A New Career

Over the New Year's holiday, I had the opportunity to help my friend move to Florida by driving her stuff down to Florida. I really enjoyed it and after having been questioning my job, I'm wondering if it's time for a change. I know one time for fun isn't representative of a career, but I want to learn to more if it might be a good fit.

I'm 34, single, no kids, no pets, I do own a home though. I've always liked traveling and driving, so in that sense, the OTR role appeals to me, esp if I could get some work driving between the South and the west. I think I would be pretty comfortable with the downtime aspects as well. I also don't mind working weekends. While the OTR role does appeal to me, I'm not really interested in team driving, although I do know and accept that it's part of the training process to operate with someone.

Couple things I'm curious about if expectations are unrealistic.

I know there are hours of service rules that require rests and resets. Is it possible to set it up so you could take these while away from home and thus be able to do some sightseeing while on my rest days?

Since it sounds like owner-operator isn't an option to start, (and I've seen videos about how bad lease-own is) how much can you customize your truck from a company, in terms of things like adding a tv, microwave, or even one of those small chemical toilets?

Doing some reading, it looks like it's possible to be able to shower at least once every two days while. This is something that's important to me.

It's a big decision, but it's something that has been on my mind since January.

Couple things I'm curious about if expectations are unrealistic.

I know there are hours of service rules that require rests and resets. Is it possible to set it up so you could take these while away from home and thus be able to do some sightseeing while on my rest days?

Yes you can. You just need to work it out with your load planner/dispatcher/driver manager.

Since it sounds like owner-operator isn't an option to start, (and I've seen videos about how bad lease-own is) how much can you customize your truck from a company, in terms of things like adding a tv, microwave, or even one of those small chemical toilets?

Depends on the company. They put in an inverter and I have a Family Dollar coffee pot and a Hot Logic slow cooker. Next time I get the truck washed, I'm putting on Air Force Veteran 12" decals. My company allows pets with no restrictions but a lit of companies restrict size and type of pets (no snakes, birds, etc.)

Doing some reading, it looks like it's possible to be able to shower at least once every two days while. This is something that's important to me.

You can shower every day if you want and have the shower credits (50-75 gals earn a shower) or you pay for it. Being old with driver skin, I shower every 2-3 days in winter and 2 days in summer. I pull a reefer with the same trailer, so not as much work for me.

It's a big decision, but it's something that has been on my mind since January.

Answered in the comments

Laura

Welcome to Trucking Truth, take a look at these links especially Brett's book to get a better idea what you're getting into.

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I know there are hours of service rules that require rests and resets. Is it possible to set it up so you could take these while away from home and thus be able to do some sightseeing while on my rest days?

absolutely, as long as your company has freight that runs through there they'll get you where you want. You typically just submit the zipcode you want to take it and they'll get you a load that goes that way. you're able to spend a weekend in Vegas, catch a Nascar race or even just take a week to relax on the beach.

Since it sounds like owner-operator isn't an option to start, (and I've seen videos about how bad lease-own is) how much can you customize your truck from a company, in terms of things like adding a tv, microwave, or even one of those small chemical toilets?

many people here would agree that O/O is very rarely worth it. It likely depends on the company but often times you're not allowed to drill any holes in the truck but your maintenance shop may do it. Some drivers also use the top bunk for storage for microwave and refrigerator.

Doing some reading, it looks like it's possible to be able to shower at least once every two days while. This is something that's important to me.

others with OTR experience will hopefully chime in but from my understanding that isnt unreasonable. Some drivers prefer sleeping at rest areas or even the shipper/receiver to be able to maximize their clock. In that instance they're most often using their mandatory 30 minute break in the middle of the day to grab a quick shower.

We often say trucking isnt a career. It's a lifestyle. I hope you stick around to get a good look at what we deal with to help make a better decision. If you decide to move forward we highly recommend you check out a Paid CDL Training Programs. Brett wrote an awesome article Why I prefer paid training that's worth the read.

Have a follow up question on this.

I found out my local community College does weekend classes so I could keep my day job while getting my CDL.

I was at a national park and I saw a semi without a trailer at the park visiting the sites. Im guessing it was his day off and he decided to see the park. If you are a company driver, who pays for the fuel for that?

Or is that only something owner operators can do?

Depends on the individual company policy.

One more question and I'm sorry if I ask it awkwardly.

I know truckers have hours of service laws about how much you can drive and then you have to rest. I know there's no hard and set rule, but do you find with loads you typically have enough time that you are able to have some time off duty before you have to go to bed, or is it off duty and jump into bed because you've been allocated just enough time to deliver it and stay within the law?

We can drive/be on duty for 11 hours at a time. After this, we must take a break of at least 10 consecutive hours. What you do during the off time is up to you, as long as you make the deadlines.

Do you typically find you need all 10 hours of driving each day to deliver a load or are there times you have to stop early to avoid arriving too early at the destination?

I know things do vary from trip to trip.

Companies will vary. Most loads, I do have extra time on. Some can be termed as a "Just In Time" load, which are a rush.

This load I have now had two extra days on it. I decided to take it, and am doing a 34 reset before it delivers tomorrow morning in Portland, Oregon.

My normal MO is to run anywhere from eight to nine hours of driving each day, and never run out of time on my clock. After eight days on the road, on day nine you will get back your hours that you used up nine days ago. This is what is referred to as Recap Hours.

We get 70 hours to use in an eight day period. If a driver uses eight hours, forty five minutes each day, he will never run out of hours. Others prefer to use up all their time each day, then take a 34 hour reset break weekly.

Thank you Packrat, that is what I was curious about.

I remember seeing some truck stops have safe harbor parking, where you could park your truck and it would be guarded by the truck stop for a fee. Would you take advantage of that if you had 2 days or just stay with the load? I didn't see how much the fees where.