Long Haul Trucking/OTR or Short Haul Trucking - Which is Better?
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- Опубліковано 13 сер 2024
- Dave talks about the essential differences between long haul (Over the Road Trucking) vs short haul trucking, and possibly some misconceptions of both.
Which makes the driver more money?
Which is less stressful?
Which type of trucking will give the driver more home time?
Learn the answers to these questions and more about these 2 main types of trucking.
SOME ARTICLES FROM OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SHORT AND LONG HAUL TRUCKING
PROS & CONS OF SHORT HAUL TRUCKING www.smart-trucking.com/short-h...
LIVING ON THE ROAD - TIPS FOR LONG HAUL DRIVERS www.smart-trucking.com/living-...
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I drive local and get paid by the hour, i am making way more than i was otr and i get to sleep in my own bed and shower in my own shower
"Buying a nice home and a Corvette isn't worth jack shit if you're never home."
~Some guy at a truck stop
It's for single people. That's the best advice ever. I always said the same thing about the military.
Local, by the hour, is the best move I have ever made, absolutely love it!
I run short haul and do zero drop and hook, home every Friday afternoon, and don't leave the house until Monday mid morning. I get plenty of sleep every night, maybe 10% of the time I get a shipper or receiver that takes way too long. I Put on maybe 2k miles a week and I average about 400 miles a day. Yes I'm an owner operator, my only dispatcher is myself and maybe the broker. If you get paid by the mile, especially doing short haul, you are short changing yourself unless they are paying extremely well. I average $2-3 a mile every week. Getting paid percentage is where it's at. I haven't been paid mileage for about 8 years and would never go back to milage, especially short haul. Plus, I love that I'm only a days drive at best, from my 8 year old if anything were to happen or I just needed or wanted to get home to him.
Mileage pay has always been a scam.
My husband used to do long haul as a company driver and he said he enjoyed it as a new driver. As time went by he said he was getting tired of long haul because you really have no life. He saved up money as a company driver doing long haul bought his own truck and got his own authority and do short haul regional and local work and he says it's the best thing he has ever done in trucking. He loves getting home to his wife on a regular basis instead of spending weeks and months on the road. He tells me now days OTR isn't worth it
I just want to drive, I've tried it all, found out I was better off being my own boss, now I can drive how I want to drive, Life is Good!
Yeah, I was happiest just working for myself. The money was better too! Dave
Life is Good. I’m seriously considering a career in trucking. I have been working in hospitals for years.....I’m
Really tired of people. Being by myself for a while and getting paid seems like heaven from my standpoint lol
I been a carpenter for the past 24 years and im absolutely sick of it and I been talking with the people at alliance and they said that they got me a prehire . Im very excited about that but at the same time im kinda worried too. I did dumb things when I was younger and got in trouble and I got a few felonies but im 12 years clean and I pray that I'll get a truck job that im satisfied with. I lived rough , actually very rough considering that I went to prison 2 times . but I think I can do better driving trucks and I dont have any problem sleeping in a truck .
Angry Medic You still have to deal with the pin heads dispatch, and the bonehead shippers.
Short hauls insurance is soo much cheaper, less DOT problems,less wear and tear on tires. Here in Texas under 200 miles no log books
Now this was some honest shit from a driver, I been trucking for about 5 1/2 years now and man you you be surprised of how many drivers just been trucking less then a year or few years and is cocky as hell like they know everything to trucking , I always tell em I learn something new everyday
I have learned so much from your channel! You're helping a 22 yo capitalize from your great knowledge! Thank you from Texas!
Thanks Joseph! Dave
Got my start this year hauling fuel with a local company making hourly wages and I'm usually home for dinner. I love it so far
I have a family wife and kids , and have been driving 10 years. I tried to make local and short haul work for years but have been doing long-haul paper logs with a small family oriented company for the past year and a half and can't be happier: everything you said is spot on.
Short haul get's home everyday drop n hook dedicated runs.
I sleep at home in my bed in the house.
I'm 19 and single. I'm planning on going local for the first 2 years so I get a lot of experience with backing and city driving. I'm hoping that after those 2 years I can make my way into OTR. Not having to worry about a family makes it much easier on me than it was for my grandfather when he Trucked in the 80s.
