I am new to this, but I know this regarding income, you will most likely not make more than the high $30k your first year. And keep in mind, the incomes are gross figures, not net. Back out your tax bracket (18-20% for many, more for others) and your net at $38k will be a take home of about $31k... $2600 a month. Now, you are out 2-3 weeks, home 2-3 days, at a time working essentially 7 days a week. Bottom line is... just what is stated above.. and elsewhere.. you must remember that ya gotta pay yer dues for 6 months or more, a year, even two, if you want to make good money and be home.

What worries me now, getting back into driving at this point in time, is that more drivers are making less and there are fewer good jobs due to the economy and cost of fuel. I am seeing more and more drivers on here saying :
1) newbies are being used and abused... getting 1200, 1500, 1800 miles a week after school... more drivers to keep trucks running but fewer miles
2) lies about pay (recruiter says one thing and then you get another)
3) very few ethical, honest large companies to work for...

The mileage thing scares the #### out of me, because I KNOW you need to run at least 2500 a week to make a livable wage. Less than that you're screwed, and you can't keep quitting to work elsewhere cause it screws your DAC. These companies have you by the 'nads the first 6 months to a year. So pick a good one.

Actually, the "net" tends to be even lower. You have to eat out of that $2600 while on the road. New drivers, and people looking at driving as a "new" career, are often misled by their own dreams. Nothing they see in the money is founded in reality.

The reality of trucking and money. If you have a job that allows you to bring home $450 a week or more. There are only 3 reasons to enter trucking. #1 You don't need any more money. #2 You are on the verge of starving, and need to eat somehow. #3 You're insane (which most of us in trucking are)

Logistics requires equipment and manpower. So long as any company pays by the mile. It makes good financial sense to hire 2 drivers for ever truck they own. Then park everything within the major shipping lanes. This insures on time delivery....even if you have to use 100 drivers to move a piece of freight 200 miles. They aren't losing any money either way.


There are only 2 reasons this company (Watkins & Shepard) won't move you. There isn't any freight, or you can't be counted on to get the load where they need it, when they need it.

I won't give a complete rundown..but I was offered loads that varied from 600-2700 miles on Friday. I chose the 600. Logistics works both ways

__________________
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I'm gonna kill the next SOB who tells me I look stressed out.

--Unknown

Your new! Fresh off the turnip truck.
What could you possibly know about trucking that makes you a 3500 mile a week driver right out of school?

Here is a good example.

Yesterday while driving from one track to another, I decided to cut through the mountains on roads I know are legal truck routes and shaved 30 miles off of what would have been the normal routed miles for a dispatched truck.
Both took the same time but I arrived saving 30 miles, my average speed was much lower, therefor raising my mpg and the mountain pass was easy (actual uphill climb was a moderate grade less than 2 miles).

Main point is this if I was a making .29 cpm I would have just added $8.70 to my pay for the week on a simple 90 mile trip.

I don't see how you new fish can complain about not making what you see these experienced drivers making.
Your not experienced.

A dispatchers job is to keep trucks moving, not drivers paid.
Dispatchers are evaluated on how well they keep company trailers loaded and moving, not how much drivers pay checks are.

Put yourself in a dispatchers shoes and ask yourself, "Am I valuable operator/asset to this company?

Before you set out and planning your route, do you consider safe alternate routes to lower miles, raise mpg and maybe even save time or are you one of those drivers who's high point of the day is merging 80,000 pounds into interstate traffic.

Im not trying to piss anyone off, just saying, lets look at this from both sides.

There is a cpm number you agree to before you even get in the truck.

Then there are the famous words "up to".

You can make "up to" (insert number here) your first year.

Another key word "YOU"

This is AMERICA, Ethics and large companies are not two words you share togher.
That my friends is poor english. lol

Your point, my friend, was well taken but I guess the fact that most new drivers are enthusiastic, hard working and willing to go the extra mile have no bearing here? For the last two months with the company I've not only attained but surpassed my mileage (keeping actual miles at or BELOW the projected route miles) and MPG expectations both of which are greatly appreciated by the company. Lately, the only discussions of alternate route planning I've heard at the truck stops have been mostly the O/O who are discussing how to route around the scales so they can continue to run overweight loads illegally on out Interstates. I respect your opinion and I'm sure you meant well but I must dis-agree with your opinion. What, in MY opinion makes a good driver? How about a perfect driving record, how about obeying the DOT hours of service rules dispite how badly you need to get the load there on time? Most importantly how about a driver who has respect and extends courtesy to other drivers? Too many times I've been cut off, not let into traffic or just plain pissed on by who?...yeah a fellow driver! I'm sure you are courteous and respectful but there are so many who are not..the few bad apples that spoil the bunch. I had one week with my company where I put in 3,612 miles which I was very happy with. I got the loads there on time, legally, under the projected miles and most importantly without bullying other drivers to get there on time. That is, again in MY opinion, what makes a 3,500 mile a week driver. Veteran drivers are not the only folks that I feel should get paid for hard work and dedication to their profession. Be safe and thank you for your opinion.

These are all great opinions and very helpful for those about to enter the trucking world. I would like to know however is how are the drivers doing that started this thread, or any other drivers working for W/S are doing? I am about to start with this company in a few weeks and would like to know if I should continue with this plan or maybe apply somewhere else? I know every company has pros and cons, but how is the frieght moving now and how are the dispatchers communicating to the drivers about the frieght? Thanks to all those that have posted on this subject.

I drove for watkin-Shepard for two years,so what is the fm dispatch it was zone when I was there,and is shirley still at santa fe springs,I did their 4week training and it was good,I could keep it between the ditches and get all the gears at the end of the training,I had a hard time making money with them,the miles were just to low,and at the time there were alot of drivers saying the same thing

I have been with them for two months and here is what I have personally experienced with them. The training is very good, the equipment is very well maintained and kept up, the support, if you should encounter enroute problems, is good as I have never had a problem contacting someone even after hours as they (the higher ups) DO give their cell numbers! I like the company very much but my only complaint...lately which has become the very bain of my existance...is the lack of miles. As I type this I'm sitting in Billings, MT where I have been sitting for two days SO FAR! The pay rate in my opinion is a bit low but I would be able to look past that if I were getting miles. Only twice in my two months so far have I had a load ready when I became empty & available. Other than those two times I sit, and sit, and sit...sometimes only half a day but on occasion I've sat as long as three days! They do offer layover pay but that unfortunately doesn't pay them dang bills! If while laid over they have local work they will give you that and it does pay pretty well BUT that's only if they have local freight. I've been offered it only once during my two months with them. As companies go I would say they are pretty high on the food chain only because if low miles are the ONLY COMPLAINT many of our drivers have tehn they must be doing pretty darn good on everything else. If your not a dumb *ss like me with two ex-wives, three kids a car payment and a house payment....aw, heck...give 'em a shot! As for me I need to keep them ex's happy and keep my tush outta jail. Best of luck.

Thanks Jersery Trucker for that information. About how many miles a week do you average? I figure I need 2300-2500 miles a week to pay the bills and have a little left over. I can handle a few weeks of low miles, but as long as I make up for it later in the month on other weeks. I mainly want to go with W/S for the training they have. I have heard it's great, but I would like to stay if the miles are good enough.