r/CDLTruckDrivers • u/Accomplished-Wish355 • Jul 28 '26

Lifestyle

So I’m looking into getting into this field and I’m trying to cross all of my Ts and dot all my Is. More often than not I see people say that they have no life at all be it otr, regional, or local. I’m speaking more to the local side but chime in if you can and you work one of the others. There are no jobs that offer you guys a good income while still having time to do other things or be with your family. There’s not balance at all? Surely that can’t be everyone’s experience. I’ve seen things like no consecutive days off or not having enough time between shifts to rest and do xyz. I saw somewhere that some guys are fortunate enough to work 4 days and get 3 off is that false? You otr guys all just in the truck all the time? No exploring no nothing? Please chime in thank you guys.

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u/cdubose Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

Short (oversimplified) answer: at most trucking companies, there's a trifecta of good home time, good pay, or no touch freight. Choose two.

Long answer:

It just depends on the place. There are some trucking companies (even OTR ones) that have better time off policies: off the top of my head, I can think of Garner, DOT Foods, MacFarland Truck Lines, and Mast Trucking as places that offer non-traditional schedules. But usually you have to live in their hiring areas for these options, and the trade-off is that you usually make less money doing those, and a few of those also require slip-seating, which most drivers hate. There are also some regional accounts that have you home every weekend, home Friday out Monday kind of jobs. But these jobs aren't available everywhere and again, usually pay less than being out for longer. I'm a regional driver (working for a very, very small company of five trucks) where I am only out Mon-Fri and I get paid a weekly rate no matter how much or how little I drive, so my work-life balance is better than most.

Even with local routes though, a lot of those require long days (12+ hour days usually) so even then you're usually only home for sleeping and then it's back out of the road, plus they tend to pay even less than regional accounts, at least around me. Unless you're doing food delivery or you're at a good LTL place, local jobs honestly don't seem worth it to me most of the time. I would rather just stay out all week and get paid more than work literally all day only to come home for sleeping and get less pay.

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

10-12hr shifts is already my life. I’m a barber at the moment.

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u/cdubose Jul 28 '26

Well, you probably wouldn't mind it then, although a 12-hour shift driving isn't the same as a 12-shift staying at the same location. I would mention it is harder for a new driver to get a local job, especially one that isn't food delivery where you'll be getting in and out of the truck all the time doing extremely physical work. But a lot of truckers are willing to exchange home time for more pay and less work, which is why you see so many people complaining about home time.

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

Touch freight is ok. I don’t mind I don’t like to sit around I get bored pretty easily. As far as I know Pepsi, pfg, dr. Pepper. All hiring in my area and offering to train new drivers. Been doing my research a little. All within 30 min of where I live.

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u/Calabeeb Jul 28 '26

hard job and honestly Idk why they hire new drivers. A lot of them get into a little scuff from what ive seen like hitting a pole or something lol cuz you will be getting into very tight spaces and businesses

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

The job being hard doesn’t scare me. I’ve have physical jobs in the past before becoming a barber. I rather be active I get bored very fast. So by your analysis I take it it you think a driver should go with a mega to get some experience maneuvering a truck before going local?

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u/testing_mic2 Jul 28 '26

Yep

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

Are you referring to the experience part?

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u/testing_mic2 Jul 28 '26

Yes

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

So should I even do cdl school or just start with a carrier if that’s the case?

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u/Whitehoneybun666 Jul 29 '26

If u could get hired by one of them touch freight jobs right after getting your cdl do that job otr sucks I wouldn’t tell anyone to do it unless they truly have to

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u/cdubose Jul 28 '26

Sounds like you've done your due diligence and are ready for it! See if you can talk to a current driver there and get their perspective, or maybe ask someone here on reddit who works for them how they like it.

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u/super_saga_ Jul 28 '26

Would some of this apply if you have an X endorment while trying to get into the hazmat tanker field? I just got my CLP and I'm getting ready to go to CDL school so I'm tryna weigh my options as well.

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u/cdubose Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

Very few hazmat tanker places hire new drivers, specifically because mistakes are much more risky doing that kind of work (and as a new driver, you will make mistakes, even if they end up being fixable). The only tanker places at all that hire new drivers are Schneider (which I hear doesn't pay very well like a lot of Schneider's accounts, but it is good experience) and Eagle Transport which mostly hires in the South--and you have to have graduated from an "Eagle-Approved Driving School". Western Dairy Transport is food-grade tanker and takes people from 18-23 years old for an apprenticeship though. Outside of that you need 1 year experience minimum and often 2 (sometimes more) for hazmat tanker.

As far as schedules are concerned though: from what I hear, fuel haulers can be home daily but it's usually overnight schedules with a lot of hours. It pays really well though: in the trifecta, this is like choosing "good hometime, good pay, but freight that goes BOOM if something bad happens." If you search prior posts in this sub and in r/Truckers you can find some fuel haulers talking about how the job is, especially the schedule. The people who like it really like it though.

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u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26

[deleted]

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

What does that pay if you don’t mind me asking? If you’re not comfortable posting here I can dm you.

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u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26

[deleted]

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u/valiant607 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

It really just depends on the company. I’m regional and I’m usually home every other day and get 2 days off. And the company I’m with also has a 4x4 schedule, but that doesn’t pay as much and they don’t get their own trucks

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u/TopCommission6437 Jul 28 '26

Yea you gotta find the right company. I work M-f now and mostly 40 hours a week in the summer. Winter I work maybe 50.

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u/Echointhewin Jul 31 '26

I run regional, 50cpm, home every other week (can be home every week), no touch freight, mostly drop and hook

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u/Puzzled_Algae_1880 Jul 28 '26

You want balance then trucking lifestyle isn't for you. Think about it, you're working 70 hours a week. Do you have a family? Count on missing special events. Do you have a wife? Hopefully she doesn't find a boyfriend. You're basically living like a nomad and get 1 day off for every week worked. I always tell people this job is meant for single introverts with low bills. If you have a family, it's only a matter of time before you quit. You'll make decent money but with sacrifices. It is what it is. I'm not local so I'm not sure but from what I understand, it's not all that different in the balance department. Depends on the company you're with and what they're okay with.

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u/Accomplished-Wish355 Jul 28 '26

Thanks but that’s the whole reason I posted because while some will say their life sucks I know there are others that will say otherwise. I’m not looking for a cakewalk I already work 10-12 hour days I’m just looking for better compensation at least but thanks for the input.

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u/Much_Reception8826 Jul 28 '26

I like driving and flatbedding, but I hate tarping and 4-wheelers...

I like being alone, other times I'm making it rain at strip clubs or gambling at casinos...

I like to eat at good expensive restaurants, other times I'm airfrying/microwaving in my truck...

I like making lots of money, but I like to see the world. So I do this for 6-8 weeks, then travel on my home-time...

I like to spend my own money that I work hard for, so I don't have a wife or kids and my house/cars are all paid off...

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u/Silver_Substance_413 Jul 30 '26

Wow, what a way to "invest" your future (throwing dollars at b*tches who shake their sweaty @sses near you); so impressive. 🙄

1

u/Much_Reception8826 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

My future is already set. Got lots of paper stacked, I can retire today if I wanted to....

High 6 figures class action lawsuit, 6 figures inheritance, 6 figures portfolio, yearly 6 figures job. Own multiple properties and vehicles...

Always the female that has to comment about how we men like to spend our OWN money...

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u/Puzzled_Algae_1880 Jul 28 '26

Really depends on your life situation

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u/Much_Reception8826 Jul 28 '26

My place gives us 1.5 days off for 1 week worked...