Driving Canada, USA

I like to read and learn off Trucking Truth rather than post. Let me get that one out of the way first. I drive for Swift Transportation out of Detroit and run with a dedicated team going to Canada and back. We mostly run in and around Toronto with the occasional call going up to Quebec. We get $25 every time we cross the border (one way) which is needed if they decide to do a search on your truck (takes a couple of hours off your clock). I'm roughly doing between 2,000 and 2,800 a week on miles and with bonus it makes up for a good little pay packet at the end of the week. I also get home every weekend which is why I took this job in the first place. I did my time on OTR and this is not bad at paying the bills. Down side to this is that I liked covering the 48 states and seeing America (I'm and ex-pat UK)

Now for my reason to write this.....I have another dedicated job being offered......working for the Swift Chrysler account.....all loads coming out of the Chrysler factories in Canada.....and taking them all directly to Laredo TX. I'm talking British Columbia, which would take me down the West Coast, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Plenty of mile here and we are being offered new trucks and trailers.....you keep the same trailer....which would mean all live loads. Auto parts going to Laredo every time.

My dilemma being........do I keep with the steady job I have now....or go back OTR which is what this job essentially is. My wife is with me either way. Any suggestions as to which way you would go if it where you are more than welcome. Very indecisive at the moment. Thanks guys.

Tough call, can you take the Chrysler run on a trail basis? Then change to OTR if you don't like it? Not sure if you do the Chrysler, could you get out and go back to the Detroit-Canada dedicated? Ask your driver manager and get some answers.

Running auto parts like that can be great, but stressful. The miles will be there and the pay should be good. But those places will fine your company huge amounts of money if you're late for anything. And the schedules are usually pretty tight.

It's easy enough to switch between divisions once you've established yourself as a trustworthy driver so there isn't much risk in giving it a shot. You could almost certainly go back to what you're doing now if you didn't like the auto parts runs.

I don't think you can go wrong either way. Whatever you feel suits you best.

Thanks for the feed back guys.....I'm thinking I will stay where I am. I can get bored doing the same customer runs all the time....but its like Brett said, the times for Chrysler are tighter and the stress would be allot more on you the driver to get it there. The've also offered an extra $140 per load.....which is nice, but makes me think that they might not be telling you everything. I asked about switching back to Canada, but I've been told you might have to wait until your place was filled on the Chrysler team, (as its a dedicated account). I think I've made the right choice for me....for now. Thanks again.