That's why I stick to my dedicated run Laredo Tx to Toledo and back to Laredo being doing it for 7 yrs now and always a good check
First off, after watching a few of your videos, I decided to become a longhaul driver. I turned 52 last August and have been married 30 years.. I upgraded from a class 3 to a 1- 4 months ago. did 3 months at a place that gave me a shot running long haul, single with a dedicated truck. I quit and upgraded to a better run company with more stability, newer equip, better equipped and better rep etc... Solo dedicated truck and running flat deck super-b's. The 401 in Toronto was an eye opener for this prairie boy. , LOL.. My point is, its not just for single. Great pay, like you said, seeing the country. My wife doesn't mind the break, LOL.. Sometimes its a good chance to re invent yourself. Cheers and keep it shiny side up
Jimmie Z Sounds like trucking worked out for you. I'm 46, stuck in the same career for the past 30 years, time for a change, been seriously thinking about getting my CDL, and giving driving a shot. Always loved driving, and besides, I still have about 20 more years before I even consider retirement.
I am 80 percent drop and hook and that is the way to go!
I run short haul delivering aggregate. Work for a ready mix company and get paid by the hour key to key. Start early and finished by 2 to 3 pm. Pay is good . 5 days a week 10-11 hours a day. Overtime after 8 hours everyday. Weekends off. Paid holidays off. Plenty of time to have a life with family and friends. Could not imagine going over the road EVER ! Sleep in my own bed in my own house every night.
I love listening to your stories, I’ve decided to only get my class B and drive dump truck and school buses.
Peterbilt Chadsbee Does it make good money ?
Get the A but drive B. This way you have options when necessary.
I did short haul for 3 years and i was in hurry and on the gun for all day I was delivering 15 to 28 stop a day and I lost 4 points of 12 from my drive license ( France ) now am doing long haul one stop after 780 km sleeping 11 hours in a motel and 2 stops on my way back ....so easy and relaxing
I run northeast regional mostly between Boston and buffalo on I-90 and I can tell you with 100% certainty that you are absolutely correct in your assessment of short-haul trucking. It's always one extreme or the other it's either a grind or a hurry-up-and-wait situation. You are also correct about the advantage of drop and hook on short-haul although I have to be honest sometimes I run myself so ragged that I welcome a bit of a delay at the shipper it's a good time for me to catch up on some rest. And if someone out there can find me a store haul company they get you home at a decent hour every Friday let me know cuz normally I'm home late Saturday morning early afternoon just could be back out Before Dawn on Monday. When I get home Saturday I've left with just enough energy to make it through the front door to plop on the couch and slip into a coma for the next 12 hours then on Sunday evening when I need to turn in early to get an early start in the morning I can't sleep cuz I have just spent the last 12 hours dead to the world so rather than coming off of Hometime rested and rejuvenated ready to rock and roll like I'm supposed to, I come in dragging my feet exhausted having barely slept the night before.
H.O.S._bandit I bet your the guy in the middle lane doing 64 mph.
Flatbedding has a lot of extra pay and you can get in and out pretty fast if you have good customers....plus you can always be close to home. A combination is best....taking a medium-long haul (600 miles) ,coming back ,then finishing around home. Working for a smaller company and having a good relationship with your dispatcher means a lot.
I do mostly short haul and regional/dedicated runs. It is more tiresome but most evenings are spent at home with the wife and kids. Also pays better than long haul. I do miss long haul though, but it is nice to work close to home.
jholzer1989 curious to know how far do you go out? 0-400miles?
We run 200 hundred mile radius average 350 to 600 miles a day. About 4 to 6 drops
Theres a few variables in pay to say one pays better than the other. To say short pays better than long is a bit misleading in most cases.
It was my desire to be a family man that was the main factor in my giving up my short career in trucking. Been almost 28 years since I left the industry but I still love watching these videos.
Thanks!
I do short hauls Monday - Friday from Shreveport Louisiana to Dallas Texas and back. I found it's all about getting contract jobs so not having to deal with brokers. Thankfully my customers are great people and we get along. I've never had too much trouble getting unloaded. I tried longhaul and it just wasn't for me but bless those that love it.
Sounds like you've got it made right where you are!
Out here in the oilfield it's basically a short-haul type situation. But most drivers in the oilfield get paid hourly. Which has a huge appeal sitting on loading for a while or spending time fueling or spending time chaining up and unchaining. I get out of bed Drive 5 miles to our shop, and start getting paid in the morning. When I get in in the evening park the truck and get in my car, I stop getting paid. When something goes wrong with the load the driver isn't the one in eats it and takes the hit.
