Might Go Back
Topic 22766 | Page 1
Gladhand, you're a virtual pendulum. I've lost track of how many times you swung one way and then back again. There's nothing wrong with that. I've got a couple of grandfather clocks in my house, and nobody knows what time it is if the pendulum in the clock stops swinging back and forth. So, keep swinging!
Ha! I was going to basically say the same thing as OS. It's certainly been entertaining watching you swing back and forth from the start, Gladhand. I mean that in a good way.
I gotta admire your tenacity, transparency, and willingness to share with the group. Keep on rockin!
Dm:
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.
Glad to hear from you. Many new people should read your posts. You have gone through so much. It is good that you take time to decide. Rushing into a new lifestyle is not for everyone. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
Decided to go back. Was thinking of switching to reefer but wanted to stay with the Albuquerque terminal so ill be staying dry van. Hope I can get into one of those newer internationals or volvos. Either way I have found that my quality of life was better otr. I was more rested and had more quality off time. Also I was able to catch more concerts that i wanted to see.
It was all about the money when i started, but now it's more about the lifestyle I can live. Hope you guys dont get bugged by my emotions haha, but I like to share these things. Guranteed somebody will come binge read my stuff some day and get some type of help from it.
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.
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.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
That is one of reasons I keep saying "NO!" Every time my wife bugs me about finding a local job.
I'm glad you're doing well. You've now experienced it first hand and sure you realize that local driving jobs are a beast. That 16 hour rule is a killer and quality time at home virtually non-existent lol.
There is no way I'd ever consider personally going local but I have to admire your willingness to try just about anything and share your experiences with us. It's a crazy lifestyle we lead that many people cannot or will not ever understand, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Dm:
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.
I'm glad you're doing well. You've now experienced it first hand and sure you realize that local driving jobs are a beast. That 16 hour rule is a killer and quality time at home virtually non-existent lol.
There is no way I'd ever consider personally going local but I have to admire your willingness to try just about anything and share your experiences with us. It's a crazy lifestyle we lead that many people cannot or will not ever understand, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I was doing walmart dedicated with swift still so thankfully no 16 hr days. What got me was extreme schedule flipping and not enough time to do anything. It wasn't necessarily 100% local but was enough to show me I wouldn't like local. I'm a believer of trying things and the lifestyle I got otr was better it is just up to me to make sure i get proper exercise and eat better.
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.
Dm:
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.New Reply:
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Considering going back OTR. I'm a big believer of trying things, so that is why I got off the road and got a place to live, etc.
During my time OTR previously I thought I was missing out on so much, when I really wasnt. In fact i had more time to do and experience things when I was on the road as well as saw my family more. I live far from my family and can't see the point of driving 400 miles roundtrip in a day to just visit for a bit.
Also the fact that I could control my schedule and wouldn't have to flip flop as much was a huge plus. I loved the balance I had when I ran recaps.
So many things that I can still experience. I didn't the last 2 years because I was so dead set on saving money and paying off my debt. It's good to do both things, but you also need a balance of sorts and enjoy life.
Not going to switch back right away being I am a believer of waiting things out. The mental side of this job is tough, so many decisions and so much opportunity.
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.