Truckers don’t just work in long-haul, cross-country capacities. In fact, today there are numerous types of Class A truck driving jobs for solo drivers available. Taking a closer look at these types of jobs can help you identify an opportunity that fits your goals and lifestyle.
Truckers have a lot of options in terms of how they drive, where they drive, and how long they’re out on the road. Each type of job carries its own benefits.
Types of Class A Truck Drivers
To start, let’s look at the two main types of Class A truck drivers.
Company Drivers
Company drivers are the most common types of Class A drivers. They are directly employed by a company and drive company-owned trucks. Almost all truck drivers start out in one of these positions. The biggest benefit of being a company driver is that you don’t pay out of pocket for things like fuel, repairs, or maintenance, as do owner operators.
Owner Operators
Owner operators own their own vehicles and contract to trucking companies. This obviously requires a substantial investment since you need to purchase your own truck, but once you do so, you’ll find that working as an owner operator can earn you a significant amount of money.
One way to get started as an owner operator is to enroll in a lease-purchase program.
Types of Truck Driving Jobs
No matter what type of driver you are (owner operator or company driver), the following sorts of jobs — or lanes —are available to you. Not all trucking companies offer these options, so look for these terms when you’re searching for jobs online or use them when you talk to a recruiter to find the right position.
Dedicated Truck Driving Jobs
Dedicated truck driving jobs are essentially as close as you can come to a normal routine as a truck driver. With a dedicated truck driving job, a driver is assigned a regular route that they drive each week. The route could be somewhat local or could involve overnight or multi-day trips, but it is consistent each week.
With these jobs, drivers will be home weekly and will have a fairly predictable level of pay since they’ll be paid for the same route each week.
Local Truck Driving Jobs
Local truck drivers drive routes in a local “home” area. While each day’s route may be different, local drivers stick to the same area and are able to get home each day.
Pay is typically lower for local truck driving jobs since they offer a more traditional daily schedule. Compensation can also fluctuate slightly since the driving assignments vary.
OTR Truck Driving Jobs
Over the road, or OTR, refers to positions that require drivers to spend anywhere from two to three weeks on the road at a time. During that period, they’ll haul freight for numerous companies and cover a considerable amount of ground.
Because truck driver pay is based on the number miles driven and OTR jobs feature high miles, OTR truck driving jobs are generally better compensated than other types of truck driving jobs. The tradeoff is that OTR drivers don’t get home as frequently.
Regional Truck Driving Jobs
A regional driver hauls freight within a specific region only. They may drive for multiple companies or could work for a single company.
Regional truck driving jobs will include longer hauls than local routes. And regional truck drivers will be able to return home fairly regularly, although not as predictably as dedicated drivers.
Finding the Right Truck Driving Job
As you can see, there are more types of truck driving jobs than most realize. If you own a rig, you are probably already aware of these options and have your preference. Drivers who are just getting started as company drivers, though, may want to try out some of the different types of assignments as they work to find the best fit for their career and lifestyle.
The important thing to remember is that the trucking industry offers drivers lots of ways to work. In other words, if you feel like you aren’t satisfied with a particular position, you have options. Finding the right job will come down to balancing your schedule, location, family responsibilities, and desired income. But there will certainly be an option that fits your needs.
To find the right fit, browse our current job openings, which includes dedicated, local, and OTR positions across the country. Or talk to one of our recruiters by calling (479) 361-5425.