I drive regional , but I’m in the Southeast. I get home every week, but sometimes it’s just for a 34hr restart. I average 2,500-2,700 miles per week.
Since my company is regional, most of our 200 drivers get home on weekends. But some drivers get the chance to stop at home during the week. I left home yesterday morning and could’ve stopped at home tonight, but it would’ve impacted my drive time tomorrow.
I like regional, but it depends on what you’re looking for. I’ve seen many places around the world (during my Navy days) and most of the states (when I drove OTR). So, sightseeing isn’t a motivator for me.
I can’t say my hometime is better quality than yours, but I can usually tell them I want a full weekend at home and they accommodate. When I drove OTR for Schneider I could go home twice each month and got either a full two or three days (at home) each time. If I worked it right and kept rolling three weeks, they used to let me take a whole 4-5 days off.
I hope this helps.
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 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.
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
I don't think local is the problem, nor do I think regional is the solution, I think the problem is your specific job.
There's plenty of local jobs that give you a good work/life balance. In my case, I work M-F 0700-1800 with guaranteed weekends off.
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.
If you have a spouse/kids at home then you probably will want to find a local day job with better hours, or a regional job that gets you by the house once or twice a week plus for a 34 on weekends. There are lots of those jobs.
In my case, since I no longer have a spouse/kids at any one place and my various family members are spread out around the country, I actually see them more with a national OTR job than I would with pretty much any other job in or out of trucking.
I drive for first fleet here in Maine, We haul for flowers bakery on a daily basis. We deliver our load and return home daily. The only regular leave time are for the guys who deliver to grocer store at night, off loading from 6pm to 12 to 14 hours later through out new england. The other drivers may leave between 1 pm and 6 or 7 pm delivering loads over loads to different terminals from Maine to Con. Now I like coming home daily and sleeping in my own bed, But I never see my family except on my days off. So I've been seriously considering going regional or dedicated. So i wanted some input from the otr or regional folks. Thanks
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.
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 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.
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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I drive for first fleet here in Maine, We haul for flowers bakery on a daily basis. We deliver our load and return home daily. The only regular leave time are for the guys who deliver to grocer store at night, off loading from 6pm to 12 to 14 hours later through out new england. The other drivers may leave between 1 pm and 6 or 7 pm delivering loads over loads to different terminals from Maine to Con. Now I like coming home daily and sleeping in my own bed, But I never see my family except on my days off. So I've been seriously considering going regional or dedicated. So i wanted some input from the otr or regional folks. Thanks
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.
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.