I have been seeing a lot of adds for 50k to start. That to me seems like a lot for a new driver to start. In fact I called a tanker company and they told me I could be home every night and weekends. I would have to attend a community college and they would put me with a trainer. Then on my own. So is this possible or are they blowing smoke up my #####. I just want the straight poop before getting into driving and getting my hopes up for a good paying job. Everything I have done in life I started at the bottom and worked my way up as high as I could go. I'will be looking for your input. petesout

highly unlikely you'll be earning that much as a newbie/rookie, especially a tanker company. besides, this year is already 4 months old, soon to be 5, then when you graduate, when, in june...?? that'll give you just 6 months to finish this year off.......next year however, expect to make about $35,000 to $38,000.

Get it in writing before you commit to anything

__________________
"No, I am NOT going to put fuel in the truck because I won't be paid extra for it. Besides, that's a job for the fuel putter-inner's union" -MACK E-6

like pro1driver already said very doubtful...

I made just over 40,000 the first year I started and I did not go home 1 time for 6 months strait... I also averaged over 3000 miles per week

I have a buddy who works for maverick who also claims over $50,000
Well Maverick is a very good company and he made 48,000 last year..

He does go home every weekend but he runs his butt off during the week.. I know becuase we constantly talk to each other during the late hours to keep each other alert...

Anyways more like 35,000 your first year would be a realistic number..
The numbers they show you is always under the perfect conditions that DO NOT ever exist in trucking...

Find out what type of tanker company. I can only speak for gasoline and if it is I'd go for right now. I say that because with hauling gasoline you become specialized and in demand if your record is clean. Your starting pay will be low, around $14 to $15 an hour which is still higher than OTR if you count all the hours. You can set your goals to work for the majors like Chevron, Shell, ARCO, BP and such and they pay the top wages of anybody. I retired (almost 8 years ago) at $23.50 an hour and all my time was paid for. But you've got to have experience you get with them and sometimes it takes awhile. But while you're working you're gaining the experience and in no time at all you will know who to work for.

It sounds like an opportunity you should look at. See if they pay by the hour or by the mile. If they pay by the mile then I would think twice about it because you won't get the miles if you're home every night. Check to see where they load. Alot of times the gasoline companies will use a communty loading rack where all the companies load and you could go by there and maybe find a few drivers to talk to. Be careful and just don't walk onto the property without checking first but you might find where they stop for breaks.

Where I loaded in Las Vegas NV we all knew what all the companies paid and which companies were worth working for. You might even look for a driver dropping at a station and you could talk to him. I used to have all kinds of people come up to me asking all kinds of questions. Just be careful there too, he or she might be in a hurry and can't talk. Good luck and let us know. If it is gasoline I can help more but OTR tankers I don't know about.

did you guys see that this post is almost a year old?

LOL nope, didnt even look at it.. Just seen it pop up as someone had posted in it..

I was wondering a little cause I seen Pro1driver post and I haven't seen him in a long time...

Oh well perhaps it will answer the question for sombody else...

I just graduated school in Dec and although I drove several years ago that don't count now, my explorations for a position tell me most tanker companies are hard enough to get on with if OTR. And the good sounding local carriers, especially the gas haulers, require one or two years experience if not more.

That's funny I didn't look either. Oh well maybe someone can get something out of it.

count on $30k, be happy if it comes in any higher