Hi all! Thanks for a great forum and site!

As a newbie, I am getting hit from all sides. The internet blogs are a mixed bag of “this is great” to “Don’t even try it”, the Company recruiters of course are peaches and cream, then we have the doom and gloom crowd, but we all have to deal with them everyday in any profession. I am trying to steer away from these nay-sayers. Seems they are everywhere, but as a percentage of total drivers I have talked to? A drop in the bucket. Perhaps the more succesful drivers and O/O are too busy working to gripe...

Anyway it all boils down to the cash: No miles, no earnings.

Can a new driver out of an independent school with a shiny new CDL, REALLY make in the 40k – 50k range first year OTR with a major carrier like SNI or similar, then on to bigger and better as time passes? Let's assume for sake of discussion a clean driving record and a fairly decent relationship with the dispatchers. (I know, good luck on that one LOL)

Thanks!

I can only speak from my experience that you won't see that the first year. Keep in mind you will be out from 4-8 weeks with a trainer earning from $300-$500 a week. That will cut into the first year's earnings. My boyfriend's first six months were pretty lean, some weeks were good and then back to horrible. But things are looking good now. If things continue for the next 12 month period, he should make over 40K no problem. But the first months were not so rosy.

Expect $28 - 38K your first year out. But it does get better

It's real easy to calculate the money before you even agree to orientation/go to work.

Simply ask them how long will you be in training. How much you will be paid during that period.

Then ask how much per mile you will make once you have your own truck...solo.

Then ask them how many miles you can expect to run per week. "All you want" is not acceptable. GET a number, then reduce that by 20% and you have a realistic figure.

Example:

$250 per week during training..6 weeks training

.28 per mile # 2500 miles per week = $700.00

You can figure on .30 a mile for a yearly average if you get regular raises your first year. Beware the company that says you get X number of raises in your first year...Then explains you didn't run enough miles to get those raises..... Red KW's ...cough cough.

44 weeks # $700 per week = $30,800 plus training pay of $1500

Gross Anual Pay Pre-Tax ------ $32,300 with only 30 days off for the entire year.

Figure in $100 per week in personal expenses... $28K before taxes

You can make more. Just be sure to select a company that PAYS you well and fairly during your training period.

A tip for you:

Cut through all the BS a recruiter tells you. Look at individual reports (availiable online) that show you what the fleetwide average PER MONTH miles are for that company.

Be realistic: You WILL NOT average 3000 miles per week at most of the "Majors". It will be less.

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Team Players.....
It's hard for me to play professional team sports. On a minor league salary.

Of course, the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are almost two years out-of-date. It is interesting to compare your location with other cities.

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It depends on the company and the driver. This is from our website.

Maverick drivers enjoy one of the best pay packages in the industry.

Drivers can expect to average over $52,000 during their 1st year!

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Hi again all! Thanks for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it! Sounds good, I just wanted to get off on the right foot with realistic expectations!

Its getting to the point where that is not enough.

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I spend that in like 3 days lol ($100)

My first year I was with Schnieder, here again as always it really depends on the dispatcher you have (that way pretty much all companies) Sni called them STL's

My experience with SNI was
I averaged $600-800 a week bring home (800 was with a load being cared over from the prier week)
I never went home

I think I made something like 48K for the year...
Is it possible? yes... is it hard? well you have several variables such as good dispatcher, time at home ext......

And a new one is HOR
Back then you was allowed to split break something you can not do at SNI anymore.. (always used 8-2 for dock times)
Sometime at the beginning of the year they will change the HOR again so you even will be able to work less...

So realistically the answer may be yes with everything falling into place it is possible but unlikely... And its going to get worse far as making decent money in this industry with all the HOR changes being talked about...


Remember its not a job but a lifestyle so money is second to your lifestyle change......

I spend $30- 50 bucks at wally world before I roll for my grub. I use my payback card for showers and coffee and could survive without spending anything more if I wanted, but will spend 20 bucks or so out there. Some weeks I spend more, but I am out there to make money not spend it.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Yeah man..im wondering about money to..cuz i would hate to have ta stomp somebodys head in for not paying me my dough..but yeah quick qeustion..can u ever make the same amount of money doing regional work as otr?



please say yes..lol