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Short Haul

Short-haul trucking involves drivers driving to local and regional areas to deliver freight. Learn more about short-haul driving, the benefits and challenges, and FreightCenter’s relationship with short-haul drivers.

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What is Short-Haul Trucking?

Short-haul trucking involves drivers delivering freight to local and regional areas. The maximum distance a short-haul driver can drive varies, typically ranging from 150 to 250 miles.

Short-haul drivers work in shifts to transport various loads, from small packages to heavy items, using trucks of different sizes. Some local drivers use smaller trucks, while others employ the same specialized rigs as long-haul drivers.

There are two types of short-haul driving: regional and local. Regional drivers have more freedom on the road while still being able to return home daily. They cross state lines often, meaning they might have to sleep in their truck or at a hotel for a few nights, but they get to go home regularly.

Drivers who work locally operate within their cities or towns. They usually transport goods from warehouses to their destinations, often making multiple daily trips. They also handle perishable deliveries to places such as grocery stores and pharmacies. While they encounter more traffic, they benefit from returning home every day.

Short-haul drivers can also be divided into company drivers or owner-operators. Company drivers work directly for carriers and can receive health insurance and 401K benefits. Owner-operators are independent contractors who obtain loads through load boards or carrier contracts and have flexibility in choosing loads and time off.

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Duties of a Long Haul Driver

Short-haul drivers have many responsibilities under their belt. Some of the things they need to do include the following:

  • Drive a couple of hours delivering freight loads to local and regional destinations
  • Load and unload freight multiple times a day
  • Perform safety checks and possible maintenance before and after deliveries
  • Obey local traffic laws and regulations
  • Prepare for emergencies and unexpected interruptions

Commercial drivers typically need to log their hours of service (HOS) on an electronic logging device as part of their duties. However, short-haul drivers who drive within 150-250 miles are exempt from HOS rules so long as they don’t exceed the maximum working period of 14 hours.

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Entering the short-haul driving profession is quite straightforward. Most trucking jobs require a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which can be earned on your own or by participating in driving school. Many carriers offer paid training or accept graduates from partnered schools. Graduates usually must be 18 years old to drive local trucks and 21 years old to cross state lines.

Drivers also need to have the following qualities to be successful at short-haul driving:

  • Reliability and honesty
  • Good driving skills
  • Good at following directions
  • Can handle constant unloading and loading
  • Know the area well
  • Comfortable with predictable routes
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Frequently Asked Questions about Short Haul Trucking

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Q. What is short-haul trucking?

A.

Short-haul trucking involves drivers traveling within a 150- to 250-mile radius to deliver freight loads. Short-haul drivers work locally or regionally to provide loads of various sizes. Many drivers get to return home daily after their shifts are done, though some may have to spend a night or two away from home, depending on the load.

Q. How does short-haul differ from long-haul?

A.

Long-haul trucking (or over-the-road trucking) is when truck drivers travel long distances (over 250 miles) to deliver freight. Unlike short-haul drivers, long-haul drivers deliver beyond their head stations, usually making 1000-2000 miles per trip. Since they travel so far, long-haul drivers don’t usually get to go home for days or even weeks at a time, but they’re paid more in return. However, short-haul drivers have a better work-life balance and have fewer expenses than long-haul drivers.

Q. Is short-haul trucking the same as line haul?

A.

It’s a complicated answer. Line haul is a logistics model that involves moving freight across different modes of transportation. Freight is transferred from one point to the next in a relay race to reduce costs and increase efficiency and timeliness. Short-haul drivers can be a part of a line haul operation; they work in shifts delivering freight from one place to another, usually from a warehouse or terminal to a local endpoint. Some short-haul drivers are even called line-haul drivers by their carriers. However, short-haul trucking isn’t line haul itself; it’s a form of freight trucking that line haul can utilize for effective delivery.

Q. How does someone become a short-haul driver?

A.

Prospective short-haul drivers should obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or enroll in a driving school. Many carriers will sponsor students if they can’t afford the tuition and may even offer their in-house training. Drivers must be 18 years old to drive locally and over 21 years old to travel outside their home state.

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