Newbie stay local or OTR?

[sbatson]

I just moved to Texas from Florida I have a Class A CDL but all my driving has been local so I got a choice to make I got a local gig 45 minutes from the house and it pays $12 hr time and a half over 40 and they work 60 to 70 hours a week , but it will cost me about 75 to 100 in gas for the week and at the other hand I need to get OTR experience and I'm set up to go with JB Hunt or SMX, I know it should cost me about $100 a week OTR food etc.... so what should I do???

[Bumper]

Be happy, my local gig costs me 30 dollars in gas a day!!!!

[Mackman]

local getting paid by the hr.

[ibamars]

Local

[Ian Williams]

Local. With a few exceptions anything paid by the hour will be better than the hose-job most OTR company drivers get.

Look at at cheap fuel efficient car to take some of the pain out of the commute.

You can get a 5-7 year old Dodge Neon 5sp for like $2k. My old 2WD Ford Ranger pickup with the 4cylindergot 30mpg highway with a light foot.

[carlos64030]

Hmmmm.... if you haven't seen the U.S. yet, I say go OTR for at least a year to get some road experience and to enjoy seeing all of the wonderful things you'll never get to see by being local.

[GTR SILVER]

Hmmmm.... if you haven't seen the U.S. yet, I say go OTR for at least a year to get some road experience and to enjoy seeing all of the wonderful things you'll never get to see by being local.

take a vacation...............and sleep in a hotel................not a truck..local :wink:

[Colts Fan]

Local. When you go OTR you really miss the little things like taking a shower every day in YOUR shower, seeing your friends and family, and sleeping in YOUR own bed every night. Your sleep pattern will be so screwed all you will want to do is sleep your home time away.

You can't really see much of the country from the inside of your truck while you're rolling down the highway. Dispatchers seem to want to push you to the legal limit (or past it) so you won't have any time for sightseeing. And remember, if you're not rolling, you're not getting paid.

OTR folks, plead your case!

[Mackman]

And remember, if you're not rolling, you're not getting paid.

OTR folks, plead your case!

I say it for them

ITS PART OF THE JOB. lol

[Bumper]

Nothing wrong with getting some time OTR. I enjoyed mine so much I might just be going back out there.

Not all local jobs are gravy either. I am away from my home 12-14 hours every day. Im actually awake longer at the cold storage facility I pick up at every day than I am at home......

[Roush97]

12 a hour :shock: I don't have any trucking experience yet but that almost seems like a slap on the face.

[Malaki86]

Be glad you don't live in my area then. A HIGH paying local job (besides UPS) averages around $12/hr. The normal is about $9/hr. My company pays $8/hr for local work and you're not allowed to work over 40hrs a week.

[Cluggy619]

I just moved to Texas from Florida I have a Class A CDL but all my driving has been local so I got a choice to make I got a local gig 45 minutes from the house and it pays $12 hr time and a half over 40 and they work 60 to 70 hours a week , but it will cost me about 75 to 100 in gas for the week and at the other hand I need to get OTR experience and I'm set up to go with JB Hunt or SMX, I know it should cost me about $100 a week OTR food etc.... so what should I do???

Just curious...where in Texas are you, and what is the local gig?

Also, how much T/T experience do you have?

[wesross]

I guess it depends on what you want. It comes down to going OTR and getting the experience, or going local and have it a little easier.

[mdf1576]

And remember, if you're not rolling, you're not getting paid.

OTR folks, plead your case!

I say it for them

ITS PART OF THE JOB. lol

once again complete BS :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

[Mackman]

how is it BS Sitting at docks, sitting in traffic, when your truck brakes down, etc. you get no pay. No pay at time and half. What happens in bad weather you have to go slower or if it snows and they close the roads. when you get lost. to much time is givin out for no pay or very little pay that aint worth sh*t.

nothing beats hourly pay.

[sbatson]

I live 40 minutes north of dallas and I have about 7 months TT Exp.(local) and the gig name is Rodman.

[Cluggy619]

I live 40 minutes north of dallas and I have about 7 months TT Exp.(local) and the gig name is Rodman.

Ok....so your somewhere between Denton and Sherman. I'm not sure who Rodman is....I keep thinking a rock bucket.....not bad work for 12/hour. I haul fuel for SWPT out of Denton. I did the rock bucket thing for a while...not bad work.

I would put in the time with Rodman until you get a couple of years. Of course, right now is the slow season for the next couple of months. The main thing is that you stay with one company for a while to get the experience, then move to one that will pay more.

Now, should you go OTR? I wouldn't if you already got a local gig.....learn about the rig and get some time in first.... OTR driving isn't going anywheres, and you'll have a greater understanding about your rig before you hit the road. To me, that's just makes it a little easier while you are out.

Good luck either way. :wink:

[sbatson]

Ok I'll tell you how my local gig is going, Wed. started at 8:30 for safety class etc.... got off at 6:30 hour drive home at dinner went to bed at 9:00 and got up at 3:00am to be there at 4:30am on Thur. and got off today at 6:00, hour drive home and now get ready to be there at 5:45am on Fri. and Josborn all there eqip. is red and has RODMAN all over it and all there stuff is day cab Pete's.