Is OTR For Me ?

I went through 4 weeks of school to get my "automatics onlyx" restriction remove and after tomorrow it will be 1 week with a trainer plus 5 more weeks to go. By the time I come back to the yard to upgrade to solo it will be 10 weeks total away from home. Yesterday, every time I would think about my daughter, son and wife I would get a little emotional. When I began this journey I wanted to do Midwest regional , be home more often, but I signed a contract with an OTR company. Now that I am out in CA, I don't feel like being out here anymore. I don't want to be away from home a month at a time,missing my kids grow up. I guess I either suck it up, finish my training and fulfill my contract, or go home and pay back my tuition which I cannot afford. Thanks

The general career track for trucking starts with OTR. Once you get many drops/pickups and miles on the road under your belt, your DM and the company will know what kind of driver you'll be. That's when you can make your own choices to a certain extent.

Here's my "career path" with Swift: my trainer actually recommended me for his own regional dedicated route. But the DM said they don't do that for new drivers, I went OTR. That lasted from February to May - four months.

Then I was offered a shuttle route. (This may be what you "want") The shuttle I did was driving from Memphis to St Louis every day, four days driving, two days off, repeat. Home every day, the whole shift ran for about 12 hours, and those rotating two days off. (a cycle of 4+2=6 days on a 7 day week) Personally, the daily 10 hour repetition was getting to me, so I, on my own, asked about a larger regional run, and ba-da-boom, I got it. This regional puts me home every weekend for a 34 hour reset (which often runs a bit more than 34 hours!)

Shiva, put in some time OTR , so the company can get to know you, then ask about regional. You may in just a few months.

The general career track for trucking starts with OTR. Once you get many drops/pickups and miles on the road under your belt, your DM and the company will know what kind of driver you'll be. That's when you can make your own choices to a certain extent.

Here's my "career path" with Swift: my trainer actually recommended me for his own regional dedicated route. But the DM said they don't do that for new drivers, I went OTR. That lasted from February to May - four months.

Then I was offered a shuttle route. (This may be what you "want") The shuttle I did was driving from Memphis to St Louis every day, four days driving, two days off, repeat. Home every day, the whole shift ran for about 12 hours, and those rotating two days off. (a cycle of 4+2=6 days on a 7 day week) Personally, the daily 10 hour repetition was getting to me, so I, on my own, asked about a larger regional run, and ba-da-boom, I got it. This regional puts me home every weekend for a 34 hour reset (which often runs a bit more than 34 hours!)

Shiva, put in some time OTR , so the company can get to know you, then ask about regional. You may in just a few months.

Thanks Errol. I was talking to a company driver that runs a dedicated route for Wal-Mart out of Olney, IL. he told me I could get on a dedicated route out of a dc in Rochelle, IL that could get me home almost every night or every other night. Also, since the company I work for is "partnered" with prime, I was wondering if I could do intermodal out of Chicago since prime does intermodal up there

Also remember this: I talked about a "general" career track, but a company will place any driver where they need that driver to be. As a daily shuttle driver, I worked with some people who had just finished Swift's school, and had only their mentored road training as OTR experience.

Bet of luck, Shiva!

Shiva,

I understand your concern. But let me explain before you get upset what the "Normal" path for most drivers usually is.

Yes, it sucks for the first year or so having to be away so much. But just think about what the end result will be. Once you get that "MAGICAL" 1 year, lots of doors that were closed prior, open up. It's all about paying your dues (yeah I know it sucks) and good things come to those that wait.

I will use my driving path as an example. I started with Prime for my training, was with them (including training time) from Oct 2011 to Mar 2014 mostly by choice. Things changed at home, so I looked for something that would get me home more often (not that I was not enjoying my time at Prime). I did a month with Barr-Nunn (did not work out, they talked a good game but did not deliver on the promises), then changed to JB Hunt. Worked for JB Hunt until the end of Apr this year.

Went on medical leave due to having issues with cancer and all the treatments associated with that. Once I was done and cleared to go back to work, I now have a local driving job that gets me home most evenings and weekends.

Now for me (being retired military and no kids at home), this works out very well. But I also understand that with kids at home and all the growing up stuff that goes on that you miss a lot.

So just try to keep all of the things we try to impart to new drivers about the importance of that very crucial first year of safe driving with 1 company in mind as you are completing that first year and then start looking at something either regional (home most weekends) or local that can get you home most evenings/weekends.

I know it can be tough to do, but try to keep the goal in mind as you go down this path we call truck driving.

Ernie

Shiva,

I understand your concern. But let me explain before you get upset what the "Normal" path for most drivers usually is.

Yes, it sucks for the first year or so having to be away so much. But just think about what the end result will be. Once you get that "MAGICAL" 1 year, lots of doors that were closed prior, open up. It's all about paying your dues (yeah I know it sucks) and good things come to those that wait.

I will use my driving path as an example. I started with Prime for my training, was with them (including training time) from Oct 2011 to Mar 2014 mostly by choice. Things changed at home, so I looked for something that would get me home more often (not that I was not enjoying my time at Prime). I did a month with Barr-Nunn (did not work out, they talked a good game but did not deliver on the promises), then changed to JB Hunt. Worked for JB Hunt until the end of Apr this year.

Went on medical leave due to having issues with cancer and all the treatments associated with that. Once I was done and cleared to go back to work, I now have a local driving job that gets me home most evenings and weekends.

