Real Truck Driver
Topic 3830 | Page 1
City drivers are *big time* real truck drivers. They deal with many of the most difficult aspects of the job almost continuously. That's why almost all local gigs require some OTR experience. They want to know you've developed the skills to get the job done safely and efficiently.
The biggest downer is that being a local driver feels like just a job....it's not a lifestyle like OTR. You really lose a lot of that "connection" to the other truckers out there. You don't feel like you're "part of things" the way you do when you're running OTR. Local gigs tend to be very long hours, tedious, monotonous, and basically like any other job - the first thing you think about when you're getting ready to leave for work is how you can't wait to get home. I know there are drivers that feel differently about it than I do, but that was my experience. After running OTR, local gigs just aren't the same.
But keep in mind - I've always been single and I don't have any kids. If I had a wife and kids at home I'd surely be thrilled to land a local gig and be part of my "real" family again. The truckers family is cool and all, but it doesn't compare to real family. So the tradeoff for you is going to be a huge positive. You'll miss the lifestyle of OTR, but you'll love seeing your daughter all the time!
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.
This is going to sound like a joke question, but there is some seriousness behind it...
Are city drivers still considered real truck drivers? I know this site is geared to new drivers and new drivers almost always start off OTR , but I'm getting ready to come off the road and start a city job because my 7 year old is a daddy's girl through and through and she's been begging me to come home ever since I started. But I'm afraid driving a day cab and going home every night I'm not going to feel like a real truck driver anymore. (Although with 20 to 30 stops a day I should get really good at backing! Haha.)
Trucking is weird. Just when you think you don't like the 14 hour days and being away from home and not sleeping in your own bed, you get out of the truck a few days and can't wait to get back in it. Several nights since I left my job I've wanted to climb back in my bunk and sleep at a truck stop.
I think I'm really going to miss being over the road , so if the government doesn't manage to regulate everyone out of trucking, I imagine I'll go back out when my daughter gets older.
Curious how long did you do OTR ? I see your a rookie solo driver
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.
Over The Road:
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.
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.
1 year, 4 months. I hated the company I started at, but around here they preach "Stick it out at your first company for a year", so I took that to heart. But I'm stubborn and didn't want to leave until I was sure I tried everything I could to make things work. So, I talked things over with my fleet manager and he asked me to give him some time to turn things around for me. I figured 4 months with little improvement was enough.
Really glad I took the advice because it did seem like it took a year to really start feeling comfortable doing the job and at least 90% of the jobs I saw listed required 1 year of experience.
Fleet Manager:
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.
1 year, 4 months. I hated the company I started at, but around here they preach "Stick it out at your first company for a year", so I took that to heart. But I'm stubborn and didn't want to leave until I was sure I tried everything I could to make things work. So, I talked things over with my fleet manager and he asked me to give him some time to turn things around for me. I figured 4 months with little improvement was enough.
Really glad I took the advice because it did seem like it took a year to really start feeling comfortable doing the job and at least 90% of the jobs I saw listed required 1 year of experience.
good for you you deserve it and should have no problem with a year and a half OTR GL
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.
Fleet Manager:
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.
After truck driving school I went out for 28 days of OTR training, but I chose not to continue driving OTR. When I got off the truck my trainer told me I'd probably never drive truck again. A week later I landed a local truck driving job pulling a 53 foot trailer. When I started driving locally I faced the same major problem I had driving OTR..........I couldn't back the truck into the ocean! Fortunately, having to back up multiple times each day forced me to get better at backing. It's been five months and I enjoy my job. I agree with Brett the lifestyle is not like it is OTR. It's just a matter of what meets your needs. I consider myself a "real truck driver" although I have met many OTR drivers who do not feel I am. The biggest misconception I have dealt with since becoming a "trucker" is that everyone needs to go OTR for at least a year before they can land a local job. Currently, I work with 5 drivers who have never driven OTR and 4 of them have less experience than I do. If you enjoy driving truck driving locally can be very rewarding. I do work some long hours from time to time, but never 70 hours in a week. I also never stress out if I'm stuck at a shipper or in traffic, because I'm paid by the hour. I simply call dispatch and advise them of the situation. Best of luck as you transition into your new local driving position.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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This is going to sound like a joke question, but there is some seriousness behind it...
Are city drivers still considered real truck drivers? I know this site is geared to new drivers and new drivers almost always start off OTR , but I'm getting ready to come off the road and start a city job because my 7 year old is a daddy's girl through and through and she's been begging me to come home ever since I started. But I'm afraid driving a day cab and going home every night I'm not going to feel like a real truck driver anymore. (Although with 20 to 30 stops a day I should get really good at backing! Haha.)
Trucking is weird. Just when you think you don't like the 14 hour days and being away from home and not sleeping in your own bed, you get out of the truck a few days and can't wait to get back in it. Several nights since I left my job I've wanted to climb back in my bunk and sleep at a truck stop.
I think I'm really going to miss being over the road , so if the government doesn't manage to regulate everyone out of trucking, I imagine I'll go back out when my daughter gets older.
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.
Over The Road:
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.
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.