Why does everyone think you have to go otr?

Depends on area IMO. I live in Fort Worth, with a ton of local work available that pays as well as OTR. Meanwhile someone starting out from the middle of nowhere won't have that option. Also, I enjoyed OTR!(when it wasn't winter)

 

ExOTR is absolutely right. Area has everything to do with it. Local pays much better than OTR in my area. It's not even close. But with that great local job comes really nasty city driving on streets and docks (if you can call them that) that weren't designed for the size of the trucks we're driving these days.

Funny you say that about not missing OTR in the winter. I always think I wouldn't mind not being local in the winter. Lol

 

Around Chicago land area you could get a job doing dump work or construction deliveries. I started doing ready-mix and then drove their dump tanker and flatbed to get semi experience. Just look for smaller outfits.

 

More or less it's the same story around where I live (Worcester County/Central Massachusetts). Decent local jobs but they require 1-2 years OTR experience at the minimum. Even then sometimes you get tired of going to the same places all the time- especially if you have to deal with bad weather. At least with OTR I'm sent sometimes to areas with a warmer climate and no snow. Lol

 

The main reason i'm going OTR is to save more money. No need to rent a place when i'm never there. That alone saves me almost 12k a year. My goal is to save for my own property. I cant see saving very much when you are paying for an apartment. My home time will be visiting my family or i'll get a hotel room for a few days every month or so.