Why Do Drivers Stay OTR Over LTL?
Topic 31139 | Page 3
The short answer is because we all want different things from our jobs. We all have different wants and needs and what makes me happy might make you miserable and vice versa. I enjoy living in my truck with my dog, not having to pay for a home that would be empty most of the time. Home daily local gigs would be miserable for me. If I had a wife and kids at home I might want local, home daily...well...not if I was still with my ex lol but you get my drift. I make great money and get to bank and invest most of it. With local I couldn't do that.
Andrey where do you work that you make 70 cpm? I’m regional flatbed and only make 70 cpm on the super short trips but I’m closer to 50 cpm on the longer hauls
I pull a dry van for a small Chicago based company. It is a 1099, no benefits position, 70 cpm flat rate and I set my schedule myself. So far I have been with this company for four months and like it.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
What companies might I want to look for after I complete truck driving school if I want to do linehaul at night for good money?
Old Dominion, Estes, Saia, ABF, YRC, T Force, XPO, FedEx freight, R&L. Those are the major companies that hire new drivers that I know of, but that can change based on a terminals needs at the time.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Personally, I like the adventure of being OTR. One week I’m in Florida, a few days later I’m in Oregon, etc. I never know where I am going each load, so the spontaneity keeps the job interesting. I don’t see myself driving in a city everyday or doing the same route over and over.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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Advice For New Truck Drivers Choosing A Trucking Company Home Time LTL Driving Truck Driver Salary Truck Driving Lifestyle
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So why does LTL tend to pay so much better when it even requires less sacrifice? It seems backwards to me. Also, I live in California between Sacramento and San Joaquin county. What companies might I want to look for after I complete truck driving school if I want to do linehaul at night for good money?
Thanks.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.