OTR
Posted by Chocolateapologycake@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 45 comments
How long do you stay out while doing OTR? What's the average that most people find to be the sweet spot? I have a bad frame of reference since we've been living in the tr uck for the time we've been teaming (recently bought a house) and prior to that all my jobs were local or out one night type of work.
Bigsad6969@reddit
I’m out 12 days home for 2 but I sometimes stay out 18 and off 3. My longest stretch was 8 months and it nearly killed trucking for me.
AnnulMe@reddit
4w out 4d home. I start going fuckin crazy at home by the middle of day 4. I sleep worse at home. Its always chores and errands and getting supplies and shit for 4 days. It feels more like work than work.
Red-Falcon2727@reddit
If you don't mind me asking, what's the average you guys make weekly after taxes being 4wks out ? I'm averaging $1400/wkly home daily, do you suggest going 4w out for better pay?
MrFahrenheit99@reddit
$1400 home DAILY!?!?
Thepopethroway@reddit
Yes, $1400 workly home daily paid
AnnulMe@reddit
Less than that. 1400 home daily is fuckin wild.
Classic-Set9902@reddit
How is that wild? Seems bang average
homucifer666@reddit
I sincerely doubt anyone on the OTR side of things is going to average significantly more than $1400/wk, and tradeoff in physical and mental health isn't worth whatever you gain.
Enjoy your home daily job; the grass isn't greener in the other pasture.
Red-Falcon2727@reddit
Thanks 👍
Choice_Manufacturer7@reddit
I was bringing home 3k a week hauling anhydrous ammonia in the south from Arkansas to Georgia. I stayed out 2 weeks, and then I took a week off. Then I went out 4 weeks and got a week off for staying out 4 weeks, since I volunteered to go out.
When I was hauling Butane, I would stay out two weeks and bring home 2k a week on average with a slow week being 1.7k and a great week being 2.5k
Hauling ammonia was the easiest money I've ever made in my life, three loads a week, M/W/F, 10 hours one way, and 10 back.
That was the lowest stress, easiest money, and I'd go back to start doing it again next week if I could.
There is money to be made driving OTR, but you have to have the experience, qualifications, credentials, and be trustworthy.
Hot_Falcon8471@reddit
Unless you get into specialized hauling like flatbed, RGN, or heavy haul.
AccomplishedHour8399@reddit
I am 1200/wk home daily, last week i worked 28 hours. But average 50-60 when its busy
AccomplishedHour8399@reddit
Ah you must be new here
Chocolateapologycake@reddit (OP)
On God, I swear all we do is errands on our home time
82ToyotaFarmin@reddit
2 weeks out, 3 days home.
keytiri@reddit
5 weeks out, 1 week off; I’ve done longer, 10-11 weeks, but I usually start getting antsy by week 7. If you don’t run, you won’t make money, so not sure how some people manage less. I guess it’s a bit company specific, but I’ve met drivers at mine content to do as little as 2 weeks for 4 days off.
Waisted-Desert@reddit
Typical is 3 to 4 weeks out. Our drivers are out no more than 10 days with the average being 6 days.
When I was OTR I'd stay out for 3 to 4 months. No house, no apartment, just a storage unit with my '66 Mustang.
Kolau@reddit
When i was OTR I stayed on the road for 3 months at a time and got 2 full weeks at home
MastrChang@reddit
Don’t go home
GlitteringSession115@reddit
I do school. So I usually stay out the semester then order books and pick em up at the house and go back out. 3m out 4 days home. Plus putting the wife through nursing so ya know. Most people I know. If everything is payed off and they are good usually go 4 to 6 weeks then home 4 days. Just find what works for you long as your not doing 2 weeks on 4 days off your usually fine.
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
Usually 8-12 days, home for resets which are almost always longer than a 34. When I want extra time off, or have specific dates I need off it’s never an issue.
Living-Ad5291@reddit
I’m home almost every weekend
ChoneFiggins4Lyfe@reddit
When I was truly OTR, I was out typically no more than a month and I’d get a weekend home, or I’d get a random weekday if I had something I wanted to do. My boss was cool, so he got me home mostly when I wanted to if I had back to back weeks I needed home, he got it, and if I needed an extra day or so, he gave it to me.
