What it is Like to be a Long-Haul Truck Driver

Posted: Jul 22, 2011 |Comments: 0 |

There are many types of trucking jobs. In this blog I will emphasize over the road trucking jobs. Covering the life of an OTR-Over the Road driver and all of the many special traits of the career are too wide-ranging for a single post. For this reason we are going to study three features connected with this position initially. We will look at the schedule, salary, and the positives and negatives relating to over the road truckers. For  this post, when I make reference to OTR drivers, I mean company drivers.

Schedule
Over the road jobs are the most typical variety of truck driving position. Most new truckers start out in one of these kinds of positions. To become a productive over the road truck driver it takes a willingness to be absent from home. Schedules vary by company, however in most over the road roles, a driver can expect to be separated from family for several weeks and then home for a few days and back at it again. As a general rule of thumb, long haul truck drivers average one day home for each week worked. While on the highway a driver may commit 18-23 hours per day inside of the truck. The schedule can certainly be a boring routine of driving, getting loaded / unloaded, waiting on a load, and once in a while stopping at a truck stop. Not everyone can get used to a lifestyle such as this and for somebody thinking of becoming a trucker this should be taken into consideration.

Pay
Wages for over the road truckers vary by company. Over the road truckers are compensated by the mile. Standard compensation for an seasoned driver is approximately 35 cents per mile with new drivers bringing home  less. But the level of pay per mile is merely part of the story. Hours of service rules are circulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/index.htm. There are many regulations but drivers can have about 70hrs driving in a week (actually in 8 days). In an ideal world a driver could conservatively average fifty miles per hr for 70 hrs, he could get 3500 miles weekly. 3500 miles times 35 cents would be $1225 a week before taxes. But we know that life on the road is far from perfect. Time wasted getting through traffic congestion, getting loaded / unloaded, and awaiting a load seriously slashes into the amount of money a trucker may make. One of the unpleasant details of driving over the road is the fact that drivers don't get paid for time spent on the road while they are not driving. By law, drivers are able to drive for 11hrs daily. If the driver gets delayed for 6 hrs, he or she only gets paid for 5 hrs. As it is clear there are several other variables associated with the pay of an OTR driver. It is very important to do some investigation when looking at beginning a new job. In a future posting, we are going to look at the most beneficial technique for you to do investigation on a targeted company, but for right now we are going to have a look at the advantages & disadvantages of long-haul truck driving.
Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros
• Plenty of Opportunities
• Get to see the United states
• Flexibility
• Respectable Salary with no Degree

Cons
• Being Apart from Family
• Coping with Unsafe Drivers
• Navigating an Tractor-Trailer in Traffic
• Poor Weather conditions
• Isolation / Loneliness
• Non-Driving Activities in which the Driver is Not Paid
• Truck Malfunctions
• Health / Weight Management

It has been said of careers, find something that you really like and you will never work a day in your life. Many of the drivers that make their living over the road, love their jobs and can become addicted to the road. But due to the challenges of this job, it takes a special type of person to succeed. Are you one of those people?

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/what-it-is-like-to-be-a-long-haul-truck-driver-5056152.html

    Article Tags:

    drivers wanted

    ,

    trucking jobs

    ,

    truckdriving jobs

    ,

    otr trucking

    ,

    long haul trucking

    ,

    truck driver

    If you are unemployed and wanted to find a good job, then the shortest route possible is approaching a placement agency.

    By: PUneetl Careers> Career Managementl Jun 01, 2012

    Time management is an act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity.Time management can be effectively done by using various tools and techniques.

    By: wisdomjobsl Careers> Career Managementl May 29, 2012

    Glass ceiling is legitimate and find a solution. This is one of the biggest mistakes that many commit. Sexual discrimination is extremely much legitimate and don't permit this only thing to hold you back and accomplish your ambitions especially in this ever-changing age of modernization.

    By: ruelcloudl Careers> Career Managementl May 28, 2012

    Microsoft IT jobs are not easy to come buy, the nature of the company, requires the best there is and this is why you have to get outstanding skills and qualifications to even be considered.

    By: Rowena Driverl Careers> Career Managementl May 27, 2012

    The health care industry is continuously growing and there's no sign of it slowing down soon. The growth can also be seen on the allied health care services closely tied up to medicine. The reason for this growth is the continued demand for health care. It was further fueled in the past decade by the fact that the world population is aging and is therefore requiring more health care services.

    By: Kristy Turnerl Careers> Career Managementl May 27, 2012

    This article will focus on Regional Truck Driving Jobs. It looks at why they are more common and also the requirements for one of these jobs.

    By: Ralph Watsonl Careers> Career Managementl Aug 02, 2011

    In this particular post I will look at several types of truck driving job opportunities. As we have a look at these positions, it's helpful to keep in mind the various job issues and take into account those that might be most important to you personally.

    By: Ralph Watsonl Careers> Career Managementl Jul 03, 2011

    Considering the lack of truckers in the Usa, drivers wanted jobs tend to be countless. Still with every variety of truck driving job, arises varied occupation-related tensions, income, and percentages of amounts of home time. Choosing where your priorities lie can be a vital approach in choosing the sort of truck driving job that will work out for an individual. What follows is a quick outline of a few of the issues to think of when choosing a job.

    By: Ralph Watsonl Careers> Career Managementl May 31, 2011

    Discuss this Article

    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast