Living on the road just goes with the territory if youre a truck driver. Apr 23, 2019 heres a look at the typical day in the life as an over the road truck driver to get a better sense of how they go about their daily routine. A truckers life trucker life is a slightly different adventure every day. Jul 16, 2018 truck driving is no easy task, but its lifestyle is appealing to many. Being a truck driver really forces you to simplify your life. That translates to 7 12 to nine hours of driving each day.
Advice for truck driver wannabes murphy counsels anyone considering getting into the trucking business to develop specialized skills. Plus, getting your cdl training from diesel driving academy means youll. If you like your own company, its great, however it can also be a lonely, alienating and unrewarding job. We can teach you the lingo of the flatbed trucking. At 61 years, a truck driver will have a life that ends 15 years earlier than that of the average american man. Luckily, many carriers understand life on the road and have updated their equipment. Otr ends up being more of a lifestyle for drivers rather than just a paycheck. Otr driver shares 10 ways my life changed after driving a truck video. If you are a current over the road truck driver or an otr student driver, have a clean motor vehicle record, and have obtained your class a cdl with hazmat endorsement, lets talk. As such, a truck driver who drives long distances typically cross country rather than local or.
For a a real life prospective i will be writing about good days and bad days. Life as an over the road truck driver can be complicated. Occasionally, otr drivers need to exercise their patience while on the road. Most of what viscelli heard about the driving life was not positive. Truck life with otr driver billy big rigger home facebook. Jul 05, 2019 schneider offers some of the industrys best otr truck driving jobs team and solo, van truckload, dedicated, tanker and ltl but we also recognize that the otr trucker lifestyle is much more than a job it is a way of life that many drivers love. Otr driver shares 10 ways my life changed after driving a. Life as an otr driver napier napier truck driver training. Aug 08, 2017 advice for truck driver wannabes murphy counsels anyone considering getting into the trucking business to develop specialized skills. Youtube user the flatbed chick lists several ways that trucking has changed the way she eats, the way she interacts with others, and even the way she goes to the bathroom yes, she goes there. He agreed to open up about what life is like on the road in the united states as part of a summer series the guardian is. Class a cdl overtheroad otr truck driver davenport.
Our leader is a driver and our drivers are leaders, and those of us who do not drive spend our days supporting our teammates who do drive. Truckers emotional tribute video to otr life goes viral. The video the life of an otr driver was created by 50 year old. In many ways, being an otr overthe road or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job. Day in the life of an otr truck driver drive my way. The inability to participate in daily life and the solitude can take a toll on anyone. Life as a truck driver involves long hours on the road at any given time, erratic shifts, and many miles under those tires. The lifestyle of a truck driver in 2017 by jake tully published. While there are benefits that make this the ideal career and lifestyle for some, there are also challenges that need to be.
Jul 29, 2015 longhaul trucker josh giesbrecht lives a strange and solitary life, spending weeks on the road at a time while hauling cargo from point a to point b, covering vast distances on seemingly endless. This could mean the driving of lorries, dump trucks, and box. These numbers are startling, and they wont go away unless drivers take immediate action to improve their health. Otr trucking jobs, otr jobs, otr truck driving jobs. Ask questions and get answers about trucking jobs, trucking schools, relationships and over the road driving. Maybe you are considering a career as a truck driver or youre just curious as to what it is like to be a truck driver. What is the life of a commercial truck driver like. Otr drivers and requirements how to become a truck driver. The phrase, studies have shown is all across the internet and publications alike. Longhaul trucker josh giesbrecht lives a strange and solitary life, spending weeks on the road at a time while hauling cargo from point a to point b, covering vast distances on. Truckingtruth was founded by brett aquila thats me. Search and apply for the latest overtheroad otr truck driver jobs in smiths grove, ky. As an otr over the road truck driver, there are high hidden costs to be paid, which some truckers who are interested in this type of truck.
