Is Local Trucking For You?
Topic 34603 | Page 1
I'm just not a local driver. After having worked construction for so long, I have no desire for doing physical labor.
The traffic drives me nuts, and having done local, I found that at the end of the day, I couldn't stand to even see the inside of truck. It also seems to involve the same early rising mindset that construction has.
In short, it's the very antithesis of why I got into trucking: Call my own shots, work whatever schedule I choose as long as the work gets done on time and correctly, minimal or no office supervision, the freedom of driving down the road away from the hustle and bustle of people and cities.
The thing I love about trucking, especially OTR is that in the end it's really only your performance that matters. If it's safe and on time, you win.
So much about so many other things in life is about weather you followed procedures correctly or filled out your form correctly. My company cares that I'm safe, productive on time or early and flexible. How I get those results is completely up to me.
I've turned down more than a few dedicated and local. Just can't stand it.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Different strokes for different folks.
I love local. It can be a grind for sure, but I'd take local over otr any day of the week. I get so bored with the long endless drives on the same flat interstates every day that I find myself WANTING to distract myself while driving.
Doing local, the grind and the hustle keeps my mind occupied more and I tend to just get into the groove. I do better with less time to think and keeping my hands and mind occupied doing the job. I also like being able to be home more often even though I don't get much time each evening. Being able to see my gf and my dog every day makes the grind more worth it for me.
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.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
This is why I like linehaul , I get the "open" road of OTR while still being home everyday.
Even though the new run I started this week is 12+ hours, I am still able to spend a few hours at home and separate myself from the job. something I didn't feel like I could do in a sleeper truck.
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.
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.New Reply:
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This video just came up on YouTube "Happiness By The Mile". Shelby has several years experience OTR and recently switched to a local assignment in FedEx (it's not P&D).
The best thing is she's working her job and talking at the save time. Thinking about driving local? Check this out:
Local trucking is not for you
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.
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.