OTR driving, or over the road driving is any form of driving which requires the driver to sleep in another start apart from their state of residence. OTR drivers drive semi or tractor-trailer trucks over long distances. The trucking industry is facing a shortage of experienced OTR drivers, forcing many trucking and haulage companies to offer lucrative pay packages for potential drivers. If you want to see the country on the road while earning an honest income, OTR driving is one of the best ways to actualize your dream.
So what does OTR driving mean? OTR stands for over the road driving, i.e., driving long distances to move freight from one state to another. OTR driving is also known as long haulage driving. The drivers in this sector usually sleep in their truck. It is not uncommon for OTR drivers to spend weeks away from home hauling freight such as machinery, chemicals, food, and heavy equipment around the US and Canada.
Over the road driving plays an important role in the logistics and supply chain industry. When you get to the store, you can pick a pack of roasted pistachios from California, fresh pomegranates, assorted washing liquids and everything in between. A short glance at the label of the things you buy show that most were made thousands of miles away from your location. But you always have them waiting on the shelf whenever you go shopping. This magical feat is the work of OTR drivers who spend weeks on the road hauling everything from fresh walnuts, fruit juice, liquid rubber, highly inflammable chemicals, and machinery across deserts and rivers so you can always get what you want when you need it.
The life of an OTR driver is lonely as they spend working days in their truck. The profession might be lonely and a difficult way of life, but it offers a rare opportunity to see the country and enjoy its beautiful expanse. Truck drivers know this country more than anybody else because the best way to see the beauty of the land is the American road trip. Over the road drivers must not only be adept at maneuvering their powerful trucks and rigs, but they also need to be excellent time managers as most deliveries are time sensitive. If you are considering a career as an OTR driver, expect to spend three weeks on the road and one week at home. But you will see the country and get paid for your efforts. What does it take to become an OTR driver? Do you need several years of experience or only a commercial driver’s license? Does the trucking profession provide good work-life balance? We provide the answers to these questions and more in this piece.
Duties
OTR driving is not your typical job. Long-haul drivers, as OTR drivers are often called, work demanding schedules. These truckers traverse the length and breadth of the United States and Canada transporting all kinds of freight. OTR drivers cover all the lower 48 states. The routes include anywhere their trucks can access by the main roads and highways.
As an OTR driver, your job is not a 9-5. Typical shifts often see truckers on the road for three weeks. You will move goods from one location to another using a vehicle with a gross weight of 26000 lbs. and above. The job requires driving long distances alone in your truck, sometimes driving at night, weekends, and even on holidays. Truckers sleep in the sleeping berth of their truck and shower at truck stops and service stations. Working as an OTR driver is highly demanding and solitary. If you enjoy solitude and exploring the great outdoors from coast to coast in a powerful 24-wheeler, then this job may be the perfect one for you.
Your daily responsibility as an OTR driver includes:
- Inspect the truck to make sure it is safe for operation.
- Review transport and shipping paperwork
- You may also be involved in the loading and unloading of the cargo.
- Maintain inventory records.
Qualifications
To become an OTR driver, you need to have a “Class A” Commercial Driver’s License and a minimum of high school certificate. You need to love driving and traveling alone as this is what you will do every time you work. Because of the demanding schedule of the profession, OTR drivers need to have an excellent time-management and inventory skills. This will ensure that you can deliver your freight on schedule. You may also need to help in the loading and unloading of the cargo, but some trucking companies do not allow their drivers to get involved in this process.
Before you can become an OTR driver, you need requisite training. You can get the required training at truck driving schools and CDL training centers. It is possible to get financial assistance from the driving school. Many truck companies will also train you if you have the minimum requirement as part of the orientation package of your employment. However, make sure the training school you choose provide hands-on training. It is also better if the school offers job placement when you graduate. Some schools will process your CDL license with the tuition fee. If you can get such a training school, it will help you save cost.
Other Skills Needed
Besides impeccable truck driving and time management skills, an OTR driver also requires:
Mechanicals Skills: Because of the job’s nature, you need to have at least basic mechanical skills. Your truck might break down in a deserted location where the nearest auto repair shop is tens of miles away. It is your job to find out what is wrong with your vehicle and get it safely to a place you can find professional help.
Self-Starter Skills: Truck drivers spend most of their working hours alone. So, there is no pressure of keeping to time or doing the right thing. But if you want to last long in the industry, you need to cultivate a strong habit of getting things done on your own. You don’t need the trucking company breathing down your neck to deliver on time. As an OTR trucker, develop your timetable to meet the demands of the job.
Safety Conscious: When you are on the move, you are responsible for the safety of your vehicle and its cargo. It is important to drive safely at all times, keep your records clean and make sure you deliver the freight in good shape.
Pay / Wages
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that OTR truck drivers earn an average of $35,529 per year as at 2014. Several factors determine the pay of each driver. The level of experience, type of cargo being transported, mileage, and type of ownership can increase or decrease the pay. Typically, OTR drivers get paid by the number of miles they haul. However, drivers can be paid by the hour, by the day, and by the cargo. Some drivers who are direct employees of a trucking company can be on a salary. Owner operators, i.e., truck drivers who own their trucks can command a higher pay, create their own schedules and work for as many customers as they like. You can also increase your pay be getting certified to haul hazardous cargo such as chemicals and inflammables.
Before joining any trucking company, make sure you understand the pay you will get for your work. Trucking is a difficult profession that requires a lot of sacrifice in family time and social life. If you make that much sacrifice, get adequate compensation for your efforts.
There is a growing need for drivers in the OTR sector. This is because most experienced drivers are old and already planning to leave the industry. Younger drivers find it difficult to cope with the demands of the job. The result is that trucking companies need to do more to attract talent to work for them.
Related Questions
How Often Truck Drivers Come Home?
The home time of truckers depend on several factors. For many young drivers who want to start a career as an OTR driver, this has been one factor that discourage them from pursuing this profession. Truckers can be on the road for four to eight weeks, spend a week at home before hitting the road for the next shift. But there are ways to get home more often.
The best way is to work for a company with a terminal near your home. You can also spend more time at home if your route takes you through your city of residence. Owner operators don’t have this problem as they determine their own schedule and work whenever they feel like it. But not everybody can afford a tractor trailer when they are starting out in the industry.
It is essential to ask the right questions before choosing a trucking company. Ask how often you can make it home based on your state of residence if you work for the company. Make sure you know how long you have to stay away from home the first time when you come for the training and orientation. Also, ask them if there are other drivers from your area in the company’s employment. These can help you determine the time you will have for yourself and family when you are not hauling goods from coast to coast.
Is Trucking a Good Career?
Truckers earn a steady, modest pay while seeing the country. If you work as part of a team, you can earn upwards of $80,000. You will also get paid time off which you can spend with your family and friends. There is job security in the trucking industry because the number of drivers is less than the positions. If you have what it takes to excel in the field, you will always be gainfully employed. The only downside is the long time away from home. Many truckers have relationship issues because they hardly have time to spend with their family.
Whether you are a local driver, regional driver or OTR driver, the haulage industry offers several opportunities for people with a Commercial Driver’s License. You only need to enjoy solitude, have mechanical aptitude and love seeing the country on wheels.