Local vs Dedicated vs Regional vs Longhaul (OTR): Pros and Cons of Each (Hometime, Pay, Workload)

As a trucker, you have the option of choosing which type of work you'd like to do; local, dedicated runs, regional or long-haul OTR work. Here in this video, we outline the pros and cons of each decision and help you find the type of work that's most suitable for you.

Local work typically involves driving in the city, dedicated runs are when you serve a single customer repeatedly, regional runs are around 500-mile trips, long-haul runs are around 1000 mile trips.

Brian covers the pros and cons of each option, and explains the differences in home time, workload, pay, lifestyle and much more!

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Soundtrack:
Sun Dog - Tiger Gang
Pop Filter - Alternate Endings
Hale - Away With It

[jamesmcfayden]

When I started driving trucks I went OTR. Enjoyed it when I first started trucking because I got to go to states and places I've never been or seen. I did OTR for 8 years. After a while I got tired of being on the road for weeks and months at a time and missing out on quality time with friends and family and to me OTR wasn't a life. I went regional/local where I'm home every other day and off weekends and I love it because I have that balance between home and the open road. I have a life now with my wife and family.

[airtylerb]

I cut my teeth on long haul otr at age 21, I was told ideally to get 3 years of clean otr experience then I could go anywhere I wanted. I kept it up for a year and a half then I switched companies and tried dedicated and regional. I’ve also had the chance to pull flatbed, van, and reefer, along with running a few oversize loads. Now, I’m on a really sweet dedicated account; home multiple nights a week, guaranteed 2k miles minimum per week (average 2.5k), and it’s stupid easy. All I have to do is grab a preloaded trailer, run the load, and it’s either drop and hook or live unload, then run it back to drop off and get ready for the next one.

[antoniobrewer]

Thank you for getting to the freaking point. I’ve learned more from this video than any other on this platform.

[peter]

I can’t do otr, it feels horrible not been at home every night.
Plus eating junk food and showering at gross truck stops 🤮! Not for me, i do local as an owner operator 6am thru 4 or 5 pm i can take care of my family, take my kids to sports and pull their ear when they needed, weekends off and still make great money.
Took me a while to find a good honest company who appreciate me and pays me very well. I am blessed!

[luisbarajas]

Every veteran driver I talked to spoke down on me for doing local first and that I would end up getting stuck blah blah blah. I’ve been doing amazing. Haven’t hit any bridges, made my deliveries on time, and I’ve yet to have trouble at any dock. I always encourage new drivers like myself to do what you think is best for you.

[smiller]

I did otr for 7 years when I started and didn't like being gone all the time. Now I'm dedicated home every night and weekends. I also make 80k a year so I find it about the same salary

[optimus]

Got a dedicated route Monday thru Friday, little over 80K a year(US), I love it, home every day and off on the weekends

[zzzz-ok]

LOCAL P&D, PAID HOURLY AND AFTER 8 HRS ITS ALL OVERTIME, FULL BENIFITS, RETIREMENT, VACATION PAY. RETIRED AT 54! I WORKED 12-15 HRS A DAY FOR MANY YEARS. AND NEVER LOOKED BACK!🍻🍻🍻

[lagoz]

I was OTR on a dedicated route for 4 years, it was a nice run and good job, but now i work as a local city driver with a company thats unionized, i make 27$ an hour, anything before or after my 8 is time and a half, even if i dont hit my 40, which i always do. I also get a pension, ill be able to retire at 55, great insurance, and a 401k. I do not not miss over the road, being home every day is nice, i average 55 to 60 hrs a week, when i was OTR i was doing 70 hrs and i make more money now then i did then. But OTR was a good experience for me, it made me appreciate things more, like sleeping in my own bed, using my own bathroom, being able to shower everyday. With all of that Ill never go back to OTR, also I can never work for a company thats not union anymore.

[Freyes]

I do Regional/dedicated, best job ever, Chicago to Indianapolis, drop and hook and come back.

[taxmann]

Right now I’m at $30 an hour locally… I am loving it… With almost 40 years of experience

[manneya]

If you want a life, local home every day is best. With the right company, it’s better money than OTR. Can make $30/hr and make 2 stops a day. In city LTL you make stops every 20-30 minutes and make 12-15 stops a day. True city driving that puts you in many more difficult situations.

[DubRighteous]

Best way to get a local job:

Hire on as a forklift driver for an LTL Freight Company and transition to driving with them. Or better yet, get most of your CDL training backing up trailers with the yard truck and then get one of the drivers to be kind enough to ride shotgun as you practice shifting and turning with your permit. Then get management to let you borrow a tractor and trailer to go do your test.

Congrats. You got paid to get your CDL.

[gomezx]

I realize this video is 2 years old, however local drivers peddling freight for a major LTL company like my self at ABF. We are at 30 am hour. FedEx, saia, OD, R&L you name it we are all about there 28-35 bucks and hour. Benefits, Retirement overtime is where the bigger difference lies.

[EuropeDriverHub]

Absolutely right. You should always start with driving local because there is more maneuvering and different ports you have to park on which is good to get some experience and to get started.

[keilspencer]

Good vibes, but whenever i tried getting local runs i was told i would have to do OTR first. One of the good things with dedicated, is you can spend your 10 hr break at 🏡 when in home state. No need for gps, you know your routes, its a balanced life style, quality time in and out.

[TheLoneWolf]

It's a little different here in the states if your a new driver it's hard to get a local driving job local jobs usually require 1-3 years experience so your mostly gonna be on regional or long haul starting out here in the states

[Maniseesbothsides]

Funny because when I first started out you had to go OTR before you could go local LOL. Because it seemed everyone wanted to be local

[andrewoldacre]

OTR Drivers should get paid more than everyone else..no im not OTR..

[noxeman]

Starting again after 3 years of no commercial driving. Going OTR for a year, after that we'll see. Wife gave me the thumbs up and the baby won't mind, I think.