gotto_03801
Seasoned Expediter
how is the life of an expediter that stays out for weeks or months at a time different vs an OTR driver
dirrence between life of an expediter vs an OTR driver
- Thread starter gotto_03801
- Start date
If the OTR driver is an employee, as many are, he has no choice in which loads to take: if it's sent to his truck, he is on it. They are usually promised home every oher weekend, and that promise is kept - though they may be required to begin the weekend with picking up a preloaded trailer on Sat morning, after which they are on their weekend, as they deadhead home. That trailer may need delivered Monday morning, requiring them to leave home Sunday night, so it's not much of a weekend, lol, but that's how it goes.
The OTR driver is usually moving nonstop, except for mandatory rest breaks, while expedite delivers, then waits for the next load, much like a taxi. When the next load comes, it's often with very little time to spare, so drivers must be ready to go when in service.
Because the OTR drivers are in company owned trucks, while expedite is mostly O/Os, the difference in amenities on board can be tremendous. When I drove a company t/t, nothing was permitted that couldn't be run from a removable 12v plug - no microwaves or other power suckers permitted. Anything wired to batteries would be confiscated when truck went into the shop, unless the driver got it off first. [I'm sure some did.] Expediters pretty much live in the truck, and require enough comfort and convenience to make it worthwhile to stay out for long periods.
Company drivers have employee status and benefits, expediters are independent contractors, who provide their own. The trade off in freedom vs security is what attracts some to one kind of driving, others to another.
The OTR driver is usually moving nonstop, except for mandatory rest breaks, while expedite delivers, then waits for the next load, much like a taxi. When the next load comes, it's often with very little time to spare, so drivers must be ready to go when in service.
Because the OTR drivers are in company owned trucks, while expedite is mostly O/Os, the difference in amenities on board can be tremendous. When I drove a company t/t, nothing was permitted that couldn't be run from a removable 12v plug - no microwaves or other power suckers permitted. Anything wired to batteries would be confiscated when truck went into the shop, unless the driver got it off first. [I'm sure some did.] Expediters pretty much live in the truck, and require enough comfort and convenience to make it worthwhile to stay out for long periods.
Company drivers have employee status and benefits, expediters are independent contractors, who provide their own. The trade off in freedom vs security is what attracts some to one kind of driving, others to another.
