What am I missing?...

**abbadox** · 06.21.2012

I would like to state upfront that I mean no disrespect or that I know better then everyone. I realize that I must be missing something but not sure what it is.

My question is: is it really as easy as it appears...

From what I understand of the law the most you can run per day is 10 hours, 70 hours per week and then you must not run for 34 hours. Once you get some experience it sounds like 38 cents per mile is within reach for a company driver and after talking with a bunch of drivers at some local truck stops and reviewing what I could find online it seems like 2,500 miles a week is doable if you get with a good company so if I am not looking to get home much at all and are willing to run the full legal hours every week I should be able to make close to 50k right?. Again I am asking this thinking I must be missing something because it sounds too easy. I have worked a rotating shift for years in the military and have lived in the field for 3+ months at a time eating mostly mre's and a rare shower so sleeping in a truck and driving for ten hours to make 50K seems like a cake walk.

Please show me what I am missing?...

Thanks!

**x#1** · 06.21.2012

11 hours drive/3 on duty=14 total on duty hours.10 hours in the bunk. I will not get into what whomever pays as there are plenty of drivers willing to drive 62-63 mph trucks for .50/mile and all the electronic monitoring available in their truck that the industry has.THAT is not driving a truck IMHO,and we all know about opinions-

**FatDaddy** · 06.21.2012

Well for one, as a company driver with no experience it will be several years before you see .38/mi. And of course you are missing: detention, layover, maintanence, weather shutdowns, traffic, etc

**STexan** · 06.21.2012

There are many more trucks available and manned than there is freight. You need to understand this first and foremost. It is rare to be with a carrier (as an experienced driver) where you can consistently run at 100% efficiency. And running for the "mega carriers" where most new drivers must begin, 2,500 mpw is about all you can hope for consistently. Running mainly shorter, regional loads will run this average down even further. A lot has to do with how much you care to work, keeping yourself in the best position possible to get dispatched quickly (arrive and unload ASAP), and making yourself a good hand for the load planners while not setting yourself up for abuse (it's a fine line that must be learned)

**Newtrucker83** · 06.21.2012

Originally Posted by FatDaddy

Well for one, as a company driver with no experience it will be several years before you see .38/mi. And of course you are missing: detention, layover, maintanence, weather shutdowns, traffic, etc

.38/mile is doable, straight out of cdl school. Their are a couple of companies paying more than that out of school with no experience. i.e McElroy (also get weekends off) and Maverick (glass division) are both starting at .40/mile fresh out of school.

**x#1** · 06.21.2012

Originally Posted by STexan

, and making yourself a good hand for the load planners while not setting yourself up for abuse (it's a fine line that must be learned)

Now that is a powerful declaration. READ,HEED,and PROCEED with it-

**abbadox** · 06.21.2012

And of course you are missing: detention, layover, maintanence, weather shutdowns, traffic, etc

I know this stuff happens but the average of 2,500 is after all of that stuff or it would not be the average right?.

**abbadox** · 06.21.2012

. A lot has to do with how much you care to work, keeping yourself in the best position possible to get dispatched quickly (arrive and unload ASAP), and making yourself a good hand for the load planners while not setting yourself up for abuse (it's a fine line that must be learned)

The how much your willing/wanting to work I think is a huge factor. As I said I am not looking to get home per say much at all. I would like to take a vacation once a year for a week or two but otherwise I am looking to go full tilt for 48 weeks.

**abbadox** · 06.21.2012

11 hours drive/3 on duty=14 total on duty hours.10 hours in the bunk. I will not get into what whomever pays as there are plenty of drivers willing to drive 62-63 mph trucks for .50/mile and all the electronic monitoring available in their truck that the industry has.THAT is not driving a truck IMHO,and we all know about opinions-

Thanks for the info, I still have much to learn. Right now I am trying to decide which trucking school to take in WA state. I plan to enroll in the next month or so.

**Keyster** · 06.22.2012

Let's say as a rookie you land a relative dream job paying .38 cpm and consistently hitting 2500 mpw.
That's a cool $950 gross.
Now at 14 actual WORK hours per day, that comes to about 100 hours per week.
That means you're literally making $9.50 an hour.
This is IDEAL. More than likely you'll be working more hours to gain more miles.
Say 120 hours a week and 2000 miles - quite possible this winter.
That's $750 gross and $6.25 per hour.
This not not include the fact that you sleep in a compartment in your truck at a truck stop, and pay to eat truck stop food every day.
Think hard about this and do the math. There's a reason truck drivers are in such high demand.