Question:
Trying to decide if I should look for another local job or go OTR. I talked to Hunt. The recruiter told my 32 cents for a regional gig. Whats the average OTR driver make in a year?

Answer:
From what JB says, 32cpm.
If you can run 100,000 miles a year running regional.
32cpm x 100,000 = $32,000.
Minus out 7% HHG miles, your looking at $29,760 a year gross.
An average OTR driver running nationwide and not taking much home time, can easily run pretty close to 150,000 miles a year.
At 32cpm x 150,000 mi = $48,000 minus out 7% HHG miles, your looking at $44,640 a year gross.

Answer:
The problem with local work is that it often isent considered over the road experience if and when you decide to drive OTR in the future.
Also the problem with local from what I have heard is yeah you get to be home daily, but thats usually just to go to bed. Long hours in other words. No 9 to 5 job. Personally for me, I prefer regional work than long haul. Thats pretty much what I do now as an O/O. But I earn more per mile than most truckers so, it works out alright in my favor.
Do what you want. You will never know what something is like, if you dont try it. Try it for awhile, and if you dont like it go to OTR or find a regional company. Also, while I don't know your situation, on average there are better companies out there to do OTR than JB Hunt. Try a smaller company.

Answer:
Large, thanks for the info. I know what your saying about the local hours. I've worked local for the last 4 years, those 15 hour days in the winter can be rough. A lot of times I'd only get 8hrs off between shifts. That is not enough when I've got a 45 minute commute. Can you recommend a good OTR Carrier to drive for. I would prefer a west coast based company.

Answer:
The difference between local money and OTR money isn't as great as the different lifestyle.
It's two completely different jobs.
They both involve operating the same kind of equipment, but other than that, are totally different kinds of work situations.
So for what's it's worth - yes, money has to be part of your final decision. Just make sure OTR is what you REALLY want to give-up any normal life to do, before you do it.
The the most important difference between local and OTR: Lifestyle.

Answer:
You can get more rest running otr then running local. Local you may be home everyday but, your allways hooked to a pager and have to be ready to roll as soon as it goes off. Pay differance? You have to remember in the trucking industry You basicly set your own pay by how or who you decide to work for. In other words do you need to make 15k a year or 300k a year it's your choice. But, first you have to learn the industry. Keep asking questions and keep learning. If your new, running local will get you a lot more experience handling a rig then otr and BIG otr carriers don't care were your experience comes from as long as you can get from point A to point B safly.

Answer:
spoke to a classmate who, for personal reasons got a local job in Fort Lauderdale pulling bulk cement.
He said his average day started at 4-5 am and usually ended anywhere from 6-9 pm.
He figured the hours he worked, compared to his pay was a whopping 2.35 per hour. The guy who was in our class and gave this great presentation as to what a great company this was turned out to be a real bunghole.
Needless to say he'd get home just in time to collapse in bed and a whopping 5 hours sleep before he had to do it all over.
At least with the company I drive for I always get a decent nights sleep.

Answer:
Seems to be most drivers picks. After school and a few years on the road im gonna try for local. Far better than OTR.
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen