Because the reality around here makes it sound like you're lucky to scrape by on 40k a year. Meanwhile, out here in the non-truckers world, seems everyone and his brother has an anecdote about some guy who makes a fortune in trucking.

I've heard that plain old vanilla CDL-A doesn't get you TOO far, but adding Double & Triple, Tanker, and Hazmat (particularly Hazmat) can really help you out.

I'm not trying to break into trucking for the money; I'm trying to break into it for the ease of breaking into it. Still, I'd like to know what my realistic earning potential is.

Some people make a lot, some people make very little. There are many factors to consider. What company are you working for? How long do you stay out at a time? How much home time are you looking for? How well do you budget on the road? How many tickets are you getting? My husband made 49K his first year. Two friends who started at the same time that he did only made a fraction of that, for several different reasons. It really is an individual thing.

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mstabosz,

I have to agree with leannamarie. It depends on a lot of variables. The reason that 40K is not enough is due to many factors. It costs money to live on the road. Meals, laundry and toiletries to name a few. You need to also calculate how much your benefits will cost you. Don't forget about your contribution to your 401k.

The HazMat endorsement has helped me out greatly in terms of the money I make. I would get as many endorsments as possible to to help you find the right company for you.

Pay very close attention to the posts on here about bad companies. People are trying to tell you something! They might work for some but not the majority. You should be compensated for ALL of your on duty time. It will be hard to find a company like that but they are out there. Good luck.

By the way, I got into trucking because of a friend. I do find that I really enjoy driving. That, coupled with being home every night, weekends off and hourly pay makes it worthwhile. Am I going to be rich? Not hardly. It does pay a mortgage, bills and allows us a few vacations every year. Still, 78K is nothing to sneeze at for driving a truck.

Drive safe

there are for sure many variables involved. i would get ALL endorsements on license, definately! i am a driver trainer and had 20K MILES OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS # .36 PER MILE..... it all depends on your ambitoins/motivations and a little bit of luck, LOL

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
"if you don't HAVE the money to buy it, YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT"- DAVE RAMSEY

Way I figure it, if I can go OTR, I can abandon my apartment and live in the truck for much less.I am definitely, after I get my feet wet, study and get Hazmat and Double and Triple endorsements. Already have tanker from my Class B CDL.I read them religiously. I can see Swift and CR England are to be avoided. Right now, I am looking to hook up with USA Truck, and I don't find a lot of bad stuff about them.78k sounds like a pretty penny to me.

I am in the same boat as you mstabosz I have read so many things up and down and in and out. I just hope I will land with a decent comany and make a decent amount of money to live on. I also am going to try for every endorsement I think they can put on a license hopefully if anything it will make me ahead of some. I made 24K gross last year at current job so I hope to atleast make that doing the trucking thing. Hope all work out well for you.

i am under the impression that the guys who make the big bucks don't have time to sit on a blog and complain about how their company is shafting them on miles, pay, etc.

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

Who do you drive local for to make almost 80K a year? That is over $1600 a week, week in/week out.

When I ran local I was on track to make just $40K a year. I was at $19 an hour. I doubt you are making in the upper $30s an hour?

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Truth will always be "hate" to those that hate the truth.

ever heard of UPS/Fed-Ex?

Those guys can make KILLER money but i don't know about 80k/yr - but the job sucks. i'd be interested to know who pays 80k/yr for driving local/regional.

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

The guy in the LITTLE BROWN TRUCK makes on AVG 75k, & pays 28-45.00 per week for bennies.....REMEMBER UNION JOB......Driving tractor for big brown starts # 21+ per hour...then goes up from ther