So you pick a school, get your CDL and it's time to head out onto the road. But I've got one major hangup about trucking: is it really worth it?

How many people who are on this site or in this industry are well qualified to do something else right now if they wanted? How many people legitimately love driving a rig every day?

Also, what is the money really like for company drivers? Not L/O or O/O but company drivers for one of the big cos like Werner, Swift or Schneider? How much could you really expect to make when you start, after your first year, etc.?

I have a wife & 3 dogs, no kids ... and want to get out on the road. We rent, don't own so no mortgage to worry about. I'm making somewhere around 36k/yr in WA right now but have always wanted to be a trucker. I'm not good at staying home and driving a desk/phone all day ... I need something more visually stimulating where I can be out and doing something - even if it's only driving.

So, is it worth it to probably GROSS 25k my first year out there, be away from home for weeks at a time and leave a decent job where I'm home every night? Call me sick, but I think it would be the most kick@$$ thing ever. But what's the reality here?

Anyone?

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And it's official: I Start school in Lewiston, ID - 15 Oct 08

How does your wife feel? You are young, so I am guessing that you haven't been married very long. Your marriage is one of the most important things to consider in the equation.

My hubby made 49K in his first year driving for one of the bigger companies. He is very frugal out on the road and keeps his expenses very low.

He was a chef for 28 years before changing careers. While he has been out on the road he has turned down multiple cooking jobs of people trying to lure him back. So he has other options.

Does he love his job? Some days yes, some days no. He likes many parts of his job, dislikes others. It is a question that only you can answer. And you have to give yourself a year before you can truthfully answer that question. Any new job will bring frustrations and tears, you have to give yourself long enough to get past that.

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25k ??? you planning on driving part-time ???lol

and... you can be home every night if that is what you want... might have to do a year first but also maybe not depending on your area...

in any case you'd still make more than 25k.

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Though your argument is very clever, I don't think it will lead to the results you desire. gandhi

Figure on .25 cpm to .30 cpm to start fresh out of school (after you go out with a trainer for 4 to 6 weeks). 2000 to 2500 miles is very attainable so your gross pay would be $625.00 per week at the .25 cpm level which equates to $32,500.00 for the first calendar year. If you start at .30 cpm at 2500 miles per week it would be $750.00 per week or $39,000.00 for the first calendar year. There is additional pay available such as bonuses and accessorial pay which could increase your earnings.

In my case I have been in fast food management, have my fcc broadcasters license and was a radio announcer, and also am a certified welder. There are other things I COULD do if I wanted to but in my case this is the EASIEST job I have ever had! I sit on my butt in air conditioned comfort, driving all over the country, and collect a great paycheck each week while the truck does the work. Sure I have to guide it and once in a while drop and hook trailers or back into a customer dock but that is childs play to me.

As for the hometime I am home each week for at least 34 hours plus swing thru the house for a few hours once or twice if needed. I drive with my spouse now a days so I do not have to go home if I do not want to.

Get your wife to drive with you and together you 2 can make over a hundred grand per year. It depends on how hard you want to work though.

As a solo you should make it to 50 grand per year within 2 to 3 years if you work hard and keep a safe driving record.

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Knowledge is Power

It was worth it when I drove, and it is worth it now that my hubby is. We are both qualified for a variety of other types of employment. Can't stand most of them because, most of the time, you end up with lazy co-workers that increase your workload or do other things that really tick one off. At least with trucking, the only co-worker you really need to get along with is your DM/Dispatcher. You will definitely make more than 25K your first year. The smallest paycheck you will see is during your 6-8 week training period. My hubby is on track to gross 40K or more this year, not counting his paid vacation time.

It's worth it if you find you love the work. It so happens that I sincerely love what I do and make a pretty honest living at it. If on the other hand you get out there and it just plain doesn't tickle your fancy it will make you miserable. Many of the things that make this job so very appealing to many of us are the same things that would make someone with more sense run like the wind. It takes a particular sort to do this job. There are a million folks out there who will tell you that they drove for a few years, darn few that can tell you that they have done it for a decade or two. Thirty years? Hens teeth and gold nuggets are commonplace by comparison. This is a job with very little in common with others, for that reason it is hard to get empathy from friends not in the business. These are things that I can accept or even appeal to me, but it isn't for everyone.

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Once I was young,
And went alone,
And wandering lost my way.

When a friend I found I felt me rich;
Man is cheered by man.

The Poetic Edda
circa 950 AD