Originally Posted by kimmeegoose

Beleive what you want, but I see somebody else here agrees with my numbers. Also, if you read the original post then you would know that her husband is going through training now. So yes that $.23 is an average training wage at any of the biggies. You are esentially "in training" for at least a year at most companies. If you dont beleive it, you can call any and ask them. Also, most of the biggies and many of the small ones start out at roughly $.30 per mile for "newbie" drivers if you "pay" for your own schooling. If you dont beleive that then call them and ask.

Sounds to me like you are pretty cynical with your answers, your profile says that you are a trucker's wife, if that is so then you know what I have said to be true--if not then you may want to discuss it with your supposed husband, I'm sure he could confirm this.

Also, these numbers $450-$600 are take home numbers. $450 is roughly the takehome on $.23 and $600 is roughly the takehome on $.30 after taxes and insurance. If you dont beleive that, then run the numbers yourself, I took this on an average of 2500 miles per week, which BTW, if a newbie is consistently running is pretty good. If you figure even $.30 per miles at 2500 miles per week that is $39,000 a year (which was my high end) and if you figure $.23 a mile at 2500 miles per week that is $29,900 (which was my low end) Check out the companies if you want and you will see that I am right.

Average for a newbie driver 1 year out is $.32 per mile and that is $41,600 based on 2500 miles per week. Now remember I am saying average, of course some companies pay less and some pay more. Your takehome on that obviously is not $41,600, it is more like $30,000 a year which is exactly what I said. That is providing you pay taxes and insurance(which here in America we do) then take about $5200 away from that($100 a week spending while on the road, average that is) and you have an annual take home of $24,800. Anybody on here will tell you that my numbers are real close for the average driver. I agree that flatbed pays a little more than van, but the time you will spend with a trainer is longer also, so therefore your actual pay may be a little less. A company is not gonna pay you $.23 per mile with a trainer, most average around $.12 per mile while with a trainer(which is usually 5-7 weeks depending on the company). So that means that for the first 2 months that you are a newbie your pay will roughly average $500 a week or less depending on how many miles the trainer wants to drive or thinks you are able to drive. And the company still takes taxes out of that, so you can figure $400 takehome, plus you still have to live on the roadso you can figure $100 a week for that, so your takehome is $300. If you dont beleive that, then call the companies and ask. Or ask other drivers here, we have all been there and did that. Some may have got lucky and got more, and some may have got less--I am speaking in averages.

Like I said previously, if you are truly a trucker's wife(like your profile says) then you already know this, but you just like to argue.

Originally Posted by Timtruck

I don't like to argue, I just don't like to see negative people with nothing good to say about anything. This was actually the first time I posted anything disagreeing with someone elses view. No job is perfect but most people can find something good to say about what they do for a living and if you are that negative about driving a truck then why don't you do something else? BTW, to question that I am married was the most ridiculous thing you could have said. What reason would anyone have to lie about that. Just chalk it up to getting off on the wrong foot this time. I try to be a positive person and your original post was so negative I felt that I should respond to support the person that started the thread. I am in a similar boat as she is. My husband changed careers and we have 3 children, one is very young. I researched and sifted through all the posts and websites I could before even registered with this board. There are some companies that don't pay very well starting out but you made it sound like it would be years before someone would make a decent living driving a truck. From the research I've done, I don't believe that is the case or there wouldn't be truck drivers. The last thing I wanted to do was hijack this thread arguing with someone. Can we agree to disagree and move on please?