We are recruiting truck drivers to work for ‘For Hire Carrier’ companies that do Over The Road (OTR) deliveries.
OTR stands for “over the road,” which refers to drivers who transport materials over long distances (long haul), as opposed to local routes or regional runs. Long-haul drivers operate tractor trailers and big rigs (tractor trailer) that deliver products to specific destinations within the United States. These drivers engage in interstate travel.
Often the deliveries are time sensitive, which requires drivers to work on tight schedules. A typical shift may include two or three weeks of driving, then several days off at home. In some cases, the driver must also help load and unload heavy freight, other carriers have a “no touch” policy that prevents them from loading or unloading trucks.
As recruiters, our job is to find OTR drivers that have the following (the ideal driver):
Basic requirements
- Have a “Class A” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and is confident in driving the truck-trailer unit
- Has a valid Medical certificate (Medical card) and is healthy overall
- Be at least 23 years old (the legal age to drive OTR is 21, but we are looking for drivers that have some experience, for example – 2 years OTR experience)
- Clean records (good inspections and no violations and accidents, no drug and alcohol related records, clean criminal records)
- Good employment history (working longer periods at companies and has good reputation at former employers)
- Lives within the hiring area
Personal Skills and traits
- Have a passion for driving and travel, as this is what they do every working day
- Strong inventory and time-management skills to ensure that deliveries arrive on time
- Able to be several weeks at a time on the road by himself
- Positive, can-do attitude with confidence and willingness to adapt to meet any challenge
- Have a lot of patience and self-control on the road and off the road
- Collaborative and respectful towards coworkers (fleet managers, dispatchers, accounting, logistics etc.) and clients (shippers and receivers)
This “Ideal” driver can work for a carrier as a Company Driver (drive a company truck) or as an Owner Operator (drive their own truck or lease to buy truck)