Question:
Hi everyone, got a few questions for you!
I have been doing research on trucking for the past year now, I will be 21 next month and going to a driving school shortly after.
Now my questions are OTR Vs Regional Vs Local.
OTR I really don't want to do due to the fact that I am happy where I live and have obligations to fill here.
Regional I could do but I wouldn't want to be away for more than 4-7 days (ie out 4 home 4 or out 7 home 7)
Local is really what I want and I have been looking into it. To me it seems that more money can be made in both local and regional and being home the extra time is a huge bonus. If anyone drives here locally please give me your thought about which is the best way to go. I've looked into a few companies and they say they pay between 700-1000$ for local drivers home everyday, these jobs are different types from hauling stuff from one state to another and local delievers (IE driving for coke a cola) Are these numbers really that high? I live in LAS VEGAS, if that helps anyone around here that knows about driving locally in or around this area.
Thanks so much, if you need me to clairify anything I wrote or asked please let me know!

Answer:
One thing to keep in mind when looking to work for a beverage company like Coke, Pepsi, whoever.......
They usually have a low 'base pay' rate (hourly) and then pay an additional rate (per case of pop that you lump), for route sales. This involves setting up store displays, special promotions, town festivals, etc........
It's hard work and will wear you down fast.

Answer:
You can make fine money local, also look into line haul or LTL P/D.
Many line haul companies pay around .51 a mile. At leased they do around here. Some higher some a little lower. We just got our raise last week.
I turn 540 miles a night 5 nights a week. Get my .51 a mile and also get a few cents shy of 20 (after 8 hoursor over 40 other wise it is like 14.88 )a hour for drop/hook, wait time break down and so on.
While also of your line haul may only be 250 miles each way. Still very good money.
Check with some folks in your area like USF, Old D, Yellow, Fed Ex, ABF, Con Way, Jevic and local LTL companies.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Local may get you home every night but that bed can feel pretty good after a long day. Often as not, you have just about enough time to eat, shower, kiss the wife, grab a few hours and out the door you go.
I agree with daytrader that LTL P&D or line haul can be good pay wise and will get you home. There are drawbacks though. Non union P&D typically does not pay OT until you hit 60 hours. While you don't need a shiny long nose, a million mile White-GMC with no door panels gets old real quick. Until you get some time and grab a dedicated route, you get to fill in the blanks. That can make for a long learning curve as you become familiar with the different routes and customers. Some days the freight humping is all forklift, some days it is all floor loaded and you might be the lumper.
I liked line haul better than P&D but left that because my 400 mile run had four stops and there was no route change in sight. Four stops makes for an awful lot of set building and breaking often under rather adverse conditions.

Answer:
Running the same road every day or night can get old as well.
You also get to start at the bottom. Doing what no one else want to.
Myself, I like it so far. I know what line haul I have for the next year. We rebid last week.
As for dock work. It is bid out as is local city work. The others that do not big run P/D all over the state and fill in as extras. They still get 60 hours a week, but they do differant things.
You may be able to get on with a dump truck out fit or even a e mix out fit.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
When I first started driving I got on a regional gig that had me home most weekends.
Pay was in the $700.00 to $800.00 range weekly but accessory pay(multiple stops,driver un-load)played a big part of this.
I left as soon as I got a year under my belt(my plan all along)for a local job hauling lumber to residential home builders.
This payed hourly and my gross for 60 hours was $980.00.
I still drive locally although I am now hauling brick to residential home builders.
I am payed by the load now but routinely gross over a grand a week.
I cannot speak for other parts of the country or for other drivers preferences(OTR vs. Regional vs. Local)but I found the niche I like and it works for me.
Local driving jobs in the D/FW area pay anywhere from $10.00 to $20.00+ depending on experience.
Hope this helps.
Answer:
You should also consider your proximity to where you're going to work. I have a job similar to Gov's, delivering building materials. I can get home every night, but right now it isn't always worth it. I don't want to bring the truck home loaded because it will F-up my driveway. So that means I have to park it at the yard and drive home, 40 miles each way. Sure I get to sleep in my own bed, but like QRTRHRS said, I have just enough time to eat, shower, kiss the ole lady, and then run out the door. It costs me $20 in gas to run my F250 home and back again. That's potentially $100 a week, that I would rather have in my pocket than in some damned oil companies.

Answer:
Guys, Thanks very much for all the insight!
I don't really understand Line Hauls, though I'm looking into it...
Questions:
1. I heard that if you drive for UPS/FEDEX you get paid by the mile and sometimes you end up loosing a lot of money just sitting in the truck.
2. I looked in to companies like Coke,pepsi, bud.. they say they pay around $15-17 a hour, I understand about setting up all the displays and all that BS.. but just Gear Jammer said it's pointless to waste money driving from a yard to home every day, In Vegas I would imagin these companies headquarters would be centralized??
Thanks!

Answer:
Look also for manufacturers that have their own trucks. I drive for a local company that manufactures tow behind dump trailers. I pull a 53' drop deck and deliver their trailers all over the eastern United States. I have the best of both worlds. I drive over the road, but I usually get home every other day and every weekend. Some runs take three days and I'm out for two nights. I usually leave Sunday evening or Monday morning on my first run, usually there's only two runs and I get home Friday afternoon. Sometimes there's three shorter runs and I might not get home until Saturday morning, but would spend two nights at home during the week. I always come back empty, so there's no waiting around for freight and I have no dispatchers or deadlines to deal with. I deliver when I get there and come back when HOS permits.Wayne


Answer:
That sounds like a great gig, Wayne!
That kind of driving has been an elusive dream, so far, for me.

Answer:
You'd think so. But, as with all "elusive dreams" there's a downside. I'm paid a straight salary, which is good in a way, I always know how much my pay will be. But, I've had weeks where I've run over 3500 miles and that averages out to a pretty crappy per mile pay. I could make more with an irregular route carrier, but I wouldn't have the home time I have now, even with a SE regional gig. Since I have a three year old daughter, the home time is really important. I missed my other kids growing up, they're 22, 19 and 18. I'm not going to miss this one.Wayne