The famous saying “Do what you love and you will not have to work a single day of your life” has it right! There are certainly a lot of things to love about being a truck driver:

• Route options
• Flexibility
• Independence
• Compensation

Comparing with those who are stuck at the office, store, or a warehouse with a good few months a year coming to work when it is still dark in the morning and leaving after the workday into the darkness again, truckers have an advantage of ever-changing scenery.
It is true that being on the road for a big part of the day has its pressures and can hardly be called to vacation but it does come with its perks. Having great scenery around, seeing places without the need to set aside vacation dates, and spending more time in a warmer climate are just a few of them.
Depending on your lifestyle you can choose the routes that can allow you to spend weekends home in GTA, or be on the road for a few weeks in a row. The best part, you do not have to commit and can change it up from time to time.

What to consider choosing the best route for a long haul reefer driver?

Since it does directly affect the quality of your life, here are the factors to consider when choosing your routes:

• Distance
• Time spent on the road – 3days /5days/ 2 weeks?
• Compensation
• Weekends
• Climate
• Quality of the roads

Starting a new route is a bit more stressful, even for an experienced driver. That is why the studies show that long-haul drivers are likely to choose the routes in the familiar direction. 
Often, it can simply be explained by the optimal life/ work balance or fits with the family lifestyle better. But for some people starting new routes is a welcome change and breaking up the routine. The most important part is that the options are available!

East Coast Routes

For the drivers living in GTA, or south Ontario east coast long haul routes are offering a great way to make money and to be able to spend more time with their families. East Coast is a very busy industrial and commercial hub with the major megapolis of NYC in its heart.
The network of distribution centers keeps the drivers working along this route always busy as the trade between Canada and the USA is booming.
The intense schedule and relatively short distance between east coast major centers and Ontario usually leave drivers very little time to explore the scenic part of the route. Most part of this route is densely populated, sometimes leading to traffic congestion along the roads. 
For those who have a chance to explore and stop along the route, it includes as diverse areas as New York, Atlantic City, Adirondacks, and Catskills. 

Midwest Routes 

The 12 states in the central north of the USA, roughly between The Appalachian and Rocky mountains are traditionally called Midwest. It covers the major metropolitan areas of  Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati. For many years the Chicago railway junction was the largest in the world serving as the Heart of USA transportation. It defined the success of the industry offering convenient routes for raw materials and ready products.
The network of highways, connecting the area’s key centers offers reliable and more transportation alternatives to the railway. Its less congested roads allow drivers to deliver more efficiently while wasting less time in traffic jams. 
The midwest routes, as longer routes, offer a great possibility to make more money while enjoying the less stressful time on the road. As the area lies in the interior plains, there are no high elevations and rapid temperature drops, and narrow passages, as in the Appalachian mountains of the east.
While, mostly choosing this direction you will be taking advantage of the compensation structure that comes with it, most long haul drivers find it more relaxing. You can still enjoy the open views in the American plains and find this direction less stressful. 

Trans Canada Route

Trans- Canada route connects the East and West coasts and offers reliable transportation between the regions. As we are located in Ontario, almost at one-third of its entire length, it is still a 2 to 3 week round trip (with stopovers) between Toronto and Vancouver. On the way, it runs through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The shorter routes between Ontario and Alberta are also very popular and are in high demand.
As it skirts along the southern border of Canada, through its warmer part, it is not without the challenges of winter weather. Crossing Canadian Rockies adds to the challenges but offers incredibly beautiful scenery on the way. This is the route where the compensation adds to the sense of adventure if you are up to the longer trips.
The routes like this work well for the teams of 2 drivers, making it easier to share the challenges of the road, and complete the route faster.
The flexibility of the modern dispatching systems that allows to locate loads and plan the routes more efficiently, offers the drivers and owner-operators a lot of options. It makes it easier to meet both financial and life goals.
Drive safely while enjoying your job!