Should I Plow Snow Or Go OTR?

Topic 1542 | Page 1

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Gerald H. AKA Doc's Comment
member avatar

I got a job offer to plow snow for the winter at 20 bucks an Hr., 6 days a week and 10 Hrs. day. Its not what I went to school to do but it means I can be home every day with the family and not be hualing 80,000 pounds of weight behind me while the snow is flying and Im fresh out of school. After winter then, I could get on with a company going over the road doing what I rally want to do which is hualing freight. Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Over The Road:

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.

TailGunner (Ken M)'s Comment
member avatar

I've never been in that situation, but most job listings say they want "Recent Grads" from a truck driving school, or X number of months driving a semi. It may possibly be a detriment to getting on the road. I'm sure someone will let us know if I am out in Left Field.

Old School's Comment
member avatar

Doc, Ken is right about that.

Congratulations on the job offer, but later on when you go looking for an over the road job you're going to find that everyone will want you to go and take a refresher course because you've been out of school too long, and they will not consider that snow-blowing job as experience.

I know it all sounds so crazy, but this is where we are at with the insurance companies requiring certain conditions be met before they will take you on as a liability. When they lay out the rules, the companies that are paying for the policies have to abide by their dictates, and one of those is the time period between schooling and getting started OTR with a trucking company.

It's your call Doc, if the snow-blowing job sounds like it might be a good transitional thing for you then you could go ahead and do it, but just do it knowing that you will need to set back a little money to pay for a refresher course at a truck driving school so that you will have a current certificate of training that they can have on file to meet the insurance companies requirements.

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.

Over The Road:

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.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

Yap, the guys are right. If you take that job you'll have to take some sort of refresher course or something before going OTR because of the time lapse after your schooling. That's not to say you shouldn't do it. But just be aware of that.

It's hard to advise you one way or the other.

Oh, the other concern is what if it's a light year for snow? I live outside of Buffalo, NY so I know a little bit about snow. Depending on how the contracts are setup you may or may not get paid whether you're plowing or not. But I suspect that a light snow year would mean significantly fewer hours and of course much less pay. So that's something to consider.

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.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Gerald H. AKA Doc's Comment
member avatar

ok, so I talked to the company that I'm looking to go with and was told that as long as I can still do the silks need to pass the driving test and the backing test I wouldn't have to take a refresher course. The company that I would be plowing snow for is also an excavating company and I will from time to time be driving an18 wheeler around for them hauling equipment. Brett I'm around the Garrett county Maryland area and we really don't have a shortage of snow here. if that becomes an issue I would then have to move on.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Starcar's Comment
member avatar

Well, I'd say, go plow that snow.....The reason behind my choice ?? I really hate to see rookies start OTR in the winter...Its the very worst. But, you have a very good deal now. You can get some road time, both in a plow truck, AND a big rig, AND you can be at home, making a decent wage...whats not to like ??/ and to sweeten the deal, the company you want to go with will wait for you...I'd be plowin' snow...just sayin.....

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.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Luke L.'s Comment
member avatar

Wow, that's alot of snow!

Daniel B.'s Comment
member avatar

Well, I'd say, go plow that snow.....The reason behind my choice ?? I really hate to see rookies start OTR in the winter...Its the very worst. But, you have a very good deal now. You can get some road time, both in a plow truck, AND a big rig, AND you can be at home, making a decent wage...whats not to like ??/ and to sweeten the deal, the company you want to go with will wait for you...I'd be plowin' snow...just sayin.....

Finally you're back!!! We've been suffering without your advice :(

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.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Starcar's Comment
member avatar

Daniel..I doubt you have been suffering....But I had a motorcycle run, Aces for Faces...(look up Faces of Tomorrow..my favorite heart warmer). We raised enough $$$ to repair 19 children with cleft lip and pallet with surgery !!! For the sum of $250.00..guaranteed to change the life of a child...what better way to give and know that you are loved for the giving ?? Anyway...I digress...I then had hunting season, ya know...gotta fill the old larder..besides..Bambi is the other red meat..and better for ya.. So yeah, I was gone longer than I thought...but I feel renewed, rebuilt, and ready to snuggle up to the stove and winter in. So I can bug you folks on TT, crochet some stuff I promised to some folks, make some double fleece truckers blankets,can some meat, make some jam and jelly, and look forward to the holidays....I'm likin' this stayin' at home and cookin' !!!!

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