Pay Rates - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

psychocreep · **^ Top** #1 01.02.2008

Hi,

I'm about to start my CDL training and one of the main concerns that my wife and I have is pay.

Does the pay honestly justify the time spent away from home?

Any idea of what to expect the first couple of years?

Thanks for any insight you can give.

Ohnoo · **^ Top** #2 01.02.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychocreep

Does the pay honestly justify the time spent away from home?

In the end thats somthing only you and your wife can decied.

2xR · **^ Top** #3 01.02.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychocreep

Any idea of what to expect the first couple of years?

Like any other job, you will have to pay your dues.

The first couple of years will not be kind. Your pay will be on the low side because you will have the distinction of being a "trainee", and, your expenses will be high because you have not yet learned how to live for cheap on the road.

Hang tough, get past the hard part, and trucking can be a very rewarding career. There are a lot of happy homes out here financed by a trucker's pay check.

Do your budget using the least take home you may earn, then when you make extra during peak periods, bank it. No one starves trucking unless they are wasteful, hazardous, or lazy.

Come get you some....

psychocreep · **^ Top** #4 01.02.2008

I really do appreciate the feed back. This helps a lot. Thank you.

stocktonhauler · **^ Top** #5 01.03.2008

The recruiting brochures advertise first year salaries averages of between 30 and 50 thousand. Yet, when I calculate what it would take to do this, I don't see how .28 cents per mile at 55mph, in an 11 hour day can add up to these salaries in the real world. How do the companies fudge to come up with these numbers, or are they real?

Ohnoo · **^ Top** #6 01.03.2008

Its not easy thats for sure but lets play with some numbers.

Avarage 2,000 miles a week for a year.
2,000X52= 104,000
104,000X.28= $29,120

Avarage 2,500 miles a week for a year.
2,500X52= 130,000 miles
130,000X.28 = $36,400

Avarage 3000 miles a week for a year.
3,000X52= 156,000 miles
156,000X.28 = $43,680

Keep in mind that those numbers are before taxes and dosent inclued any perks that an employer may give(yea I know).

The odds of a first year driver averaging 3K miles a week is slime but it is doable. And if they became a 6 month trainer they could pad up to another 10K onto any of those figures. Just keep in mind that the companies and recruiters are quoteing to you "the perfect world". And saddly thats the one place that we dont deliver to

myminpins · **^ Top** #7 01.03.2008

Some places also pay a safety bonus of anywhere from $0.005 cents per mile to $0.02 cents per mile.

Others sometimes pay a fuel bonus which can be anywhere from $0.02 cents per mile to $0.06 cents per mile.

Those add up to quite a bit more $$$ but ultimately don't expect more than $30,000 your first year out, IF THAT.

Joethemechanic · **^ Top** #8 01.03.2008

Ever notice that the truck driving schools advertise during the daytime TV shows like Jerry Springer, and Judge Whoever?

What does that tell you about their target market? The whole reason a guy opens a "truck driving school" is to scam the unemployed out of some student loan money, just like the beauty academes, and medical assistant schools do.

When you are broke and sitting at home watching trash TV during the day, those claims of 30,000 dollars look like good money. The problem is if you go to work for a OTR truckload carrier they are going to work you to death for that 30G.

Ok ok I'll admit now and again I watch those daytime TV shows. I think I have a thing for white trash girls.

leannamarie · **^ Top** #9 01.03.2008

The money was slow at first, but after six months it is starting to roll on in. My boyfriend started the last weekend in May, and for the year made about 22K. Not bad for 7 months, especially when you consider the first 6 weeks were at slave wages. And that does not include the two bonuses that he should make, about another 1500. So that 30-50 K mark is doable your first year.

stocktonhauler · **^ Top** #10 01.04.2008

Leannamarie--who does your boyfriend work for if you don't mind telling? Those figures do seem somewhat encouraging, especially since you report him driving cross country...

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