I also found local hauling tougher. Leaving at three or four A.M. and trying to get everything done in a small window. Any hiccup or glitch at all would upset the balance of trying to make the last stop by the close of business,and if that was missed, it was backlogged on until the next day making things worse. Driving through lunch,hoping the light didn't turn red, no rest break etc. . Every second lost was frustrating. Some drivers were home every night, but hell it was just for a few hours. I found on a good day, operating OTR, with proper planning provided more balance as far as rest, food etc than going full throttle with my fingers crossed I didn't encounter a slight traffic jam. But different stroke for different folks. Find whatever fits you best. Being miserable in either one isn't worth it.
Yeah shorthaul is exhausting especially in a heavily populated city. I got more rest doing otr than short. Percentage is best for short haul thats for sure. Traffic and bumping docks will kill your day in and around the big city. Although i have to say Atlanta is the worst I've been in! I was living in New Orleans up until Katrina and even though its not as big as Atlanta, people actually went to work or just stayed out the way during work hours. Not in Atlanta! Ohhh my goodness its traffic 24-7 around this crash derby. And a poorly built infrastructure? Its like a bad nightclub, One way in and one way out in either direction....geesh! Cant wait to move to North Dallas, Texas. Yeah there's traffic there too but Texas is huge and has waaay more that one darn interstate...lol. Good stuff as always Dave👍
Thank you sir! Take care! Dave
I agree with you 100% my friend! I've done both and I always find myself going back to long haul..
I always enjoy your videos.
I agree on the shorthaul being tight scheduled.
Doing shorthaul Ltl is tough to get anywhere. Specially when they give 10-12 drops.
I hear Walmart is one of the best trucking companies outhere
I was lucky, got hired on with a mom & pop type trucking outfit. Payed salary, and by the mile after 2000 miles
LTL carriers are the way to go. When people ask me about getting into trucking. I advise them to use OTR as a stepping stone to a LTL carrier. Making multiple stops for an OTR carrier isn't real LTL work.
But that is why there is a rate variation generally. Short haul generally has a higher rate and the ability to make a second or even third load delivery per day. Not always but often. The trucker himself also plays a part in the amount of money he makes,long and short haul. It depends on how energetic you feel and how driven you are.Then you have line haul which is another area of trucking.Then throw in multiple stops with extra pay for bumping the dock,drop and hook,LTL's. I did long haul,short haul,line haul and I averaged better net pay in line haul.But your video is very informative and accurate. You are right about who does or does not belong in trucking. Generally speaking to succeed in this profession you are married to the business and your truck is your home.It is a tough career being a professional trucker, but in my experience there is one job tougher than driver in the trucking industry, that is being a truck driver's wife. That job calls for a tough woman. Being a successful career oriented,professional truck driver is not for the faint of heart. It is often a lonely life without many thank you's. And by the way,many THANKS to all of you men and women in the industry.God Speed and Blessings.
Bill, you nailed it there, as always. Take care. Dave
I run dedicated short haul. You're right, no sleep, pushed to go go go and getting held up at receivers. No rest.
Yeah, that's what I hated about it. The E-logs may make short haul better. dave
I could listen to this chap all day long. Even though I'm trucking in Europe.
You make better short haul but you’re right I’m always running.I absolutely love being my own boss I’m an owner operator and I love running my business and you and your videos help me a ton!!!!Dont ever stop and I’ll see you on the backhaul.👍👍👍✅✅✅👌👌💪💪
Take care and drive safe Tommy! Dave
Ive been driving since 2013. And i just now got a local gig. I get paid by the hour. Make my own schedual. They never bother me. They just flip me the keys and paperwork and never call me. I call them when im done. Turn in my papers and go home. Couldnt be happier. Now im saving to buy a truck
I just made the switch from long haul to short haul. I am making 10 more cpm now and I see what you are saying about the lack of rest. I am with a small fleet and with a good dispatcher who sets up how many miles a day I want. If I want 500 He will give 500 if I want 700 he will set it up to give me 700. I got lucky with the small company I work for but I'm sure the bigger companies are just sucking the life out of their drivers. L
I think one of the reasons companies put speed limiters on trucks is so they can control the amount of mileage that you drive because if your truck is limited to 60 mph then the furthest you could drive in a 10 hour day is 600 miles
I'm working for a large food delivery company. Paid by the hour, home every night, work 3-4 days a week with weekends off making about 50k a year.