Now for me (being retired military and no kids at home), this works out very well. But I also understand that with kids at home and all the growing up stuff that goes on that you miss a lot.

So just try to keep all of the things we try to impart to new drivers about the importance of that very crucial first year of safe driving with 1 company in mind as you are completing that first year and then start looking at something either regional (home most weekends) or local that can get you home most evenings/weekends.

I know it can be tough to do, but try to keep the goal in mind as you go down this path we call truck driving.

Ernie

Thanks Ernie. That was or is my plan, to get 1 yr experience under my belt, then look for local or regional work, just anything that offers better home time and decent pay. I just didn't think it would be so hard being away from my family. I thought, a year? No problem. Yet here I am after 5 weeks home sick and missing my family dearly.

Also remember this: I talked about a "general" career track, but a company will place any driver where they need that driver to be. As a daily shuttle driver, I worked with some people who had just finished Swift's school, and had only their mentored road training as OTR experience.

Bet of luck, Shiva!

Thanks Errol. Yeah, when I get back to the yard after training, I am going to see if I can get on a dedicated account, closer to home. I am 30 miles from Chicago, so it shouldn't be to big of a hassle, but we'll see

The general career track for trucking starts with OTR. Once you get many drops/pickups and miles on the road under your belt, your DM and the company will know what kind of driver you'll be. That's when you can make your own choices to a certain extent.

Here's my "career path" with Swift: my trainer actually recommended me for his own regional dedicated route. But the DM said they don't do that for new drivers, I went OTR. That lasted from February to May - four months.

Then I was offered a shuttle route. (This may be what you "want") The shuttle I did was driving from Memphis to St Louis every day, four days driving, two days off, repeat. Home every day, the whole shift ran for about 12 hours, and those rotating two days off. (a cycle of 4+2=6 days on a 7 day week) Personally, the daily 10 hour repetition was getting to me, so I, on my own, asked about a larger regional run, and ba-da-boom, I got it. This regional puts me home every weekend for a 34 hour reset (which often runs a bit more than 34 hours!)

Shiva, put in some time OTR , so the company can get to know you, then ask about regional. You may in just a few months.

I do feel bad man. There are many starter companies that offer regional and local from the start. It also may be a product of your home location. I switched to OTR 14/3. I wasn't ready for local in Jurzee and NYC!

The general career track for trucking starts with OTR. Once you get many drops/pickups and miles on the road under your belt, your DM and the company will know what kind of driver you'll be. That's when you can make your own choices to a certain extent.

Here's my "career path" with Swift: my trainer actually recommended me for his own regional dedicated route. But the DM said they don't do that for new drivers, I went OTR. That lasted from February to May - four months.

Then I was offered a shuttle route. (This may be what you "want") The shuttle I did was driving from Memphis to St Louis every day, four days driving, two days off, repeat. Home every day, the whole shift ran for about 12 hours, and those rotating two days off. (a cycle of 4+2=6 days on a 7 day week) Personally, the daily 10 hour repetition was getting to me, so I, on my own, asked about a larger regional run, and ba-da-boom, I got it. This regional puts me home every weekend for a 34 hour reset (which often runs a bit more than 34 hours!)

Shiva, put in some time OTR , so the company can get to know you, then ask about regional. You may in just a few months.

I do feel bad man. There are many starter companies that offer regional and local from the start. It also may be a product of your home location. I switched to OTR 14/3. I wasn't ready for local in Jurzee and NYC!

I hear you there. I was the back up driver for a boxtruck , to deliver furniture to customers homes in the city of Chicago. It sucked. People just walking out in front of your truck, assuming you're gonna be able to stop on a dime. Oh yeah, most texting and walking

The Shiva, I just want to say two things:

First, what you are experiencing is common to all new drivers. There is an element of stress during that training period that weighs more heavily on your emotions than you realize. I know you are kind of new in our forum, but we have had this conversation countless times with newcomers to the OTR life. It is always best to hang in there, and get on through to the time where you are running solo in your own truck, but even then those feelings of separation from your family will hit you at times with a disturbing amount of force. I'm not too proud to tell you that there were several times in my first few months on the road that, with seemingly no provocation, I just burst out into tears with feelings associated with missing my wife and children. What I find unique in my situation is that I was already accustomed to being gone and working away for lengthy time periods due to my previous career, but there is something about driving that big truck for ten or eleven hours a day that is so demanding on a whole new level that it just takes time for your whole system to adjust to it. So, abandon those thoughts of throwing in the towel and hold on tight!

Secondly, as has already been stated, you will be opening doors of opportunity for yourself by staying the course. Trust me any kind of local driving job in Chicago is going to be really challenging, but you probably already have that figured out. Hang in there, gain some experience and some confidence, and you will be able to find something that works for you and your family.

We just recently had a discussion with another new driver who was having considerable issues at home, and was about to throw in the towel on his OTR gig. I told him how I had taught my children to never let the "tyranny of the urgent" run their lives and force them into making bad decisions. Not everyone understands what I mean by that, and judging from the reaction to my comments by some they thought I was almost being heartless to the guy. But I meant it sincerely because I know that most of my life decisions that I made based on emotion turned out to be bad ones. The times I was able to use my head and think things through to a logically reasoned out conclusion were always good decisions in the long run. When you are thinking about how to take care of and provide for your family you want to be careful and logical in your thought process, don't settle for a quick cure for your troubled emotions.