What Is Over-The-Road Trucking?
Over-the-road trucking is a form of freight shipping that involves delivering goods across the country or internationally. This type of equipment transport service offers many benefits to customers and truckers, the most notable being convenience, flexibility, and higher pay. Companies that use over-the-road trucking enjoy shorter delivery times, greater control over their goods, and more personal customer service. Furthermore, customers benefit from faster, more reliable deliveries and competitive pricing. This article will explore over-the-road trucking and its advantages and drawbacks.
How Does Over-The-Road Trucking Work?
Over-the-road trucking entails transporting freight over long distances, often across multiple states or international borders. An over-the-road truck driver can be on the road for three to four weeks straight, sleeping in their cab or staying at motels.
Instead of lone truckers, you’ll often find OTR teams of two working the roads. By taking turns at the wheel, the crew can save time and effort in the long run by always operating within the bounds of the law.
Over-the-road transport involves hauling everything from industrial machines to consumer products to vehicles and building materials. OTR driving is often the entry point for truck drivers. Despite this, many experienced drivers prefer OTR trucking due to the constant flow of jobs and the greater earnings an OTR career provides.
Over-The-Road Vs. Local Vs. Regional Trucking
Over-the-road truck drivers transport the same types of goods as their short-distance counterparts, but there are significant differences between OTR, regional, and local state trucking. Most of these differences involve how much time drivers spend on the road, but there are distinctions in the type of vehicles and tools employed and the potential pay.
Regional truck drivers exclusively transport items in a specific region of the nation. Depending on their location within the United States continental territory, regions may be subdivided into many states. A regional trucker, for instance, would only drive in a specific area, such as the Midwest, the Southwest, or the Northeast.
Some truck drivers prefer regional driving to OTR trucking because it allows them to spend more time with their families at home. Some trips can last several days, but the routes may fall on weekends or regular days off.
Local trucking is short-distance and typically pays less than regional or OTR trucking. Like working an hourly job, you’ll normally be home at the end of the workday with this type of career. You may transport items from a factory or warehouse to stores or from one firm to another within a 200-mile radius. To finish their routes, local truck drivers may occasionally cross state lines.
You’ll spend more time on residential streets in local trucking than in regional or over-the-road transport. You may also operate a smaller truck and be required to make many stops along your route.
Benefits of Being an Over-the-Road Driver
For many OTR drivers, the allure of long highway travels and the freedom of the open road is enough to justify the sacrifices involved in the job. This career allows you to be your boss, so you can work whenever you want, take on whatever standard or oversize load transports you’d like, and make your own choices.
Also, the pay is higher for OTR driving. Most OTR truck drivers are paid on a per-mile rate, so the longer the trip, the more money they can make. Typically, the pay for long-distance OTR driving is 20% greater than for short-distance driving.
OTR trucking jobs are plentiful. The huge demand for commodities means there are plenty of job openings for OTR drivers, even in difficult economic times.
OTR truckers can explore the country and take in some stunning locations that would otherwise be costly. Some people see it as a way to earn money while exploring the world.
Drawbacks of Over-the-Road Trucking
OTR truck drivers often spend many days or weeks away from their families. It takes preparation and adjusting to make it work with any other obligations you may have. Some people, especially those with a family, find the time away taxing.
OTR truck drivers are legally limited to a certain number of hours behind the wheel each week. As a result, many trucking tasks begin after the mandated rest period, which can cause your schedule to shift from week to week.
Drawbacks of Over-the-Road Trucking
Although OTR trucking is not a career for everyone, it can be an excellent option for a flexible schedule and the freedom to be your own boss.
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