I'm also right out of trucking school so I'd say I'm doing pretty good.
This guy is a good trucking mentor
1:20 Jeez, this one hits really close to home with me. My company will sometimes force my sleep schedule to flip from early morning/day driving to night driving, sometimes in just one day all because I manage to get a 10-hour break in while waiting to get loaded. Then they get upset when I'm an hour late because I stopped to get some sleep because I wasn't accustomed to that schedule yet.
11 year part time regional day cabber...
Your experience is exactly my experience in that regard
Your right short haul is harder than local I have done both
Dave, you always give the best true information on trucking trends
GREAT VIDEOS "BIG DAVE" ! I had a great career in trucking;the "Good,Bad,and the Ugly" of it.I loved it all.
Started in 1966.
I was fortunate to begin working for a Trucking and Excavating Company starting from the ground up: shoveling dog poop,chasing parts for B Model Macks and heavy equipment, mechanic's helper ,and most importantly, from this Italian immigrant,I learned to develop CHARACTER .I learned to respect "LEGENDS" of the business: West Virginia coal train drivers, NORTWEST 95,9570 and 190 Model CRANE operators who could pick a fly off one's nose with a 15 yard BUCKET ! CAT Dozer ,loader grader,&scraper,backhoe,ripper operators! And laborers who would rival"John Henry" . I graduated from "The University Of Life" with a "Degree" in Heavy Equipment Operations and Heavy Haul/Low BOY;flatbed/Box/DumpTrucking.This "training"proved invaluable later on in my career: I could spot bad- lazy,sloppy ,uncaring- mechanics/workers .And,I could appreciate the good ppl.I KNEW HOW TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY pounded into me by legendary MEN !!!
I have met my share of PIN-HEADED dispatchers/ supervisors, and BONE-HEADED shippers,and FELLOW DRIVERS who SHOULD KNOW BETTER!!! I was blessed ! If I didn't like an outfit, I could pull up stakes and go to another company who appreciated a good driver.There was ALOT of work available at the time and business was GOOD !Without owning my own business,construction work came close to it.Independence without the overhead, expense and headache of running a trucking business .Unless there was an end of the season push, I was home nights and had my weekends and WINTERS off ! I have driven long haul (car hauling GM'S CADILLAC ALLANTE) and I spent too many Comchecks on the road.I needed to make money! I was wasting everything eating and whatnot. Yes,the scenery was FABULOUS;Yes,some places were outright DANGEROUS. I wanted hourly: time and 1/2 after 8hrs. work; I wanted to work union, hourly, TIME and 1/2 after 8 hours.I worked for SAND &GRAVEL companies that paid %. Top seniority got the good loads: sand/stone in,dirt out !!! They had the best/newest trucks.One way hauls---you don't make the monies!!!!! I didn't like %% !!! Like you said,Dave,traffic jams,breakdowns,wasted valuable minutes turned into 45 minutes loading time. . . . YOUR DAY IS DONE !!!! YOU LOSE ! Thusly, I was fortunate to find local work-Metro Detroit area- hourly,Teamster, for Detroit area Underground (pipe water,sewer,sanitation) and land development construction companies .Quads,5 axle,8 axle
and 11 axle (gravel trains) trailers.
And lowboyin' hauling the CATS.
Short haul "by the load" 7axle tankers hauling gas and fuel oil from Sarnia Shell to Metro Detroit bus terminals and Marathon gas stations.
Short haul - drop&hook delivering Ford & Chrysler
auto parts and racks from parts plants to assembly plants,The Rouge and Canada..CTI let me schedule for late afternoon and night work after my daily construction job ended.In&Out,Out and In! BEAUTIFUL.They worked with me.
Short haul peddling steel coils and steel stock;Ryerson Steel.
Box freight LTL-Preston 151,Carolina Freight.Leaseway.
For heavy haul trucking , these underground construction companies used The CATS! CAT engines we're fitted into AUTOCARS,PETES,KWS,and MACK R Models,DM-800S,and SUPERLINERS.
Cummins were good but nothing can compare to THE CATS for outright PULLING POWER !!! I loved that 4 and a quarter . . . . . tweeked.
THANK YOU , DAVE , for your PROFESSIONAL , ❤ FELT ,and INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS.For it is MEN - LEGENDS like YOU, that taught me the ART OF TRUCKING Heavy EQUIPMENT,RIGGING
and CHARACTER BUILDING .
