Types of Truck Driving Jobs – Local, Regional, OTR & More

Truck Driving Job Types Guide

Trucking is a vital industry that plays a significant role in the transportation of goods and materials across the country. Willow Creek Trucking is a leading company that offers a variety of trucking job types for drivers with different skill levels and experience. In this article, we will go over the various types of truck drivers and jobs needed at Willow Creek Trucking and the pros and cons of each.

Types of Trucking Jobs

Trucking job types are often broken down by the type of travel needed, materials being transported and any additional work that may be needed. Here's a brief explanation of each general type of trucking.

Local Drivers

Local drivers at Willow Creek Trucking typically transport goods and materials within a specific area or region. They may make multiple stops in a single day, but they usually return home at night. Local drivers often work regular business hours and have more predictable schedules compared to other types of trucking jobs. Local driving jobs at Willow Creek Trucking are in high demand and offer competitive pay and benefits. Local drivers may hold a Class B license and drive a truck designed to fit more comfortably on city streets.

Regional Drivers

Regional drivers at Willow Creek Trucking transport goods and materials within a specific region or area. They may travel to different states within the region, but they usually return home at the end of each workweek. Regional drivers at Willow Creek Trucking have the opportunity to choose between short-haul and long-haul routes. Short-haul regional drivers typically transport goods and materials within a few hundred miles of their home base, while long-haul regional drivers may travel up to 1,000 miles from home. Regional drivers at Willow Creek Trucking enjoy a balance between home time and the opportunity to see different parts of the country. Most work at Willow Creek Trucking is regional, with 90% of trucking job types occurring within 300 miles of our central location, ensuring drivers are home for the weekends.

OTR Drivers

OTR drivers, also known as over-the-road drivers, transport goods and materials across the country. They may be away from home for several days or weeks at a time and may travel to different states and regions. OTR drivers at Willow Creek Trucking must have excellent time management skills and be able to handle long periods of time on the road. OTR driving jobs at Willow Creek Trucking offer competitive pay and benefits.

LTL Drivers

LTL stands for less than truckload. LTL drivers at Willow Creek Trucking transport smaller shipments that do not require a full truckload. LTL drivers may make multiple stops in a single day and may be responsible for loading and unloading shipments. LTL drivers at Willow Creek Trucking must have excellent customer service skills and be able to handle the loading and unloading of shipments efficiently and safely. LTL driving jobs at Willow Creek Trucking offer competitive pay and benefits and the opportunity to work with a variety of customers and destinations.

Farm Haul Drivers

While there are many types of trucking companies, Willow Creek Trucking focuses on farm hauling, which includes the transport of agricultural goods and materials from farms to processing facilities, distribution centers and other destinations. They may also transport livestock and other animals, chemical fertilizers, seed and other products. Farm haul drivers at Willow Creek Trucking must be knowledgeable about the handling and transportation of agricultural products and animals and must adhere to all regulations and laws related to these types of shipments. Farm haul drivers at Willow Creek Trucking have the opportunity to choose between local, regional and OTR routes.

Do You Need a CDL to Drive a Truck?

CDL drivers are required to have a special license to operate commercial vehicles that weigh 26,001 pounds or more. There are three types of CDL licenses, but at Willow Creek Trucking, we work mostly with Class A. However, there may be opportunities for those with a Class B license. Here's a brief explanation of the different types of commercial driver's licenses that we hire.

• CDL A: This is the standard CDL that lets you drive a semitruck with a trailer in tow. Anyone with a CDL A can drive a truck with a GVWR greater than 26,000 pounds and a trailer weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
• CDL B: A Class B CDL is a restricted license, as you are not allowed to drive large tractors that tow 10,000 pounds or more. This eliminates the ability to drive a standard 53' trailer. Instead, you can drive vehicles such as dump trucks, delivery trucks and city buses.

Work With Willow Creek

Competitive pay for trucking jobs at Willow Creek Trucking starts at a guaranteed minimum of $1,400 per week, with an additional $0.56 per mile for every mile over 2500 in a single week. All expenses are paid by the company, including fully stocked lounges and shower supplies.

If you have a CDL A or B and are interested in flexible work options from routes that put you home at the end of every day or week to long haul options that let you explore the whole country, apply at Willow Creek. Our exceptional benefits, guaranteed minimum pay and comprehensive benefits let you take home every penny you earn without the hassle of paying at the pump or paying tolls out of pocket.