Otr Trucking Jobs

Whether you work for a company or own your own rig, you’ll generally make more money if you take longer trips. This can mean that you’re away from home for two weeks, then home for three days before you hit the road again. For some people, this kind of constant action is what drives them to keep going. They are self-motivated and feed on momentum. For others, the challenges that come from being away from their families can hinder their success in this type of career.

OTR truckers may be on the road for hours on end. With nothing but a windshield and the open road in front of you, you may feel completely free. Unless you’re stopping at a scheduled destination to load or unload, you can go where you choose and stop where you want (within time and mileage constraints).

If you enjoy long stretches of time with nothing but your thoughts, OTR trucking can be a very meditative career. You don’t have a boss looking over your shoulder all day, and you can be alone with your thoughts. For some, that is a lonely proposition. But if you need constant social interaction in your job, you may get bored with this lifestyle easily.

As with any job, there are advantages and disadvantages to the way in which the pay scale is set up. Employees who are paid by the hour may get overtime pay for working more than usual. On the other hand, salaried employees don’t have to worry about a shrinking paycheck on days when they had to duck out for a doctor’s appointment.

OTR truckers are paid based on the distances they travel. Mileage is one thing, but the time spent accruing that mileage is another. There are many factors beyond a trucker’s control—traffic, delays loading and unloading, and weather are just a few. This means that drivers are not necessarily paid for all the time they actually spend on the road. But it tends to even out in most cases and can be quite profitable if you’re organized and have an upbeat personality.