And . . . . What is GOOD ! ❤
Joseph, I assume you're retired now and it sounds like it's been an interesting and an enjoyable ride for you. That's how you know you chose the right career for yourself. Something you look back fondly on. Guys like you and I are lucky, I think. Things will never be as good in the years coming as they were for us, I believe. Enjoy retirement, you've earned it! Dave
I run short haul hauling grain around southern Ontario, it's definitely a hurry up and wait type of job but it's really nice being able to swing by home a couple nights a week if I get a load delivering close to home!
I’d take the Long Haul. I went with my grandfather on a few trips, and one big one was to the Midwest, and I loved it.
I use to run nights between Winnipeg mb to Fargo nd and back mon to friday. Sounded good on paper but with 2 border crossings a day and delays as well as driving at night when sometimes i got no sleep during the day it was not a lot of fun.
I really think you nailed it in this video. I read a few comments saying how great their day cab jobs are but the reality is not everyone lives in an area where it's great pay/ decent hours. For the general short haul you run your butt off, stopping in at a Walmart to gather supplies is usually out of the question where long you can usually manage some time. I currently run short hauls and barely have time to fuel or go number 2. I can usually only manage about 4 days in a row before I need a 2 day brake. Where long I can usually manage a couple weeks on recap
Same as me! Thanks for watching and stay safe Daniel!
I’m kinda new to Trucking I’m 13yrs in now. I gotta say to anyone wanting to know the real about Trucking this man here is telling the absolutely truth! Take this information and use it! Only thing I would add is that if your a specialize carrier there can be some major differences when it comes to long/short hauling. Anyways thanks smart-trucking.com keep up the good work.
Thank you! Dave
My last job was short haul. I haul'ed sugar beats in Hillsboro,ND. 12 hours on 12 off 3 days on two off. Full benefits and lots of perks. Three mouths off a year and then collect lay off pay with no bs about it. This after long hauling for many years . My health let me down or I would still be there today I loved that job. They were a no BS treat you well company. You did have to dive in the snow and drive ice with supper singles . I did this in a double and you need to know what your doing to do this or its off the road. But I must say I love it and miss that job. Tell you this do not retire zzzz Keep on trucking ;-)
Thamk you for all the advice! You have been my# one go guy on u tube. Just passed my test California c.d.l. ! Excited to do the long haul. Thank for all the tips your experiences in trucking are valuable to us rookies thank you again
Short Haul in the Chicago Area is paying either percentage or hourly or else drivers will just balk at it. Chicago traffic y'all-need I say more? Also, in my OTR experience, I found that the so called "open road" is one of the biggest myths purported since I obtain my CDL 5-years ago and is surely a thing of the past.
I have been stuck in parking lots in the middle of nowhere because of accidents whether Kentucky or Colorado or Georgia or Washington State. I just came back from Detroit Friday and I-94 was like a rush hour at 1:30 P.M. in Leslie, MI!!! Also, long-hauls are in more demand: hence, why such loads pay less per mile: carriers bid them down.
The secret to trucking in Northeastern Illinois is to be an O/O with a cheap pre-emissions day-cab tractor going out 50-175 miles. I was a driver paid on percentage and the following was a typical run:
Bensenville, IL, to the Amazon Warehouse in Effingham, IL, pays $800.00. Scoot over to Sullivan, MO, bring some product to 3M in De Kalb, IL, for $650.00. DH back to the yard; 11 hour day.
The above typical run grosses 2/3rds as much as the rates going Chicago to Atlanta yet burns 1/3 the fuel! At $3.15 Diesel, this is real money! Also, the perk that one gets to sleep in one's own bed. I don't spend $25.00 in "per diem" at a truck stop either. If the cheap tractor breaks down, you are no more than 175 miles out and can tow it to your own mechanic; or just throw it away and get another cheap tractor.
There is no way the margins in trucking as I have been investigating, at least for dry-van and inter-modal work, can support a $550.00+ weekly payment for a tractor let alone $750.00+ required by late model tractor's financing. Cheap tractor should be $200.00- weekly payment, if not purchased outright.
If I had the the funds, this is what I would do.
I was a driver and now dispatch short haul drivers. From my experience the short haul destroys trucks faster than long haul. So not only does it destroy the driv e r, it destroys the truck. Because trucks, even day cabs are not built for constant short hajl.
