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The Lifestyle of an OTR Trucker: Navigating the Open Road
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WRITTEN BY: BLOOM SERVICES
What Is it Like Being an OTR Truck Driver?
Life as an OTR truck driver brings with it a wide range of benefits and experiences. Unlike other careers, trucking is a calling for some with a potential for higher earnings. OTR truckers are not cut out for sitting in offices or working a 9-5, they are of a different breed altogether. A trucker’s life is one of independence and freedom, but also toil and pitfalls. Over-the-road trucking isn’t for everyone, but it could be just the right lifestyle for you!
Daily Routine of an OTR Trucker
While every OTR trucker job will vary depending on the amount of driving you’re doing and even the organizations you’re partnering with/working for, there are a number of common similarities that most truckers share.
MorninG
For many OTR (Over-The-Road) truckers, early mornings on the road are a routine. Most begin their day by rising from the bunks in their truck cabs, whether parked at a truck stop or a roadside rest stop.
After getting up in their truck cab at a truck stop or rest area, they might freshen up, maybe even take a shower, and order food. While waiting, they check for dispatch updates missed during sleep.
Before hitting the road, they do a quick pre-trip inspection to ensure the truck’s safety.
Some truckers also turn their cab into a makeshift kitchen, getting creative with cooking, transforming into trucker gourmet cooks while on the go, and saving money to boot. Then, it’s back on the open road, heading toward the day’s destination.
Afternoon
For an OTR truck driver, the afternoon typically revolves around dropping off or picking up loads from various facilities such as distribution centers. Upon arriving at their destination, they’ll drive their truck to the loading dock of the respective organization. Here, a security guard or another employee will sign a bill of lading, providing the necessary documentation for the delivery. The OTR driver then receives specific instructions on the unloading process, which they promptly carry out.
In some instances, the driver may pick up another load at the same facility, gearing up for the next leg of the journey. Alternatively, a check-in with dispatch might be necessary to stay informed about any updates. Regardless, there is often a period of waiting as workers load or unload the truck before the driver can hit the road again. During this downtime, the driver typically seizes the opportunity to have lunch, freshen up, and take a well-deserved break.
Evening
If the OTR driver continues on a multi-day trip, the evening is when they would start to look for a comfortable place to spend the night. They’ll drive for as long as they can (or are legally allowed to) and pull off into a truck stop.
After finding a vacant spot, the driver would likely head inside their lodgings for a nice meal before retiring to their bunk.
During this free time, many truckers take time to enjoy hobbies like gaming or watching movies, or they’ll take some time to call home and check in on their families.
Towards the end of the night, they’ll message their dispatcher, and they’ll set their alarm clock to make sure they can get up the next morning and
do it all over again.
Challenges of OTR Trucking
Naturally, one of the most significant challenges of OTR trucking revolves around the extensive time spent away from friends and family. From long hours on the highway to unpredictable weather conditions, to the potential risk of theft, OTR truckers face obstacles that test their resilience on a daily basis. It’s a profession demanding constant vigilance and enduring long working hours, with drivers covering hundreds of miles each day, navigating traffic, and adhering to tight schedules for freight pick-ups and deliveries.
Despite the challenges, however, there’s a sense of freedom that comes with the open road—a unique camaraderie among those who share the highway. OTR truckers exhibit remarkable grit and determination, embodying a lifestyle they are uniquely built for – forging connections at rest stops, trucker-friendly diners, and through CB radios that echo across the airwaves.
Benefits of OTR Trucking
One of the biggest benefits of OTR trucking has to do with the almost unparalleled level of shift flexibility. Most truckers are in full control of when they start and stop their work day. So long as they are at the stated destination at the required time, it doesn’t matter – giving them a freedom that they would be hard-pressed to match through other positions.
For those who choose to be an OTR trucker in a lease-purchase program, the journey becomes even more exciting as it combines the freedom of the open road with the potential to eventually own your own truck.
OTR truckers in a lease-purchase program make more money than typical company drivers. Entry-level truckers only make about $50K a year, lease-purchase truckers can make well over $100,000 a year.
How to Become an OTR Driver?
Truckers play a crucial role in our daily lives. Because of you, we deliver products safely, securely, and on time. We offer brand-new trucks and trailers. Lease/rent or lease purchase, no down payment, walk away anytime, no credit checks, and more.
To learn more about the life of an OTR driver or working with us, contact Bloom Services today.
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