How much could I make?

My first year I did 144,000 miles my second year 139,000 miles. Even though I got a four cent per mile raise at the end of the first year I still made more the first year because I had bonuses that I didn’t get the second year. I made $73,000 total was all bonuses the first year in about $66,000 my second year.

One thing I’ve since learned is that while most companies have a structured pay raise schedule if you’re a good driver, you run hot loads and get them there on time, at the end of the year or so you should be able to go in and ask for a specific spot rate per mile and they’ll probably give it to you. I went from 42 cents my first year to 46 cents my second. I’m #### good at my job and intend to go in and ask for 48-50 cpm, locked in for 2-3 years.

Do you follow sports? Do you think of professional football players are created equally and the same? There’s no difference for truck drivers. If you’re a good truck driver you’re in high demand and a company should pay for it. Hard-working, truck drivers who go above and beyond are not a dime a dozen anymore. get what you’re worth. If your lazy And just want to drive the minimum for a free place to live or whatever? Then just get whatever they’ll give you.

 

Your calculator is broke

 

I paid less than $900 from local community college back in '95. It was a full 320hr course with college credits and everything, even shows up on school transcript.

That same program is now attached to another technical college and the price went up to $1800. Still not a bad deal.

 

Its all about trip planning ! When I did Over the Road for a full year as a first time driver I hit the gym 3 times a week at the minimum. I joined Planet Fitness and always planned where I’d do my 10hr break. I’d parked behind it near PF or park at a truck stop , rest stop , Shipper/Receiver that allows over night parking , some Walmart’s or the company Drop Lot/Terminal and usually jog or ride my folding mountain bike to the gym and sometimes use Uber/Lyft. One reason I loved being in the Northeast you can find a PF near by.

 

Well, you definitely don't have to be an owner operator to make that kind of money. You just need some experience and the right company.

 

You have to stay off the Dread Pirate Trucker's channel. I know he seems knowledgeable and reputable, but there have been some inaccuracies in his videos.

 

I kind of skipped through this a little bit, but from the sound of it, I worry that you are thinking of this career as easy money.

I don't know what area you're from (may have missed that), but being based out of the Midwest, there have been probably six times in my career where the weather got so bad, I relied on my training, beared down, and made peace with the fact that I was going to get into an accident, so just try to minimize the damage when it happened.

Those accidents never happened, mind you, but that speaks not only to the excellent training I've received over the years, but also to the mindset you need to have out there. It gets hairy. You have to know the risks.

In bad weather, you don't need to be confident in your ability to drive. You need to be confident in your ability to know the truck's limits and read the road.

This is not an easy paycheck, this is not a safe job, this is nothing you've described it as. Lol

I'm not trying to discourage you, but you definitely need to know what you're getting into.

Nothing is a given in trucking.