Thank you Steve for your advices. Thank GOD here in NJ there is a lot of local work hourly pay for drivers. I’ve never had the necessity to go OTR, so I sleep at home every night and make decent money. And If you don’t like the company you are in, you can always move. There are also bad ones out there who try to trick you with short haul payed by mile. It happened to me with our best friend swift. I was putting over 70 hours a week and sometimes taking home not even 500 bucks. Thank god I didn’t last long there. Now I work from 5 to 3 on average and take home 900 to 1000 and weekends off. I’m with a good carrier now, finally after 3 years of looking around and being fooled.
I do short haul for a grocery chain. Teamster job at 30$ hour, at 4/10 hour shift at night local.
Guys like THIS....are the guys that need to start, have, and grow trucking companies.
Had a small trucking company once. Sold it as I started to ease towards retirement as cost of fuel went up and the rates started to slide. Dave
Figured short hual means home nightly. I had a few jobs home every weekend and we called those regional. Long hual is otr.
Doing flatbed, home nightly now and love it. I never tarp anymore, drive around 1,000 miles a week and spend most of my day driving a forklift at new construction back in the woods or on waterfront homes. Anytime I have a bad day I can look around at the scenery and feel good. Pay is good, 1,200 to 1,700 per week.
Local jobs are great for a family man and you can find a good company to make just as good or better money as regional/home weekend work.
Was thinking of getting into trucking, sitting behind a desk never sounded fun to me, And with this very informational video, local driving is the thing i feel would be best for me (hopefully soon to be Wife would be very upset if i was gone that long), Thank you Dave very much appreciated.
I’ve done LTL, and OTR. Over my years I prefer working for a large LTL company. Terminal to terminal just dropping trailers. Get in with the “right” company and you can bank. And I’m home every night. Just day cab runs out and back.
Great points, I've done a lot of shorty hauls and I always loved the challenge and made more money and less fuel and wear and tare on the equipment.
This is all facts guys I put my 2 weeks at my job today never doing short Haul for a farm again no sleep and waiting product to be ready
I absolutely HATE short haul, total waste of time, I live like a king on long haul, just me, the moon and the highway, can't wait to get back in my own drivers seat
I love short haul. Hate plodding along the highways for distance. Yawn. 😂
I’ll agree that single people would find it easier on the road. I have a family and they are the reason why I’m doing this. I’m making many sacrifices to do this and so are they. I think at some point I’ll do something in terms of local or day cab work so that I’m at home more but for now I’m here just trying to carve out a living like everyone else.
Some trucking companies (like one I worked at) that have dedicated local accounts. The company had a small office in the DC, they manage the loads, inventory of empty trailers. Drivers drop hook. With Some accounts like Krogers, the trucks were day cabs, and trips within a 125 mile radius, driver was paid by the load.
For the person who seems to have irregular sleeping patterns, even before stepping into a truck (i.e. they sleep when they need it and don't when they don't, rather than the same hours each day, day after day), aren't the govt regs which dictate how many hours you can drive, plus mandatory breaks and days off, force you to sleep when THEY say you need it rather than when you actually do? For example, if I reach my daily limit but I'm not tired yet, so I'm sitting somewhere wide awake, then after my forced break time is up and I'm able to legally drive again, that's when I get sleepy, then my sleep cycle isn't matching the govt regs on when I can drive. I don't see how such a person can maximize their income when their need to sleep doesn't align with the forced breaks, at no fault of their own. My hours constantly get moved forward, where I'm staying up later and getting up later. As a night owl, I would eventually get back on day hours again, then be back on night hours - rinse and repeat. If I tried to sleep and couldn't fall asleep for say, 5 hours, then were allowed to drive again, so I start up and three hours later I need 5 hours of sleep, that could throw off my schedule not only for myself but for the company and their promised pickup or delivery time of their customers. How do you get around this? Should such a person not even consider trucking as a profession if they want to maximize their income? It might be easier to get a standard 8-5 day job and just drink coffee to try and wake up in the morning after I laid awake until 3 or 4 am. At least I won't be driving without being rested, or sitting around unable to work when I'm wide awake.
It's a huge problem in our industry. I suggest picking a good starting time and a good quitting time for you personally, same time of day, every day and stick to that until your body adjusts and then stay with it. Proper rest is more important than the schedules some carriers may try to force upon you. It will probably take you a few carriers until you find one that accepts this. Dave
I'm glad us not in the loop have access to someone with so much experience, greatly appreciated, thanks for uploading!