Freightliner15@reddit
I stay out about 4 weeks. But I'm also a trainer.
Chocolateapologycake@reddit (OP)
So basically every time a student upgrades you go home then?
Freightliner15@reddit
Yes.
tylerh369@reddit
I used to stay out for 4 to 6 months. Then home for a week or 2. When at home nothing but errands.
homucifer666@reddit
6-8 weeks right now, but I wouldn't recommend it. Trying to pad the savings account to move home again and take a fuel hauling job, so this is a temporary thing.
I would say come home as often as you can afford. How often that ends up being depends on what your company's leave policy is and how much you lose coming home.
Chocolateapologycake@reddit (OP)
Ya we’ve been doing 8 weeks. Far too much time out. I feel like an intruder in my house. Like I’m wearing someone else’s clothes and sleeping in their bed. I mourn the life I thought I would have and I’m worried I’m not going to ever get it.
homucifer666@reddit
Are you a trainee doing teams? That's the roughest pace. If you can handle that, you can handle just about anything.
RebelTvshka@reddit
When I was solo/training, I stayed out for about 2-3 months at a time. I needed the money though.
PathofEnlightment@reddit
6 to 12 weeks. Then Quit
MrFahrenheit99@reddit
I’m out 5 weeks, home 5 days. By the end of week 4 every car, van, bicycle, lamp post, and seagull has me homicidal. It’s best if I dont stay out more than 5 weeks lol.
Chocolateapologycake@reddit (OP)
We just did 8 weeks and I was seeing red and on the verge of ripping everyone’s head off. I feel ya.
Mundane408@reddit
Bro. Get a life. And I mean that in the literal sense. Pun intended. 😂😂. Stop working your life away. You have absolutely no personal time. There is more enjoyment that you’re missing out on at home. Experiences that you can have for growth that you won’t, and can’t find staring out the window. Get off the road!
Chocolateapologycake@reddit (OP)
Working on that. We’re going to a regional company and will be there for a bit then onto local and potentially not even trucking at all. I’m depressed from all the time on the road and so is my husband.
TruckerBiscuit@reddit
6-8 weeks usually.
Naborsx21@reddit
I uhhh am going home for the first time in about 14.months next week for 3 days.
:'D
Goldleader-23@reddit
Currently 3 weeks out 1 week home doing western regional.
I_mean_whatever_dude@reddit
I JUST posted this question, then saw you beat me by 15 minutes, so I deleted my post.
I do 8/8. I like money, and I don't like being home for less than a week at a time. Fiancé isn't thrilled but putting them through nursing, so there no huge complaints. The deal is when nursing school is done in getting a local. Until then, I'm on that grind as the kids say. My last gig this kid was bragging he was put for 6 months. Like bro, you live with your parents and are single.
Chocolateapologycake@reddit (OP)
lol. Inquiring minds wanna know! 😭😂 We just did 8 weeks and prior to that we did 16 weeks believe it or not. That was all to pad the checks for the upcoming home purchase. But we are really upset with our company now and looking to change and I think we are going to be doing no more than about 4 weeks out. I get really cranky when we are out so long tbh
Abucfan21@reddit
I got into trucking to get away from a stale relationship. I came home one day in my first six months. Found out I fricking love driving truck.
Came back after six months to the same girl, but the sparks were flying. We both realized what we loved about each other in the beginning, and then I started doing 3 weeks out, three days home.
I'm now on a dedicated route, home 4 nights a week, still making OTR money. It's fricking perfect.
vanishing_point@reddit
I think it's personal preference. When I started, I went looking for a place that got home weekends, and I found one. Then I found a better one. The third one was best, and I only ever did one 34 on the road, and that was by accident. Friday came, and me and the dispatcher couldn't figure out how we screwed up, but I was 6 hrs short and no recap hrs to be gained so the company put me up in a hotel.
My brother in-law on the other hand has always been an owner-op. He likes to stay out 3, 4 or more weeks at a time, and I get that. He's also 10 yrs younger than me (69 vs 59), so he has his motivations.
You make your decisions based on your situation.
COVFEFE-4U@reddit
I stayed out on average 2-3 weeks.
Snoringhounddog@reddit
I spend about a week out at a time and then come home for a couple days. I keep very little stuff in the truck in case we decide to part ways.