I’ve been considering getting my CDL and becoming a truck driver. My dad has been a truck driver my whole life and for the last decade or so has been doing OTR teams. He tells me nearly every time we talk that in like 2 years I could be driving with him and making what he’s making ($100k+/yr). I don’t doubt that for one moment, but I’m not sure team driving is right for me.
There’s something really appealing about driving a big sleeper cab hauling cargo around through different states and all types of weather conditions –and being paid well. But there’s something really unappealing to forcing another body into that same cramped space and trying to sleep while the truck is moving and having to synchronize time off/showers/breaks/etc.
So my questions:
1. How hard is it to get into an OTR *solo* position as a new driver?
2. Do solo OTR make a lot less than teams?
3. Do solo OTR have more “free time” than team OTR?*
*I’d like to finish my bachelor’s degree that I’m about half-way into and perhaps pursue higher education after, trucking being a means to that. Figured I could take a class or two at a time while working?
