How Do You Get Routes To States You Want To Visit?

Topic 14949 | Page 1

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Swampfox's Comment
member avatar

i'm set to go to CDL school in July and after i'm finished I was curious what kind of routes i could or would get. I've always wanted to go out west, and was curious how likely it would be for me to get a route that lets me go see AZ,TX,NV, and others that way?

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Old School's Comment
member avatar

During my first three months solo I hit 46 states. How did I do this? I ran every load they gave me, did it with a great attitude, and never gave them any reason to doubt my abilities.

Get on with a company that will run you in the lower 48 states. You'll get to see all you want and more.

Chris L.'s Comment
member avatar

After a year OTR I been to 47 of the 48 states. Kinda bummed that I never saw Rhode Island, maybe some day I'll venture over to the east coast again. I'm doing a western regional job now. I didn't have a say as to where I went as a company driver.

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.

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.

Chris L.'s Comment
member avatar

You could always request home time in a state you really wanted to go. You don't have to take home time at home.

miracleofmagick's Comment
member avatar

If you have a good relationship with your fleet manager you can ask then to try and find you loads headed to places you'd like to see. It's not guaranteed, but if they have one they can probably hook you up.

Fleet Manager:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Pianoman's Comment
member avatar

Just ask.

I'm a company driver for Swift and always just run whatever they give me, but sometimes I'll ask them if they've got anything going to a certain state or area. Surprisingly, I've gotten what I've asked for every time so far.

If they've got something going where you want to go, cool. If not, no big deal--you'll run what they give you.

Ernie S. (AKA Old Salty D's Comment
member avatar

I drive for Prime in the reefer division. Up to now, I had been to every state in the lower 48 except Vermont until last week. I finally made up there. I was dispatched on a load that picked up at the Ben & Jerry's plant in St Albans VT.

So now I have been to every state in the lower 48. As it has been mentioned, if you drive for a company that has routes in the lower 48 just ask to get a load to one of the stated you have not been to. Worst case would be you don't go there. The answer is no if you don't ask.

Ernie

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

Robert B. (The Dragon) ye's Comment
member avatar

Chris, if you were in the northeast, you'll probably just blinked and missed Rhode Island lol.

Truckin Along With Kearse's Comment
member avatar

I've driven in 40 states since coming to.prime. I've taken hometime in FL, NC, AL.... and live in NJ.

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