Choosing A Trucking Career: OTR vs Regional vs Local

Choosing A Trucking Career: OTR vs Regional vs Local

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OTR (Over-the-Road) Trucking, Regional Trucking, and Local Trucking are different segments of the trucking industry, each with its own pros and cons. Here's an overview:

OTR Trucking: Pros:
  1. Long-haul opportunities: OTR truckers typically cover long distances, allowing them to explore different parts of the country and experience diverse landscapes.
  2. Higher pay potential: OTR drivers often earn more due to the extended periods away from home and the mileage they accumulate.
  3. Flexibility: OTR truckers have more flexibility in terms of scheduling and routes since they are not confined to a specific region.
Cons:
  1. Time away from home: OTR drivers spend extended periods away from home, sometimes weeks at a time, which can strain personal relationships.
  2. Irregular schedules: Due to the nature of long-haul trips, OTR drivers may have irregular schedules, making it challenging to maintain a routine or plan personal activities.
  3. Fatigue and health concerns: The long hours spent driving can lead to fatigue and health issues if not managed properly.
Regional Trucking: Pros:
  1. Balanced schedule: Regional drivers operate within a specific geographical area, allowing them to have a more predictable and balanced work schedule.
  2. Familiarity with routes: Since regional drivers cover a specific region, they become familiar with the routes, traffic patterns, and local regulations, which can make their job easier.
  3. Home more often: Regional truckers typically return home more frequently compared to OTR drivers, providing them with a better work-life balance.
Cons:
  1. Limited distance: Regional drivers have a restricted operating area, which means they may not get the same level of travel and exploration opportunities as OTR drivers.
  2. Lower pay potential: Regional truckers may earn less compared to OTR drivers due to the shorter distances they cover and fewer miles they accumulate.
  3. Limited job availability: Regional trucking jobs are often more location-dependent, and the availability of positions can vary based on the region.
Local Trucking: Pros:
  1. Home every night: Local truckers typically return home after each shift, allowing them to spend more time with family and maintain a stable home life.
  2. Familiarity with local area: Local drivers operate within a specific local area, enabling them to become highly familiar with the routes, traffic patterns, and local regulations.
  3. Potential for more diverse work: Local trucking can involve a variety of tasks, such as delivery, pick-up, and specialized services, providing a more diverse work experience.
Cons:
  1. Lower pay potential: Local trucking jobs often pay less compared to OTR and regional positions due to the limited distance and fewer miles traveled.
  2. Traffic congestion: Local drivers may encounter heavy traffic congestion in urban areas, which can lead to delays and increased stress.
  3. Limited travel opportunities: Local drivers typically have limited travel opportunities as their routes are confined to a specific local area.
It's important to note that individual preferences, lifestyle considerations, and personal circumstances can greatly influence which type of trucking is more suitable for a particular individual.
 
Another con to local is more potential for chronic fatigue. If your company works you for your entire HoS, you're commuting, taking care of your family, AND sleeping in 10-12 hours.

OTR and regional, you turn around and you're in bed. No commute, no need or ability to take care of the family or fix an emergency problem with the house or car or whatever.
 
I always seemed to last "longer" over the road best was "West Coast Turnarounds"..

Local Jobs sure ya home every day but just when ya got back to yard and turn your paperwork in at the office say "have a good evening" by gosh always something else 2 do they stuck ya with and wanted you're Saturdays too usually so eh "Loco" sure ya home "Everynight" but you were so "Burned Out" Dead Tired ya like barely ate something passed out on the couch and before ya knew it 4 Am again Alarm Clocks buzzing too..

Now "Long Haul" or "OTR" yeah ya sleeping in the truck alrighty ..

But I actually had Alot More "Free-Time" living in the sleeper bunk on a "Long Haul" than I ever had at home running "Local"..

Now Local your "Paycheck" about the same every week or "Consistency" running mostly same stuff everyday so was "easier" as far as planning budget know what ya got Hitting the Bank Account every week or so ..

Over The Road pay was "Up & Down"..

One week ya "Breakout" take home a GRAND after Taxes & Health Insurance..

Another week your Paperwork was a day or 2 late from closing of "payroll" you're take home was only $4/5 hundred that week but that next payroll got $1200 take home..

Sometimes ya just had a "Slow" Week or Dispatch just "F-Worded" ya around on "Midwest Regional" ya only Take Home like $6/$7 hundred bucks..

So ya sleeping in the truck Pay was up & down week 2 week
 
Another con to local is more potential for chronic fatigue. If your company works you for your entire HoS, you're commuting, taking care of your family, AND sleeping in 10-12 hours.

OTR and regional, you turn around and you're in bed. No commute, no need or ability to take care of the family or fix an emergency problem with the house or car or whatever.
Your company can only work you the full HoS if you let them.

These boots are made for walkin'......
 
Another con to local is more potential for chronic fatigue. If your company works you for your entire HoS, you're commuting, taking care of your family, AND sleeping in 10-12 hours.

OTR and regional, you turn around and you're in bed. No commute, no need or ability to take care of the family or fix an emergency problem with the house or car or whatever.
When I ran for grain elevator that was 30 miles each way from my house so not only a very long day had a long drive home too so ya another nice thingy about over the road ya find a spot at Truckstop shut it down and just climb into bed although at times the Truckstop could be quite a-ways from your customer
 
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Good luck with the job hopping when your reason for leaving is "they wanted me to work all day."
Meh! Once I hop off this job, I'm not hopping on any others that involve truck driving. Otherwise, I'd just shut up and do as I'm asked. Filling out applications in this day and age requires a shave after the first 100 pages.

When I first started driving, my application was my name and phone number scrawled on a piece of scrap paper. Shell, had a long application. It was 4 pages.
 
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Good luck with the job hopping when your reason for leaving is "they wanted me to work all day."
Didn't mind going out there 3/4 weeks at a time..

What pissed me off is that I stay almost a month out on road..

When I go home it's an entire week might stretch that 10 days 2 Weeks..

About 2/3 days back at the house I got "Dispatchers" calling me yet I put in my "Home Time" thought staying out almost a Month "straight" was worth a week / 10 days home come back out do another month .

They were in a "Pinch" and afew times threw me a $300 hundred Dollars "bonus" just get me back in my truck cover that load..

When I was up in Minnesota that place would forget about me ..

Eventually after 2/3 weeks they'd "Wonder" where I was and if I still "worked" for em..

I told em if I put in 4 "Home-Time" and ya people "Forgot" that I even "Exist" I'm not exactly going to call in & "Remind" Ya either....🤣
 

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