The whole lot You Must Know About Live performance Trucking

What’s Live performance Trucking?

Live performance trucking is a specialization within the trucking trade. It’s an OTR place the place drivers haul stage and lighting gear, devices, and anything wanted for live shows and reveals. Drivers will go on tour with bands or acts for just a few months at a time to help a whole tour or a leg of it. Most excursions will want a full group of drivers to work it, in order a live performance trucker, you’ll be spending a number of time together with your fellow drivers.

We had been capable of communicate with Cid, a CDL A Driver with Drive My Approach consumer, Upstaging. Cid has been with the corporate since January of 2021. He shared what his day-to-day appears like, what he enjoys about being a live performance trucker, and what it takes to do it.

“My common day begins with loading in round 6 am until 10 am, then I am going to catering for breakfast or lunch, take a stroll, sleep from 1pm to 9pm, load out and proceed on to the subsequent present,” shared Cid.

What Expertise Does a Live performance Trucker Want?

Live performance trucking is a superb and well-paying job, however there are a variety of abilities {that a} live performance trucker must have to achieve success.

The primary is consolation with late night time driving. Whereas most OTR drivers have some expertise with driving at night time, for a live performance trucker, it’s your bread and butter. That’s as a result of proper after a present wraps up, all the pieces must get loaded on the trailers and hauled to the subsequent cease. This implies beginning your route at 11 PM, midnight, and even 2 AM if a present goes that lengthy.

“This isn’t your common trucking job. We work arduous and have loads of downtime. Every venue is completely different, and also you’ll be taught one thing new on daily basis. You’ll want to regulate your sleep schedule, however when you’re on tour, you get into the rhythm (no pun supposed). The camaraderie on these excursions is like no different, we’re really one group,” shared Cid.

Management and group are additionally wanted abilities as a live performance trucker. Along with driving, live performance truckers (particularly Upstaging drivers) supervise the loading and unloading of kit out and in of the trailers earlier than and after the reveals. These abilities come into play once you’re on a time crunch attempting to get a trailer loaded so you possibly can hit the highway and make it to the subsequent vacation spot on time.

With regards to live performance trucking, drivers want to ensure they’re stepping into it for the suitable causes. Should you simply wish to meet musicians and hang around on the highway, live performance trucking isn’t the job for you. It’s enjoyable and rewarding, but additionally takes a critical, devoted and skilled driver to do it.

Advantages of Live performance Trucking with Upstaging

“Wage, plus per diem, plus lodge buyout are just a few of the perks of working with Upstaging. They lead the trade in driver pay as properly. Plus, being part of a shifting undertaking may be very satisfying. These reveals can’t make the subsequent vacation spot with out us,” shared Cid.

There’s a number of advantages to working as a live performance trucker, particularly with Upstaging. Listed below are just some of them.

Paid by the Day

No extra including miles and calculating issues like detention. Upstaging drivers are paid by the day. In different phrases, in the event you’re out on a 3-month tour, you’re getting paid for on daily basis of that tour, even days off.

Designated Truck Parking

Additionally, there’s no want to fret about truck parking as a live performance trucker. You received’t should be parking in a single day at lots, you’ll be parking in an area or outside venue the place spots will already be reserved for drivers.

No Contact Freight

Upstaging drivers don’t load and unload their trailers themselves. As a substitute, they supervise whereas the crew does it.

Staff Ambiance

Working as a live performance trucker means working with a group. You’ll be forming bonds with different drivers and staff you’re on tour with, which is way completely different out of your typical OTR place. Doing all your half to placed on a present that 1000’s of individuals will take pleasure in is unquestionably a perk, and one which Cid enjoys.

“Once you’re transporting leisure for 1000’s and 1000’s of followers, it’s good to be a part of group working collectively to attain an ideal end result,” shared Cid. 

Further Advantages

There’s many extra quality-of-life advantages to being an Upstaging driver, together with:

• New Tractor Trailers (None older than 4 years)
• Constructed-in Fridge
• Customized Designed Sleeper for Additional Area
• Catered Meals
• 28 days PTO per yr
• Schedule-based lodge allowance