Question:
I'm not sure where to ask this, but figured it is a newbish question. I've been driving locally (1,200 +/- 200 miles a week) for 3 years since I couldnt get hired OTR because of my age. My plan was to work locally for 3 years till I was 25, then I'd have experience and be old enough that I wouldn't hear 'you're too young' or 'you have no experience so we can't hire you'.
Anyways, I have a nice job and I'm not in a hurry, but I've been applying to a few companies that will out of Colorado AND have short nosed trucks because I want to drive OTR instead of local. They have told me, they wont hire me cause I have no OTR Experience. IMO driving is driving, I know there are some differences but I didnt think it would be that big of a difference. OTR stays more or less on the highway, Local spends more time in the city. I would think you would WANT the guy who has experience driving safely though town. Especally one that thinks driving though rush hour traffic is fun.

Answer:
The insurers of the OTR companies are the ones calling the tune as far as "experience". Just suck it up, go with a company trainer for however long until you've got logging, and everything else the company wants you to know down, and get on with you life.
But why would you want to leave a local job that proably pays better than OTR? BOL

Answer:
HAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
Welcome to OTR trucking.
I went the same way. I drove local for years. Once I wanted to go OTR. I had to start all over, because I had no "OTR TRAINING".
I went to Schneider and they PAID me to take their school. Started first OTR job at .38 a mile. Not bad for not having any "OTR experiance".
Also, alot of places will require that is you have not driven OTR in the last 2 years as well.
They can care less if you drove OTR for 10 years and worked local for 2. You have to be trained again at many companies.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
It usually works the other way around...
A new driver will go OTR for a year or long and then get the local job with the OTR experience under their belt.
You might want to try getting on with a training OTR company. The insurance companies rule what most companies can do regarding drivers.

Answer:

I calculated it out and I'd make about the same OTR as I do locally. But, I feel more comfortable inside the truck and there really isnt anything to do locally. I'm one of those people who cant stand to be in the same place all the time. Plus there really isnt anything at home, besides TV and video games. I just get bored and usually end up going to bed early just so I can goto work. I also have to put in a lot of physical labor, and spend more time on the loading dock then I do in the truck.
Its not really a bad job, just a lot of physical work and the company is making some really bad decisions just to save money and most of them have some effect on me and I'm just getting tired of it. Like when the lease on my truck expired, instead of getting an International 9200i 4x6 tractor they decided it would be cheaper to get a 8600 4x2. Now maybe its just me but driving a single axle up to the Eisenhower Tunnel in the winter with only 5,000 LBS on a fully loaded trailer isnt the greatest idea ...... or driving through the winds in Wyoming! and in March/April they want me to start pulling a 53' and a 28' trailer or even two 53's though that mess.

Answer:
I guess I broke the mold. I had a total of 2 weeks OTR with a trainer and went local pulling a dump bucket. After 14 months of that I went OTR with no training needed. But I didn't try signing on with a big company. Smaller ones are more willing to give you a shot.

Answer:
Siegfree311 sez
Did you calculate that when you go full blown OTR that "road expenses" will eat up alot of that "same amount"
I went from a conservative $100 a week OTR to less than $20 a week running local
just a thought recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
How much do ya spend a week going to and from work in you POV? That adds to it.
It was cheaper for me to live on the road then be home every day.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
I personally like local over otr. I did otr with Swift, and while my time there was mostly positive, I like being home every night and every weekend.
I deliver to most of the same shippers and receivers every week since getting on local and have developed a kind of relationship with most of them. Its kinda nice to bump a dock and the dock boss says "we'll get it, come on in the office, the coffee is fresh", or you get a call on the cell, "hey, Dave, you left your two-wheeler here, I'll put it in the corner till you get back here".
Granted, I don't make the millions that alot of BBR's claim, but at this stage of my life, money isn't everything.
Codger

Answer:
I got me a job working for a small company running glass Fresno-Phoenix 4 and a half days a week I get most of Friday off and Sat. and Sun. Its just right for me its not local but its not completely OTR its that happy medium I can live with, but the overall question is OTR vs. Local and the only answer is different strokes for different folks, I know ones that don't see themselves ever running local they want to see the country and like life on the road and I see others that love being close to home working hard being home every night and getting weekends off. You just have to find your niche in the business I guess. BOL