Question:
A Trucker:
A trucker drives 2day+ loads, living in their truck at least a few days at a time, usually traveling long distances across several states. You work and sleep and eat and do everything to protect your charge like a competant cowboy or shepard. It's just you, the truck and the load. You really have to like truckstops and highways and think like a nomad and want to avoid the messiness of a 'normal' life a little (I think) to become a good trucker and enjoy your craft.
A Truck Driver
Drives a day-cab truck (no sleeper) in a smaller regional area. Truck Drivers usually don't sleep in their trucks before work. They go home, then go to work the next day like most jobs. The driving part almost becomes incidental to the lifestyle. They have a 'job' and live at home.
Both involve driving a truck and all the qualifications, training and skill that comes with it. Same craft behind the wheel -- driving truck is driving truck. Truck Drivers (local) become experts in what they do just like Truckers (otr) become experts in managing long trips.
But that's where the similiarty ends. Truckers have an 'on the road' lifestyle, living by their wits and wingin'it as they accomodate a constantly changing work/sleep/eat schedule, moving their equipment from state to state over large sections of the country a little (or a lot) each day. Truck Drivers go to work, drive the truck(s), finally park and go back home.
Once the novelty of working the equiment and driving these things wears off a little, you've got two very different jobs and lifestyles. Even though they share the same craft behind the wheel, the two different jobs represent drastically different lifestyles.
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"Luck is the residue of innitiative"
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[This message was edited by Shuffler on November 29, 2002 at 01:11.]

Answer:
Interesting.

Answer:
One of my favorite jobs had me as a "professional driver", because I never knew what vehicle(s) I might drive in a course of a day. It could be a car, a pickup, a 6 wheeler, a 10 wheeler, a daycab tractor trailer, a sleeper tractor trailer, or a forklift or various farm equipment.
"I consider myself a good judge of character, and that's why I don't like nobody."
-Roseanne
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That does sound kind'a fun Highwayman
[This message was edited by Shuffler on November 29, 2002 at 01:13.]

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It makes sense to me never looked at it that way but you are definitly on to something!!
aman
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I read this same thing in a magazine not long ago. I'll have to dig it up. A trucker drives a truck as does a truck driver. An over the road trucker drives OTR. A local trucker drives locally.
Lets see that would mean an OTR Truck Driver drives OTR and a local Truck Driver drives locally.
I don't see much great Philosophy in the different titles.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
then what am I?I've driven locally and otr, and now i drive local again, but with a sleeper, and occasionaly do overnighters?
If at first you don't suceed, get a bigger hammer

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To some, I think you're one of the lucky ones living both lifestyles. Sounds good to me!

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hehe, thanks shuffler.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and i'll give you something to cry about!

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I personally just call myself a "professional tourist" I just think it sounds better than a truck driver....Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

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I've always said there are "truck drivers" and "those of us that drive a truck". I think it equates to the same meaning.

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Trucker. AKA Truck dweller
Truck driver. AKA Local driver

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trucker=truckdweller,enjoys standard of living equal to a homeless person living in a car and showering at the YMCA,while working 2 full time minimum wage jobs.
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Truck driver,enjoys all the conforts of a home while off duty.Some are known to run legal,get paid for all time spent at work,get time and a half after 40 hours,paid holidays,paid coffee breaks.
Zigzag a certified failure at OTR trucking.
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zigzag, you couldn't have stated the truth any better

Answer:
Originally posted by zigzag:
trucker=truckdweller,enjoys standard of living equal to a homeless person living in a car and showering at the YMCA,while working 2 full time minimum wage jobs.
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Truck driver,enjoys all the conforts of a home while off duty.Some are known to run legal,get paid for all time spent at work,get time and a half after 40 hours,paid holidays,paid coffee breaks.
Paid lunch breaks too! At least I do.
"I consider myself a good judge of character, and that's why I don't like nobody."
-Roseanne