run freight in Maine and didnt have a restriction on the size of my gut. (also the fact that I havent done commercial miles for 11 years) I would probably be out there.
Because living in a truck was not my idea of living. But I did it for One Year exactly and said Adios.
Because I was pissed off that my employer added an extra day to my route without increasing my pay, so I told them I would do local. I did that for one month and worked twice as hard as OTR. So I quit, bought my own truck and trailer, and now I'm doing my own thing OTR, local or whatever he heck I want to do.
