OTR Truck Driving Jobs - Living Behind the Wheel of a Rig

Balancing work life and home life is a challenge for most people in the job market today. With the suffering economy many breadwinners have to decide to take a second job or spend quality time with their family. People that have (over-the-road) OTR truck driving jobs are facing quandary all the time, which results in less take home pay.

When on the road, what's life like? Fleet drivers and independents have many things in common.

You will sleep in your truck on most nights. Unless you have a mechanical problem that causes a long layover for repairs, a trucking company will not pay for you to stay in a motel. If you wish to stay in a motel at any time, somebody will place you in one, but you may have to pay for it. An independent carrier must remember that the more you spend on a motel room means less money you can spend on other things on life, like your mortgage.

When out on the open roads, you will need to buy your own food, so you might as well get used to the idea. This could cost a lot of money if you dine in restaurants constantly, even if you eat at cheaper priced truck stops that cater to OTR people. In contrast, there are multiple types of small refrigerators and cooking appliances offered in the market that could be use in your rig. To reduce expenditures, pack your meals. No matter what, though, you should make sure to retain any receipts for food that you have bought from any source. To claim your meals as a deduction at tax time you will need them.

How much driving is required in order to make a good salary? A report with no scientific basis indicated that 2850 to 3200 miles a week should spread the bills with some extra. Fuel savings programs or fuel surcharges are available to all truck drivers. The amount of savings may be determined by a number of factors; such as: the type of freight being hauled, the company that you drive for, and if you are a fleet driver or owner operator. All these things and more are important to keep in mind to come up with your own mileage number.

If you managed to line up a drop and hook gig, thank your lucky stars. No fuss, no muss, and adios. But if it's necessary for you to do your own loading or unloading, or to find a lumper locally to do it, this can leave you out on the road longer or take money out of your paycheck, sometimes both. You should consider this before you start an OTR truck driving job.

It should be really clear to understand that our income might fluctuate each week. How many miles you get depends on how much freight needs to be moved. You can quickly switch from being insanely bored to being overwhelmingly busy. This makes it hard to make family plans, but this is reality.