Finally out of OTR Trucking
#81
08-11-2008, 08:47 PM
Belpepper wrote:
Originally Posted by golfhobo
If your example is going to include golfhobo, don't waste our time.
In other words.... it's OKAY to chase ME around the board, beat ME up, and drag ME through the mud (for having a different opinion,) as long as others are doing it.... because I'm "exceptional?" :?:
Nothing untoward implied or meant. Sorry if it sounded that way. (actually, I see that it did look that way, it was not my intention)
OTAY! I fweel betta now! (snif) :lol:
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Remember... friends are few and far between. TRUCKIN' AIN'T FOR WUSSES!!! "I am willing to admit that I was wrong." The Rev. 
#82
08-11-2008, 08:49 PM
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: the Buckeye
Posts: 1,732
Speaking of OTR I wonder if I could get an OTR job. Not that I would want one. But our company is in all 50 states, I sometimes drive in 5-6 of them, carry a logbook, run in all types of weather, I just dont sleep in my truck (except for naps :lol: ).
#83
08-11-2008, 10:18 PM
Originally Posted by Drew10
My employers classified it by mileage.In fact the regulation for Logs is anything over 100 miles.
Over the road by definition is 48 states.
So...you are saying a driver that runs only 47 states or less, is not OTR????
#84
08-11-2008, 11:44 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by golfhobo
I might go so far as to suggest that, there are MORE younger drivers doing local work so they can be home with growing families, and because they don't mind the often backbreaking work. Whereas, many drivers who's children are grown and gone and who no longer WANT to work so hard, may be content to take long drives across country and just sit in the cab while someone unloads them.
Of all those professions, the one that kicked my ass the hardest was OTR. It was mostly due to the killer hours in that job and the irregular nature of the freight. One day an appoitment at 0300, another day at 1200, another at 1700, and on and on. Empty-out at 1000, sit for 5 hours, and then fight your way through rush-out traffic for a 1700 pickup with a tight delivery schedule on the back-end. 11 hours driving and 14 hours working makes for a loooong day. And then you get stuck in traffic or held-up at a receiver, do you log it as you do it? No, you compress the time and go to line 1 or 2 and end up driving maybe 11.5-12.5 hours or working 14-16 hour days. Sleeping in a moving truck...are you really getting the deep REM sleep you need to be fully rested? What about when that noisy reefer parks next to you at the truckstop? OTR is a tough way to make a living, hobo. No doubt about it. Sure, local can be more physical at times but you usually have a set schedule with weekends off so your body can adjust.
#85
08-12-2008, 12:17 AM
Originally Posted by MartenDrvrCA
HAHA.I knew youd say something like "well if a driver only drives 46-47 states". Surely you have more maturity than you just displayed? Please,you arent being serious now.When dispatch CAN dispatch you into any 48 states you ARE otr,how about that.When you can at any moment be sent into any STATE,yes you are otr.
#88
08-12-2008, 12:59 AM
Originally Posted by LeBron James
Life's too short for OTR.
Average age of OTR drivers is like 57 years old. That's because it's unhealthy to work all those long hours and irregular 2AM warehouse deliveries. Stress from meeting tight appointments and cut-off times. Getting lost with nowhere to turn around. Eating truckslop food and lack of physical activity only adds to the problem. So many truckers with Type II diabetes. I made more working OTR than I do LTL. Problem was I worked 2X the hours in OTR and lived out of a truck. The first day of OTR hometime I did nothing but sleep all day I was so worn out from the road. Next day I'd run around town doing errands and getting stuff to stock the truck back up. And then I was back on the road...it was like a blur, was I even at home? I lost contact with friends, missed alot of graduations, birthdays, family reunions, etc. I had no life whatsoever. Now I sleep in my own bed everynight, shower in my own shower, off every weekend/holiday, and since I only work 40-45 hours per week...plenty of time to enjoy at home. I lost about 30 lbs since I came off the road thanks to a gym membership and healthy diet full of fresh fruits and veggies. Life is so much better now that I can actually live it. Didn't mention how otr drivers are treated by their employers or the customers though. OTR works if you DECIDE. as opposed to getting conned, to live to work. Also decide to have minimum expenses and save. One year at a "good" otr company and anyone can easily put away 10-15G. "Good" as in, "thats a- good- downtown public restroom".
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#89
08-12-2008, 01:10 AM
Funny to see this fight between LTL and OTR. Since we ALL drive trucks, right? My two cents are these: If I wouldnt have stopped OTR my house would be in foreclosure by now. LTL saved my house for SURE. I finally have a LIFE again, and I make MORE money. But one thing amuses me every day I see it. When I come home from my linehaul run early in the morning there are always 2 or 3 OTR guys sitting and idling in our docks. (We are so busy our terminal CANT GET ENOUGH DRIVERS) So we use temp drivers. And all I can think is: Look at them.....here they sit....FOR FREE!!!
Hey GMAN??? I am 100% sure ALL freight in the U.S. could be moved by LTL all ALONE  And when you think people DONT want to work for their payckeck......if it happens some day that ALL drivers are from south of the border....they WILL stick together to get what they WANT and SHUT this country down. I am sure we all will find out in the coming years :? Also I think that ANYBODY who works in an office DONT CLOCK OUT when they go to the bathroom or slip in a donut...so they DO get paid for that time, right? So why not the OTR driver??? As long as I sit in the OTR X-Company truck i should be PAID...if I drive or not. Even when it would be just minimum wage. I am not arguing to include the sleeper break. But anything else SHOULD be PAID. Just my opinion and i am sticking to it.
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Live free like an American, drive a German car and eat like the French! OR DO YOU WANT to live like a German, drive a French car and eat like an American? Quote from Tonn Ostergard(CEO CRETE Carrier in a Pilot mag. interview): I HOPE for an economic downturn...that FORCES people out of their jobs and into TRUCKING!
#90
08-12-2008, 02:06 AM
LeBron James wrote:
Life's too short for OTR. Average age of OTR drivers is like 57 years old. That's because it's unhealthy to work all those long hours and irregular 2AM warehouse deliveries. Stress from meeting tight appointments and cut-off times. Getting lost with nowhere to turn around. Eating truckslop food and lack of physical activity only adds to the problem. So many truckers with Type II diabetes. I don't recall the average age of otr drivers. I do know that older drivers are sought after primarily for their work ethic. They are not necessarily unhealthy. It would be difficult for anyone who is not in good health to do this job. Long hours will not make you unhealthy. Poor eating habits can. OTR is not responsible for someone being unhealthy, fat or having diabetes. People need to take responsibility for themselves. I have been driving otr for many years and I am NOT fat and in good health. It is not easy to eat healthy on the road, but it can be done. I try to eat well while on the road, as to many other drivers. I see a lot of fat drivers. OTR had nothing to do with them being over weight. Most of the American public are over weight. You can't blame otr for all of them. Diabetes, high blood pressure and many other illnesses are striking younger people as much or more than older people. It is due to their poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. Older people are out doing things. |
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