Truckers come in all shapes and sizes – as do truck driving jobs. Choosing the right type of work is the first step in finding a career path that works for you. In the trucking industry, there are three major types of driving jobs, each with its own MAJOR differences: over the road (long distance), regional, and local.

Over The Road

This is the most exciting, grueling and lonesome work. It is not for the faint of heart, and it’s certainly not for the family man. Long haul truckers are gone for weeks at a time, living a nomadic lifestyle that is best suited for adventurous loners that don’t mind losing touch with the people back home. This type of job ecompasses your whole life, which is great for some people: people who just want to roam, who want to see each corner of the country, who are good at making friends on the fly, and then departing for long spells of solitude. Over the road jobs are also easier to find. Not many people can handle this type of work, so turnover is high and employers are always desperate to fill these positions fast. For these reasons, the pay is usually better.

Regional

The regional trucker also gets to make great money, with the added benefit of more home-time. A typical workweek is five days a week, with weekends off for time with the family. However, most employers don’t consider a “weekend” as something that begins Friday afternoon and ends Monday morning. Some companies won’t get you home until Saturday morning, often hauling a load that is expected to be delivered by Monday morning – meaning that you will have to depart again Sunday night. So, you get home at 7 a.m. on a Saturday and have to leave again around 11 p.m. on Sunday. There is a lot of variation between companies, though. Some are better at scheduling, some have nicer trucks while others have maintenance issues, some require loading and unloading while others don’t, some pay by the mile while others pay salary, and the average income between companies can vary quite a bit. However, since there is a serious shortage of truckers these days, chances are you can be picky and choose a better company with reliable trucks, high pay and good working conditions, especially if you have at least a year of experience under your belt.

Local

As a local driver, you will never be far from home. The type of work varies greatly, with duties that range far beyond simply driving. You could be loading and unloading, operating cranes and other heavy machinery, pumping fluids, or moving livestock. You will spend less time on the highway and more time on local streets with heavier traffic. The work is more physically demanding, and mental alertness is key with all the heavy-traffic driving that is required. Since more drivers seek out local jobs, the competition is far greater, and often, the pay is quite a bit less.

Each type of job comes with its own kind of living, and each takes a certain kind of style. Choosing the one that is best for you and your life will result in greater job satisfaction and overall happiness.