Ive personally been on both sides of the fence,with starting out as OTR and then going Local.It all comes down to the individual. Alot of people say "going different places seeing different things",im not sure what other people see out there,but after awhile doing OTR,everything begins too look the same,at least it did for me. If youve been to a mclanes in cali,chances are its going to look like the same mclanes DC in missippi.If I want to travel to some exotic place and enjoy scenary,thats what vacation time and having a good paying job is for.As far as OTR taking more skill than local,nothing could be further from the truth.I havent heard of any OTR jobs requiring "local" experience,but I have seen it vice versa.When I was OTR,there would be times where I wouldnt bump a dock for 4-5 days at a time.As a local,I sometimes do 7-8 stops a day.and others do it even more.To sum it up,if you dont have a family and you are a loner by nature,then GO FOR IT,if thats what makes you happy.Personally,I enjoy the simple things in life,like family and friends and life is too short for me to spend it camping out at truck stops anymore,especially for a bunch of unappreciative,inconsiderate,and dangerous 4 wheelers who dont appreciate the great sacrifice OTR drivers make on a daily basis to provide essential product for them,(that without them,they wouldnt even be able to function),and who make our jobs 20x's that more difficult.Ive met alot of awesome OTR drivers,thats why Ive become so anti OTR,because ive seen how OTR ages people.

 

I thought you drove for Marten, MartenDrvrCA? I didn't know you went local. I hate doing the same routine over and over again cause it seems to make the day last longer but that is just my opinion. You know my dad said the samething, "If you want to travel get a job and take a vacation." :roll:

 

Its just a job. Fortunately one that I enjoy, but still just a job. And when I win the lottery someone else can have it! :lol:

Nice post Marten.

 

I understand that OTR isnt the best life style but what is? You can take care of your self if you want and the road does beat you up but doing local work as a dump truck driver, beer, ups etc...... its the same deal and any job is just a job after you have done it for awhile so change things up make it interesting, to tell you the truth if I won the lotto I would buy my own :dung: cash and I would still do the OTR just to stay in the game and really do what I want.

 

What does me not having any experience driving a truck, having a family, or house have to do with anything? If you really think about it having a family and being otr can be an advantage think about it, it gives some space and I know couples who get tired of being around each other 24/7 so otr suites them. Also otr can benefit the family as well, in financial stability. I know trucking doesn't it pay what it uses to but you can still make a living doing it. I grew up around trucking all my life so I should be entitled to some kind of an opinion!

 

Non drivers come to this site and other sites and formulate opinions based on what is read on these, and the other forum sites. They get the opinions from all of us drivers, OTR and non OTR. When they see the non OTR drivers doing nothing but bash OTR in all posts that relate, the non drivers form opinions from what is read.
You non OTR drivers on this site have primarily bashed the OTR companies more than the individual driver for that company. There have been a few exceptions where the individual was attacked. That is when the bashing has gone over the top, and even the repetitive bashing of the OTR companies IS getting very old and stale.
Double L, you do not need you CDL or driving experience to form opinions about driving OTR or non OTR....because the happy posters on this site have passed their positive and negative opinions onto this board and with that you are getting a window into the Trucking world.
It doesnt matter WHY a drivers choices to drive OTR or Non OTR. They either like what they do or they move on to something different.
OTR driving is not ideal....nothing is.
There are many things that I would like to see changed in the OTR industry, unfortunately nothing is going to change in the foreseeable future.
I enjoy OTR driving, I take the good points and the bad points, and I do not see myself leaving OTR in the foreseeable future, either.
My opinion of local driving doesnt matter....right now I have no desire to do that type of work, and there are points, that are in my opinion that I consider negative regarding local and other non OTR driving positions.
The OTR bashing has gotten old, stale, and very repetitive...but, who am I to tell anybody how to "act" on the board.
Ya'all want to bash me...go ahead...I have thick skin and can take it. But I will not banter back and forth dragging a thread on for 20+ pages trying to get a point across.

 

I did drive for marten up until june and they changed alot of things in the company that were insulting to the drivers,to a degree which I wouldnt condone by driving for them. And when I was with them I was local,first started as regional with them.I suppose I should change my name..lol..But I have alot of good memories with them. I dont hold a grudge against marten,they afforded me alot of luxuries and the down payment on my home.

 

Maybe this will help:

http://www.reemco.com/bed_and_bath/plumbers_shield.html

:twisted:

 

ok. the horse is dead, lets all agree to disagree. as for you doublel, man you should be having fun and looking to what your future holds. why do you waste your time trying to play truck driver? you most likely will not get hired till you are 23 min. as for you not having a wife, kids, house, etc. you have no idea the pressure that comes with the american dream. no offense. you need to drink beer, have sex with strange women that you will never see again, and drink more beer for scoring a chick. i would suggest instead of learning to drive trucks at such a young age, maybe you learn to work on them. more money there and better hours.

 

That's a load of :dung: ...care to cite your "source" for that?

Maybe your pay hasn't changed in 51 years, but right now, while I am not rich by any stretch, my wages are beating inflation, and have been for a long time...just like anybody else who works for a living.