I do a mix of both and I agree the long haul is more relaxing but harder to get a good rate per mile. I'm considering oilfield work with an all owner company, no company drivers to contend with hauling sand boxes.
Man you said that short haul none stop long haul no home time....family and trucking very hard we just have to remember what we are in this career for
I live in Niagara falls Canada im home 3 days a week, I run from here to NYS, PA, DE, NJ and MD. I go out monday usually in the afternoon run down to my delivery, sleep at the receiver, get unloaded there. Head from wherever i deliver to The port in Wilmington DE, hook to a load of Bananas and come home. I get home around 1-5am wednesday, take the day off go back out thursday and do it again, home around 1-5am Satarday. Its pretty good, i average 2000 miles a week and am home 3 days of that week.
Sea cans for Zavitz? Dave
aha! ur on the ball Dave, Ya i work for Zavcor out of stevensville, we pull 53ft reefers too. Depends on the load, some times i pull nothing but reefers for weeks, then im pulling cans, aha its a good place to work so far.
I would definitely like to do a hourly local job instead, no log book involved lol
Local trucking is the way to go!
I know from working with other guys that driving a trash truck is way more exhausting and difficult then any long haul. Most long haul guys made it maybe two weeks driving trash truck before they bailed and went back to "easier" trucking. If we could even train them on how to operate the truck in the first place. I miss the tips and presents people gave me when I was doing trash, the last Christmas I worked picking up garbage I went home with: almost $200 in cash, two 12 packs of pop, a 24 pack of beer and three boxes of chocolates.
Now I drive a KW hooked to a 42-60 Trussmaster trailer and really enjoying getting holidays off since the major holidays have travel restrictions for over dimensional loads. If the weather is bad, we park and go home. The crane guy isn't going to fly them in high winds or a blizzard so taking them the next day or week isn't a big deal. That and we are paid by the hour, doesn't matter if we are driving or not.
I like short haul. Just have to find the right company to run for. I had a really good company that gave me good percentage of the load. I liked to work all week running as much as any long haul but being home on the weekend.
Excellent video very informative on just about every aspect of trucking and its pros and cons. Thanks, you are one the most experienced and knowledgable persons on this subject, and give great pointers to both experienced and beginning truck drivers..
Best job I had as a company driver was doing regional intermodal for JB Hunt. Super consistent $1500 a week on ~2500 miles, and I generally had two days and three nights home every single week. As a bonus I got real good at backing up real fast, in and out of the Chicago rail yards every day.
My problem with carrying a bunch of snacks is they only lasted about a day and a half.
Also in the oilfield though, you put in a lot of hours. In the oilfield a typical driver will probably work as many hours if not more than a driver over the road. But if you've moved to where you work like I did, your home every night sleeping in your own bed. Working hard though, you get rewarded well. I get paid more than double what I made over the road running hard.
Sounds to me like you made a smart move, going to oilfield work. More of us should do just that! Dave
Smart-Trucking.com
It helps a lot if you're willing to move to the area where you're working period for me I was lucky enough to find a job in the area I wanted to move to anyhow. So it made for a perfect situation.
One of the better videos I've seen
Thank you for the solid advice.
Great insight! Both short and long haul have their pros and cons.
I'm glad you posted this video. Very informative and useful.
Damn you really hit the nail on the head with the expectations & scenarios you provide for Long Haul/Short Haul. The tips & techniques are always key to keep in mind. BE ORGANIZED.
You are educating a lot of guys on this business from LTL/OTR ELD's to health dispatchers which all are serious things to consider
Just one question what's pin to pin?
I'm doing short haul. 14 hrs. A day and I don't dare take a half-hour break. by Thursday I'm on autopilot.... I can't remember what day it is
14 hours a day with no break? you need to change that schedule or it'll kill you eventually. Life's too short for that kind of living. Dave
I agree with everything he's said, I'm in grain hauling and have been for 5 years now and its a mix of short and long haul loads. I will always take the long haul loads because of the fact you can plan your day and like he said way less stressful! Now I'm an O/O and love it, never be relegated to 106kph again.
wish we could travel that fast..... its 90kmh max (restricted) here in Europe...😵
Just about to get into trucking School.
I'm doing regional and for all the reasons you stated I've decided long haul is the way to go for me even if it's less money. I like to stop when I'm tired and eat when I'm hungry not feeling like I have to keep pushing until I can do it while being loaded/unloaded. Or having to drive, more like crawl, across Atlanta at the worst possible time of day. I guess a lot of it has to do with how well you handle the stress of the clock ticking and all the disappointments that come your way when doing short runs.
yep, pickup right now, deliver 900 miles away, first thing in the morning, even if I didn't get loaded until 6 pm, no mercy for willing
Drivers doing that is what causes the problems.
