Most people who are thinking of entering the truck driving profession assume that truck driving only involves going cross-country; unfortunately, this false belief is one reason why some people do not want to become truck drivers. The fact is that there are several types of truck driving jobs within the trucking profession. Some trucking companies only service certain parts or regions of the state or the country or what is better known as Regional Truck Driving.
Where do Regional Truck Drivers Go?
Many trucking companies offer services to specific areas within the US. The regions serviced by these trucking companies may include the North East, West Coast, East Coast, Midwest or in some cases, the regions may be classified within the state boundaries. For example, some trucking companies may only service Northern California, others may service Central or Southern California. Finally, in some cases, the regions are based on the needs of the customer.
What are the Benefits of Regional Truck Driving?
Both the truck driver and the company can benefit from servicing certain regional areas.
- Since the area of service is localized, the company can easily keep track of all the drivers, communicate with them and ensure efficiency in the system.
- Since the truck driver operates within a small region of the state, he or she may be able to come home at the end of the workday or every weekend.
- In addition, working as a regional truck driver is not as demanding as driving across the state. The working distance is shorter and consequently, there is less boredom and monotony.
- Servicing regional areas allows the truck driver to develop close working relationships with the regular customers. In return, this allows for more predictable times of operating and efficient delivery of goods.
- Another benefit of being a regional truck driver is that he or she is not always required to handle the items they deliver. In most cases, the company that orders the delivery of the freight will have staff on the receiving end to help unload the truck.
- Finally, regional truck driving allows the driver to become more familiar with the major highways and routes and this also reduces the risk of accidents and allows the driver to predict times of congestion.
What are the Cons of Regional Truck Driving?
- Quick turnaround: In many cases, regional truck drivers usually have to deliver the freight on the same day and then quickly return to their home base to pick up another delivery. For this reason, some truckers may be on the road for long hours with little time to rest in between.
- Salary: In some cases, part of the salary will depend on the load that the driver carries. Overall, the salary is slightly less than that of a trucker who drives across the country. According to ZipRecruiter the average salary of a regional driver is about $61,000. Whereas OTR truck drivers average a higher yearly salary.
Who can be a Regional Truck Driver?
While any truck driver who is licensed can become a regional truck driver, this position is ideal for drivers with families/children with whom they want to spend time with on a regular basis.
Finally, regional truck driving may appeal to new drivers who want to assess the daily rigors of driving and the work involved. Once they feel comfortable, they can always venture for more extensive truck driving across the country.
For those who are not sure about what type of truck driving to undertake, the best advice is to speak to a trucking professional and get to know the pros and cons. Those who are looking into becoming a driver should also read this article to learn about what to expect your first year of driving.