Having Trouble Deciding.
Topic 31205 | Page 1
I am local right now, with commute time to get to work is about 85 hours each week. Work almost 7 days straight, I have been doing this for 1 1/2 years. I do not enjoy the job at all as it is very mundane. Ihave an opportunity to go back to regional and make some fantastic money. I am torn between the 2 opportunities. Yes I am home every night but that is for only 8 1/2 hours. If you were in my shoes what would you do. Thank you for any assistance.
Hi, Shaun!
a.) Look into LTL if you have almost 2 years experience. Heck, they train dock to driver! Banks' diary is epic. ODFL is always open; look up Bobcat Bob and Daniel B. as well. Rhino started with Reddaway a bit ago; same. Just need endorsements.
b.) Hit up Big Scott, re: CFI ... he just got on a 'regional' out of NC, himself!
c.) Look at Rob T. 's diary, re: Foodservice.
d.) If you share who you work for, the pro's will be able to better gauge how to help; ie: OTR or not..., etc.
Best wishes; Hope the mods & pro drivers can help; just wanted to give you a lil' hope!
~ Anne ~
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
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.
85 hours with commute time? So, 10 hour shifts, with an hour each trip to and from over a seven day period.
It is 12 hr shifts with 30 min before for meeting before and after shifts. 6 days a week with no time off. If we were to get inspected the whole fleet would be put out of service. Poor maintenance program. I’m know I am probably just whining but I would rather be in Kuwait getting shot at and fixing people. Just tired
I never got shot at in Kuwait any time I was there. North of there, yes...
If it were me, I'd go work somewhere else. Money isn't everything, but being happy at work is a biggie in my experience. Regional could be the best mix of both work and being home more often.
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.
I was just using it as a metaphor. Never got shot at was just there with 2/6
There should be other local jobs with better hours. When I drove in a day cab it was Mo-Fr 7am to 5 or 6pm, overtime after 50, $25/hr. Living in 20 minutes from the terminal I had 12 hrs off every day plus weekends.
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.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
Look into LTL companies if you still want to be home daily. You'd only work Monday thru Friday doing P&D.
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
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
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I am local right now, with commute time to get to work is about 85 hours each week. Work almost 7 days straight, I have been doing this for 1 1/2 years. I do not enjoy the job at all as it is very mundane. Ihave an opportunity to go back to regional and make some fantastic money. I am torn between the 2 opportunities. Yes I am home every night but that is for only 8 1/2 hours. If you were in my shoes what would you do. Thank you for any assistance.
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.