I actually don't care what elogs dictates to me. I shut down when tired. I feel if truck drivers can start working together, instead of the arguing and bickering, change could happen. I look forward to seeing your videos here, keep them coming. Wish there were more like you
I started my driving career in the city of Hamilton working for a company that had a fleet of old R model Internationals they pair $500. a copy for. The year was 1964 and my first week I worked 98 hours. Good money but no social life. My last driving job was in 2008 doing short haul with a nice blue Pete. That was a good job until some goober ran a red light at a high rate fo speed and I T boned him. I had a whiplash injury but I was determined to keep working. I made it almost two months but when I hurt too much to be able to pull the pin to drop a trailer I knew I was done. It took 5 and a half years to get a settlement from the insurance company and when I did I got lots less than I thought I should. Oh well.
No, you can never use the words "fair" and " insurance company" in the same sentence. Had a couple screwings from them myself. Dave
I was going out for 6 days at a time and was to get one day off. Well, the company would often do thru the house loads a lot or calling me while I was at home making it seem like much less than one day off. By the time you got your laundry done it was time to go back out again. When out on the road I would end up with shorter hauls and made less money. Now I go out for 12 days and take 2 days off. Much better. I get better loads and miles for more money. Less thru the house loads and company does not call as much during my time off.
I've ran regional(short haul) local home daily and otr. I prefer the otr. Local pay sucks! No miles at all. Short haul wasn't much better and 34 hours at home just isn't enough. I am a family man with teenagers. But I'm fortunate enough to be with a good company making pretty descent money and I'm home 3 days every 2 weeks. I've never missed a birthday or anniversary or holiday I wanted home. And for that I'm thankful!
You're working for a good outfit James. I'm sure though by now, you've figured that out. Stay with them. Dave
You are very fortunate to work for an outfit that works with you.
Thank you Mr. Dave! They're not perfect, but there is NO perfect job! Lol Enjoy your videos. Great knowledge
For me: OTR. I did local for two years when I came out of school, I got bored with it. I have a friend that is a local driver and he loves it.
Yup, I always preferred OTR when it was paying well.
Get some end dump, bellys or doubles experience or other construction type trucking if you own your truck you can lease you and the rig to larger outfits as well .Paying $85 to 150 an hour for hauling for federal projects like interstates. Around here theres a lot of Las Vegas to Phoenix runs ,flat beads with drywall mostly but its steady and easy work
j
I did otr flatbed for Swift when i first got my cdl and hated it. Always under the gun, rushing to get somewhere, ran plenty of miles but the pay was low. Pay was around .26 cpm when i started there tho i did get up to like .40 cpm on some runs like on the eastern region. Time off was rare even when i was at home i was preparing to go out again. I enjoy hunting and camping and doing otr there was never time for any of that. Best week i had was about 1k. I run local now for a private fleet, United Rentals, hauling rental construction equipment and love it. Home every night to see my kids and wife. Plenty of time of, hourly pay, good benefits, make about 1500 a week. The pay to go back to otr would have to be astronomical. I liked the driving and seeing the country part but not everything else about it.
I always preferred sleeping days so I could miss most traffic and inspections.
I’m a company driver home every night and off 2 days a week work 6-8 hours a night $1500 plus a week I deliver to and pick up from the same place every night dedicated to the same customer best deal I’ve found in 20 years
Sounds like a really good deal to me! You got it made!
@@SmartTrucking yup this is my 3rd year doing it and I’m going to ride this horse as long as I can. but you know as well as I do all great things come to and end eventually that’s truckin.
I'm a company long haul flatbeder with Decker. brand new 2018 Pete. Home time is very long. Single, no health problems..
Good deal! I've heard good things about Decker as well. Stay safe out there Austin! Dave
I make $20 hr driving a straight flatbed for an industrial electric motor company. I usually use all my DOT hours every week averaging about 12 hour days between shop and drive time. Generally, home every night. Have occasional out of town runs a state over. Some customers are regulars, some are "one time" or emergency runs. We do a lot of work in high-security areas too. Power plants for example. Get to see some pretty cool things. I am a family guy. This job, being home every day makes things work well. Pretty happy right now.