Local or OTR..... Who's driving skills are better?

[ben45750]

What takes more driving skill?

[Yanke_driver]

I voted OTR strictly for the fact that OTR drivers are constantly in a new city or town most of the time and must adapt to a new environment on a daily basis. Just my $0.02



Yanke_driver

[Fozzy]

I'd give the nod to the local folks, they are in the cities more often and have to hit more docks and make more corners and intersections and survive the threat from the road hazards and four wheelers on a more steady basis. I've been both OTR and local and the OTR jobs are just basically easeir overall. Of course the local stuff doesn't require hunting a parking spot everynight!

[ben45750]

When I drove OTR I thought OTR. Now that I drive Local city P/D and linehaul I think Local is tougher. I have not driven linehaul many times but last week coming from Indy in 40 mph winds pulling doubles or going to Charelston going down the hills with 32k pounds with no jake pulling doubles.

[Ridge Runner]

Apples and oranges. IMHO, they each have their own different set of skills in a way. Having started as an OTR driver I can now see where a local only driver would be lost in some areas of the job of OTR. After I came off the road to driving local, I was like a fish out of water.

[BanditsCousin]

I voted local because of all the traffic and backing up to docks multiple times a day.

I'm sure there are idiot local drivers and otr drivers though.

[Yanke_driver]

ok...after driving for the last 2 weeks in the city I am changing my vote. Right now I couldn't imagine taking all those tight turns and dealing with all the 4 wheelers for your whole day...even if it's in a day cab I can see those curbs coming up to bite you in the ass real fast!!

[yoopr]

Can't answer-Each has it's own special skills involved.
BUT-If I did answer I'd say OTR-Each city is Different(Local stays in same City)-OTR goes over all types of Terrain(Local stays on same Terrain).

[SwervynMervyn]

I vote local....both have their challenges......but I never had to do sometimes 3 blind side backs during the nite when I was otr

And the pace of local can be non stop......I may need to go back to otr just so I can get some rest

[geeshock]

Thats a tough call, like you all mentioned local makes more tight turns, more backs, and has to deal with more frieght in general. On the up side, they usualy know the city/s they travel and day cabs are easier to wigle into tighter places.

OTR has to deal with a wider range of variables but they usualy only back once or twice a day/night. I'd imagine scales are a bigger concern for OTR but could be mistaken as I've never did local

[aintgotone]

I think local is harder .... it is for me anyway I back up more in one night now than I did in a week otr. I also slept alot more when I was otr.

[Windwalker]

In many respects, local has better skills. They are backing into more docks than OTR, and dealing with all the local traffic everyday, not just when they're in town.

BUT.....

I've also seen local drivers taking far more chances around traffic than OTR. I've also seen them get into more accidents than OTR. Better skills, perhaps, but better drivers.... NOT!!!!!!!

[Roadhog]

I say OTR.
1. I'm OTR...and I have an enormous ego.
2. I back into the same docks...(reefer) with a rig 20' longer.
3. I drive the same roads as any local....PLUS.
4. I must brave TS showers.
8) :P