More than anything else, becoming a truck driver, a part of the otr drivers gang, is a great way to hit the reset button on a life and get a fresh start. A truckers first few years on the road, just like any other career, are the most important for setting themselves up to have a successful, long term future as a driver. Oct 10, 2018 the life of a truck driver is what you make it. Get great weekly home time, firstrate pay and plenty of advantages to keep you going, like immediate insurance. Heres a look at the typical day in the life as an over the road truck driver to get a better sense of how they go about their daily routine. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road. Truck driving is no easy task, but its lifestyle is appealing to many. Life as an otr driver napier truck driver training. They tend to sit behind the wheel for an average of 500 daily miles. So, truck driving is pretty much in a league of its own as a career choice for a family man or woman. We eat differently, look different sort of, most of us seem to be conservative, we see the road much.
Educate the person who is thinking about becoming a truck driver so that he or she will know what to expect. Jul 15, 2019 life as an otr truck driver can have its pros and cons. Otr driver jobs otr drivers are responsible for driving semi or tractortrailer trucks over long distances. You dont need three years of experience as a truck driver to become a truck driver. Otr dry van truck driver job vicksburg, mississippi cdla truck driver new productivity bonus for experienced drivers. Check out these otr truck driver tips tips for sleeping, meals, showers, and more. Becoming a truck driver day in the life of a trucker. These hauls are the longest, taking you coasttocoast and likely away from home for lengthy periods of time. This section of our truckers career guide explains what the lifestyle is like living on the road as an otr truck driver. These otr trucking jobs include a generous signon bonus, solid full or empty mileage pay, and a robust otr driver benefits package. Otr truck drivers have the chance to see nearly every corner of the country during the course of their careers. Xpress is offering various signon bonuses for experienced otr drivers in select locations. Otr truckers haul 95% notouch freight, average 2,600 miles per week in the. Driver solutions has created a network of trucking companies, some of the most premiere otr trucking fleets in the country, to provide the best cdl training in the trucking industry.
My mileage per day averages 350450 miles, with a day every so often over 500 miles. Swift transportation hiring otr dry van truck driver job. Much of what makes the life of a truck driver successful is in the planning and preparation that goes into each journey. The average otr truck driver will travel about 100,000 miles per year. Becoming a truck driver for your second career forbes. Truck drivers life expectancy rate wheres the proof. The grueling life of a longhaul trucker popular mechanics. Otr truck driving jobs what you should know before signing up.
You get to tour parts of the country you may never have seen without this job. Prepare for life on the road with cdl training the otr lifestyle often appeals to people who enjoy time alone, desire flexibility, and enjoy traveling the country. Weve moved you from otr to regional to heavy haul to local driver to meet your personal needs. Otr drivers should also have a passion for driving and travel, as this is what they do every working day. Search and apply for the latest overtheroad otr truck driver jobs in marshall, in. No wonder some truckers say that never in a million years would they trade their truck driver career for a 9to5 job in a cubicle. Professional drivers have such low life expectancies from a variety of factors. He agreed to open up about what life is like on the road in the.
While there are benefits that make this the ideal career and lifestyle for some, there are also challenges that need to be considered. Depending on your delivery schedule, you may have to adjust your sleep habits so that you sleep earlier at night at wake up before dawn. Otr driver job description example job description and. Inspecting the truck to ensure it is safe for operation. Life as a truck driver involves long hours on the road at any given time, erratic shifts, and many miles under. Life as an overtheroad truck driver cds tractor trailer. Otr drivers sleep in truck, and its pretty comfortable, he said. Schneider offers some of the industrys best otr truck driving jobs team and solo, van truckload, dedicated, tanker and ltl but we also recognize that the otr trucker. This will be the first of many trips that i will take you on. The life of a truck driver is about answering the call of the open road while moving goods across the country. Amazon truck yards are the worst to get in n get out. Jul 11, 20 j ack paulden is a commercial truck driver from ohio and a guardian reader. This can sometimes result in slowmoving traffic and additional travel times.
Trucking life blog life on the road and the trucking lifestyle. Truck driving isnt a job, its a way of life, say the truck driver behind a moving video that has taken facebook by storm. I am amazed at how different the life of a truck driver is compared to other people. The video the life of an otr driver was created by 50 year old trucker bill everly. Alternatives for otr drivers facing burnout matheson. Otr reefer truck driver job maumelle, arkansas transam is a premier refrigerated carrier serving the midwest, midsouth, northeast, southeast and florida. For years, we have heard that truck drivers have a life expectancy rate that is ten to sixteen years shorter than the average person. Deadlines will become a part of life, and youll find, after working for a few. Unlike many careers, becoming a truck driver doesnt require a fouryear degree.
Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus impacting relationships with those around you. As an experienced cdla driver, you want the rewards of a. When you think of the phrase truck driver, youre probably envisioning an overtheroad otr truck driver. Not all truckers are affected by the transient life style, just the portion of drivers who travel outside of the range of their. Truck drivers receive one of the best crashcourse educations on daily life around the u. However, it can also be a flexible life, with the option to start working at any given hour and private time on the road. A typical day in the life of an otr driver might include. Life on the road is far different from anything youve. Pleases hire people who know way they are doing especially on the south called shipping desk. The problem however, is the inability to locate the actual studies. A day in the life of a truck driver trucking career info. The reality is that there are many different routes one can take to be a truck driver. The upsides of otr driving is you get to travel across the united states.
Jack paulden is a commercial truck driver from ohio and a guardian reader. So what it is like to be an otr over the road truck driver. As opposed to delivery drivers, who typically have set local routes, otr truckers can transport goods across the county, state, or even country. For the otr driver, we spend more time in our truck than we do at our home, yet somehow we also love our lifestyle. Jul 02, 2018 a trucker shares a list of the ways that trucking has changed her life. As an otr truck driver, youll be paid to explore the beautiful countryside of the united states a win.
The lifestyle of an otr truck driver trucking truth. Otr is big for sure, but you also have several regional and local driving positions that provide a large portion. You would basically be living out of your truck, but if your company has invested in fleet amenities, its not a bad deal. Most truckers start their careers as overtheroad otr drivers, meaning they drive longer distances and are often on the road for days or weeks at a time. Job otr truck drivers class a cdl refrigerated, safest. Overtheroad otr truck driving is the life blood of america and keeps the economy moving. A trucker shares a list of the ways that trucking has changed her. While on the road, it is easy to become detached from the daily life that he or she once knew. An over the road otr driver is a person who is responsible for driving truck over long distances. They transport freight from a home terminal to delivery points or between two terminals. Otr stands for over the road, and otr driving is another way of saying long haul. In the trucking industry, almost every new driver begins their career as an otr, or overtheroad, truck driver.
The first year of otr trucking will give new truck drivers a much needed experience of what life is like on the road while getting a lot of miles under their belt. It is important that you find out which career path is best for you. An otr driver is required to have a class a commercial drivers license, or cdl. It is an industry that operates on razor thin margins, has enormous fixed costs and chews up and spits out new entrants at all levels at an. In many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job.
The high price of otr life the real price of over the road truck. While some drivers spend more days than others on the road each year, the average days spent on the road is about 300. As such, a truck driver who drives long distances typically cross country rather than local or regionalstateside is commonly known as an otr driver, meaning they are often on the road for a couple of weeks at a time. The overtheroad life of a trucker united states truck. Get great weekly home time, firstrate pay and plenty of advantages to keep you going, like immediate insurance benefits starting day one. After 15 years on the road i wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker.
Being a truck driver is a lot of work youll work long hours, sit most of the day and have little time to stretch your legs. These videos and pictures my account of a day will help to you experience trucking life over the road. Please subscribe comment video suggestions like and share our videos to support our channel love you all email us. I will walk you through my day of truckers life as an otr delivery driver with pictures, video and audio with notations for regular otr drivers when applicable it will help you get an idea of what life on the road might be like for you as a truck driver. As an otr driver, you will be traveling through major cities and hightraffic areas. Working as an otr truck driver is radically different from other trucking jobs. Apply to truck driver, company driver, otr and more. Some drivers will learn it takes about 2 years working in an otr position before moving on to a regional or local truck driving jobs.
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