Is Regional A Waste Of Time, Is OTR The More Practical Path?

I wish I could help you more with the non-trucking stuff you're experiencing. Stay active on here and you will get plenty of assistance starting out.

Unfortunately that won' meet our budget needs however but THANKS all the same!

I'm confused. First year pay for road drivers is $60-65k plus (with 100% PAID healthcare), but that's not enough compared to your plan, "...to make $36-42k first year ... and in year 2+ will need to be closer to $55-60k"? Note: the $18/hr. is only for your 4 week training period after that you're Teamster scale. The $60-$65k figure includes the 4 weeks at $18/hr. You'll make more every year with raises and working your way up the seniority ladder.

I'm not sure how you can make more money than that your first year without selling your organs, your children or winning the lottery.

Zen Joker, I've been heavily into health and fitness my entire life. I'm also very much against almost everything our government or major institutions tell us is "good for us" because it almost always it turns out to be self-serving lies.

If you're brave enough to throw out traditional viewpoints, consider something new, and experiment a little, you may find yourself in a far better position than you ever dreamed possible.

Watch these two videos and decide for yourself if it's worth pursuing. I made this change several years ago and never looked back. Your family may benefit from this tremendously. I sure hope so.

First, Dr Peterson's story behind all this:

Now his daughter's story directly:

If anyone cares to discuss this I think we should make a separate thread for it, but I'll let you guys decide what you think.

I hope this helps.

Hey Pacific Pearl..sorry for the extreme oversight, I stopped at $18 per hour and got sidetracked. My bad. Wilson, MI is 2 hours north of Green Bay. I did however still call their recruiting line and they do have some local jobs near Iron Mountain, MI which 40% of the day is spent hand loading and unloading (no line haul) and I would be required to drive almost 2 1/2 hours round trip daily (longer in winter) on top of it and we only have 1 vehicle. Again all the same, thank you!

Unfortunately that won' meet our budget needs however but THANKS all the same!

I'm confused. First year pay for road drivers is $60-65k plus (with 100% PAID healthcare), but that's not enough compared to your plan, "...to make $36-42k first year ... and in year 2+ will need to be closer to $55-60k"? Note: the $18/hr. is only for your 4 week training period after that you're Teamster scale. The $60-$65k figure includes the 4 weeks at $18/hr. You'll make more every year with raises and working your way up the seniority ladder.

I'm not sure how you can make more money than that your first year without selling your organs, your children or winning the lottery.

I think the "quality" time versus "quantity" time is something to truly consider. Many of my friends say they felt like they had more time with family as OTR than home weekends/daily.

Already at work before kids go to school, just getting home as they are headed to bed. Working a 6th day to make up more money, then wanting to sleep on the 7th. Or home on Fri night and exhausted after driving 600 miles. Go to bed, then stay up all day Saturday and and Saturday night so you can sleep late Sunday to leave at 3pm Sunday. Not much quality time. As OTR your entire home time is concentrated on family.

One thing to consider with Roehl, the home time offers sound great, but you need to take the $ into account. The more home time, the less pay. One of Roehl's drivers came in here complaining he only made $35,000 his first year. BUT... He did 7 days on 7 days off. So if he actually worked a whole year, rather than 6 months of the year, he would have made $70,000. But somehow Roehl was evil for his "low pay". 😂

Anyone remember that guy?

Brett, I am a HUGH JP fan and have read 12 rules for life and will check out those 2 interviews. We make a lot of our food organically and from scratch and will look forward to expanding options in that video. Thanks again!

Zen Joker, I've been heavily into health and fitness my entire life. I'm also very much against almost everything our government or major institutions tell us is "good for us" because it almost always it turns out to be self-serving lies.

If you're brave enough to throw out traditional viewpoints, consider something new, and experiment a little, you may find yourself in a far better position than you ever dreamed possible.

Watch these two videos and decide for yourself if it's worth pursuing. I made this change several years ago and never looked back. Your family may benefit from this tremendously. I sure hope so.

Thanks buddy!!!!

I wish I could help you more with the non-trucking stuff you're experiencing. Stay active on here and you will get plenty of assistance starting out.

Duly noted Kearsey!! Love following your posts!

Yeah, I'd like to comment on that guy's math skills but I am no better with my reading skills today with Pacific Pearl's very sincere and helpful reply!

I think the "quality" time versus "quantity" time is something to truly consider. Many of my friends say they felt like they had more time with family as OTR than home weekends/daily.

Already at work before kids go to school, just getting home as they are headed to bed. Working a 6th day to make up more money, then wanting to sleep on the 7th. Or home on Fri night and exhausted after driving 600 miles. Go to bed, then stay up all day Saturday and and Saturday night so you can sleep late Sunday to leave at 3pm Sunday. Not much quality time. As OTR your entire home time is concentrated on family.

One thing to consider with Roehl, the home time offers sound great, but you need to take the $ into account. The more home time, the less pay. One of Roehl's drivers came in here complaining he only made $35,000 his first year. BUT... He did 7 days on 7 days off. So if he actually worked a whole year, rather than 6 months of the year, he would have made $70,000. But somehow Roehl was evil for his "low pay". 😂

Anyone remember that guy?

I ran Walmart Dedicated for Schneider out of Sterling, IL. Parked my rig at my local Walmart on my roughly 2 days at home. Working a 6th day usually netted me an extra $250.00. Walmart for me mostly a Wes thru Sunday gig. Also ran regional for Schneider making myself available at 0700 Monday for dispatch and got home late Friday or early Saturday. I had a high schooler at home, not a 10 year old. I loved that schedule and wish I kept it.

Both positions wore me out. I was hauling two loads a day for Walmart stopping at 4 to 5 different stores combined (and mostly Chicago and the suburbs). For regional I was all over between Oklahoma and Virginia, and south towards Atlanta. I still had quality time at home when I was there. School kept my son busy and the mrs. was busy.

Walmart paid a slight bit more but I enjoyed weekends at home.

Brett, I am a HUGH JP fan and have read 12 rules for life

I'm a huge fan myself. I'm glad to hear you are as well because the information you'll get from him and his daughter goes against everything they taught about eating healthy. As you'll see, talk is cheap, results are everything. They bring the proof.

I read "12 Rules" myself and his new one, "Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life" - incredible stuff!