Is Regional A Waste Of Time, Is OTR The More Practical Path?

Hello All,

Target application date for Roehl Transport is end of February and I wanted the opinion of any rookie drivers or seasoned veterans as to what they would do with a wife and 10 year old. We are all clear that time together is going down in a MAJOR way and we won't get through it until we go through it.

So regional would have me home for 34-40 hours which is "Hi and bye" back on the road. While I like the idea of always being a days drive from home if there were ever an emergency, there really is no quality time basically being home for a reset.

From Roehl in italics:

For OTR: (1) 11-14 on the road- 3 days off (2) 18-23 on the road - 4 days off (3) 24-29 on the road- 5 days off Regional Fleets would have you out from 5 ½ - 6 Days, home 34-48 hours weekly. If you’re speaking about longer time on the road with regional, that would be something to talk with your recruiter about.

The wife and I both are considering OTR as the better option and option 2 looks like a good balance. Honestly, I think national OTR may be more challenging and exciting anyways.

Anyways, appreciate the feedback. Stay safe out there and God Bless!

If regional gets you limited home time with the family, will OTR get you any more home time?

I guess it depends on your company, but unless you get a local gig that is home every night, your home time is going to be limited. This is the constant struggle of the regional/dedicated/otr driver. I have great respect for drivers who are dedicated to their families, but to be a truck driver can require some sacrifices in that area of life.

I can only reference my experience with Swift. Many of the choicest Dedicated accounts were regional. I worked 5-6 days per week, typically aligning with the busier holiday demands. I always at at least 1 day off for a 7 day work cycle.

Regardless of your choice, they will base your home time on how long you were out. You'll get about one day off for every week on the road.

I thought regional was great. It gives you a nice balance of living on the road but getting home regularly.

Staying away from your family for three weeks at a time seems like a long time. You're going to miss an awful lot of stuff. Most people don't do much during the week, anyhow. So getting home every weekend gives you a chance to take part in so much more.

Don't forget, also, that you'll get paid time off. So there will be times you can take a couple of extra days off when something big comes up.

Thanks everyone, this helps!!

Brett, thanks for your feedback, an honor to interact with you finally!

The podcast episodes have been a Godsend. Nothing can truly prepare anyone for what one will experience getting into this industry, but the podcasts, resources, and members here are the best set of tools to get the "mindset". Thank you again for your work!!

Regardless of your choice, they will base your home time on how long you were out. You'll get about one day off for every week on the road.

I thought regional was great. It gives you a nice balance of living on the road but getting home regularly.

Staying away from your family for three weeks at a time seems like a long time. You're going to miss an awful lot of stuff. Most people don't do much during the week, anyhow. So getting home every weekend gives you a chance to take part in so much more.

Don't forget, also, that you'll get paid time off. So there will be times you can take a couple of extra days off when something big comes up.

Rhoel seems like it has a lot of home time options. It is one of their selling points to attract new drivers. That plus the fact that they pay you while while you are a student before getting your CDL.

I guess it comes down to personal preference. I'd personally rather choose any option other than the one that offers 34-48hrs home. It just seems like a hassle to me. Especially if you can't park your truck at your house. Every week you'll need a ride to and from your truck.

The silver lining here is that if you and your family can tough it out for a year, you'll have more options available to you after that year of experience.

I've only been with one company, so I can only say my experience with them is that regional for them is very personalized, if I chose to I can be routed home weekly with several nights at home on some weeks, and work 5 to 6 days a week. It's almost random though as it's very dynamic and freight movement is like a river that I Navigate through. Once I hop in it by taking a load, I follow the currents of where that load will lead to the next, then the next after that.

One of the reasons that I chose to go with the carrier that I did is that they are extremely flexible with hometimes and locations. In order to receive that though, I too must be flexible.

Regional will have you home more often, but OTR will have you home for longer periods.

Regional will have you home for just under two days, and it could be any two days of a week. For OTR days off, you get to pick which days and dates.

Driving jobs incorporated with a family life are always going to be a trade-off: more time off equals earning less money; more time driving on the asphalt means less time at home.

I view it as a seesaw that is always moving. Which end of the ride I'm on usually has me wanting to switch ends. If this career lifestyle gets into your blood and soul, it will be incurable. When you're on the road you'll want to be home, and vice versa. I think the ideal truck driver is single, lives in the truck, drives OTR, has no dependents, and has relatives scattered all across the country to be visited occasionally.

If I were in your shoes (wife and impressionable young son at home) I'd seriously consider plan C.

YRC Driver Academy

Paid while you train (about $18/hr actual rate depends on your local barn's union contract). Teamster scale after training.

100% paid healthcare for you AND your family

Great pay. Road drivers first year expected income $60-65k plus

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick days

Great home time

Company paid hotel for overnights

When the wheels stop moving we still pay you: hourly pay for load delay/layover

There's a terminal in Eau Claire - just 37 miles from Wilson.

Thanks Pacific Pearl! Appreciate the research you did on this. Unfortunately that won' meet our budget needs however but THANKS all the same! I plan to make $36-42k first year and I will likely end up bankrupt this year and in year 2+ will need to be closer to $55-60k to keep us afloat. My mortgage career has collapsed with the economy. My father in law was an agent orange sprayer (Ranch Hand) in Vietnam. Wife and daughter have major digestive issues so my grocery bill is about 300% more than an average family when you take into account food allergies and supplements needed to keep the wife and daughter healthy.

Pack Rat, I always appreciate your feedback too! Been in love with the road my whole life and have a solid 25 year relationship with the wife. There will be big sacrifices no doubt, but saving our American Dream is job #1. Quitting will NEVER be an option as there is nothing in my area that pays over $40k per year and the wife can't really work due to physical ailments and the fact we are committed to homeschooling and raising our daughter in God's country on a homestead. I will only becoming home permanently with either a pink slip in my pocket or in a rubber bag but NOT because I quit. I know I am in for some trials out there especially in year one, but that pales by comparison to having to lose our home in the country which took 20 years to get for my wife which was her dream since childhood and also losing the 13 chickens my daughter has to make her one very happy kid. Excited but also extremely poised looking ahead. I'm certain I will need support and probably some tough love form the members here from time to time especially the first year. Thanks all!

If I were in your shoes (wife and impressionable young son at home) I'd seriously consider plan C.

YRC Driver Academy

Paid while you train (about $18/hr actual rate depends on your local barn's union contract). Teamster scale after training.

100% paid healthcare for you AND your family

Great pay. Road drivers first year expected income $60-65k plus

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick days

Great home time

Company paid hotel for overnights

When the wheels stop moving we still pay you: hourly pay for load delay/layover

There's a terminal in Eau Claire - just 37 miles from Wilson.