What’s a regional truck driver?

Regional truck driver jobs appeal to people for many different reasons. As opposed to Over The Road (OTR) or long-haul truck driving jobs, regional truck driver jobs operate in just one region of the country, allowing for shorter trips and thus more home time. Let’s look into what regional truck driver jobs entail, and why many people want them.

Why become a regional truck driver?

The appeal of regional truck driver jobs is that they often provide drivers with more home time than a typical OTR or long-haul job. It is not unusual for regional truck drivers to find themselves home on the weekends, or even during the workweek on occasion. Because of the nature of the job, the shorter trips allow for the chance of a more consistent schedule, whereby you know what hours and days you will be working each week, and exactly when your time at home will be.

What’s more, regional truck driving jobs often provide the ability for drivers to form closer relationships with their customers and even people along their routes, as they often service the same people and/or become regular visitors to certain businesses or locations. Because of this, you also have the opportunity to use your time more effectively, as you can become more aware of things such as traffic, hours of operation, and more.

Another benefit of a regional job is that you have the ability to stay close to home, even while on the road. Not only does that give you the previously mentioned increase in time at home, but it provides the benefit of allowing you to stay in the region that you choose to call home, and also stay close by if you have a family — something which can be important in the case of an emergency or other special circumstance.

How much do regional truck drivers make?

As with any profession, the amount of money that you make as a regional truck driver depends on factors such as experience and the company that you work for. However, a regional truck driver can expect to earn between $35,000 and $65,000 per year.

What is the best paying trucking company?

When you are looking for a regional truck driver job, obviously salary is an important factor to consider. However, as with any job, it is never a good idea to make your entire decision based on which job pays the most. When you are looking for the best trucking company to work for, the pay is important, but there are also other factors to consider.

Matheson is an excellent company to work for if you have at least a year’s worth of experience, not only because of how well you will be compensated. Here are some of the most important factors related to pay in a regional trucking job:

Hourly Pay vs Pay By The Mile

While many companies pay drivers by the mile, at Matheson you will always be paid at an hourly rate. What this means is that you are always fairly compensated for every single hour that you are on the road — even when you hit roadblocks such as traffic or detours. It also means that you do not have to worry about how much money you will get each paycheck, as it is always guaranteed that you will be compensated for every hour worked.

Regular Scheduling

You will also have the guarantee that your schedule will be the same week over week, so that you not only know how much you are earning each week, but how much time at home you will have, and there are no surprises sprung on you last minute.

Benefits

Along with competitive salaries, Matheson offers comprehensive employee benefits, including medical insurance, life insurance, and retirement plans. There are also employee assistance programs and other benefits. These are the kinds of benefits that matter just as much as how much you earn on your paycheck every month.
If you would like to view our requirements in more detail, as well as current job openings, visit our careers page now.