Why Does Anyone Drive OTR If LTL Pays So Much More?
Topic 21607 | Page 2
I have been doing LTL Linehaul for Old Dominion 4 months now, after 2 months regional with a sleeper truck. OD will hire in some locations right out of school as they do at my terminal. Personally I much prefer to be home every night and not have to park in a truck stop or some other place to sleep. Since I am new I am of the flex board so I don't have my own route yet but most of my runs are Chicago to Indy or Chicago to Tomah Wi and then Milwaukee and back, I am getting .57 CPM and am on pace to be over 65k for my first year. For me it is nice to have the same locations and route almost everyday seeing the same people at the terminals as well, but I can see how for some people that would be boring as there is not much variation day to day.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
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.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Keep in mind when looking into LTL that companies do run completely differant. Some run a 5 days out with weekends off. Most of them run out and back each shift. some have runs that go out to a terminal , hotel for 10 hours and then back. I live some distance from the terminal so i run the last option. 3 runs one week, 2 runs the next week. This leaves me with plenty of home time while making good money.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
I looked into LTL but I decided against it. The money's good but I'd be bored out of my mind.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
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Your OTR income numbers are an average for a rookie. In 6 months, I have grossed a little more than $24,000. That puts me on track to gross $50,000 in my first year. My friend who just finished his third year grossed over $60,000.
I may go to a local job eventually, there are other local jobs besides LTL. Most local companies require one to two years OTR before they'll hire you. As far as LTL companies being union. Not all companies are. UPS is and getting into different areas is based on seniority. Union jobs are not always best.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
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.