When you pursue a career in trucking, you want to decide what type of trucking job works best for you. Long haul trucking and short haul trucking both have their benefits. Take a look at the pros and cons of long haul and short haul trucking and evaluate which is best for you.
Long Haul Trucking
Long haul trucking is a form of trucking where drivers stay over night because the trip cannot be completed in one day. Truck drivers can expect to stay between one night or several nights away from home. For longer trips, team driving is popular for many long haul truckers. Team driving allows both truckers to drive which allows more hours to be worked and more money to be made. Check out Benefits of Team Driving!
Pros of long haul trucking
- Exploring the country
- Better pay
- Freedom
- Job flexibility
Cons of long haul trucking
- Time away from home
- Expenses tend to be much higher due to the amount of time on the road.
- Loneliness
- Long work days
Short Haul Trucking
Short haul trucking can be classified as regional or local. Work is usually about 100 miles from the home terminal. Short haul truckers can make up to four stops a day. While long haul drivers spend most of their time on large highways, short haul drivers spend more time on smaller streets.
Pros of Short Haul Trucking
- Expenses tend to be minimal
- The ability to go home for the day
- Job availability
- Opportunity to work close to home and in a familiar area
Cons of Short Haul Trucking
- Work flow might be inconsistent
- Less pay per job
- A lot of loading unloading
If you are unsure on what type of trucking you should do, take into consideration the pros and cons of long haul and short haul truck. Evaluate each type of trucking and see which best suits you.
