Questions from a WannaBe

all schools teach for the test, you get the rest of the knowledge on-the-job.
company drivers will not start out making that much money usually. 5 years ago i did strting out, but that was at a small company and things were a lot better then. i've personally not worked an entire weekend yet in my career, but that usually isnt the norm.

 

3 weeks is a little short the average is 4 weeks, But 99% of schools only teach what you need to pass the test for your CDL, so If you can get the school paid for by someone else I would take it and go work for a company with a good training program.

$750-950 not a first most companies will send you out with a trainer for 4-8 weeks and give you a set amount a week like $350 a week while in training. But depending on the company that hires you its possible. You should make ruffly $35,000 GROSS your first yr. New drivers start between .25-.34 cents a mile x 100,000-135,000 miles a yr = $25,000-$49,900 + bonuses ( Productivity, Fuel, Idle, Safety)

As for home time the norm is 1 day home for every 7 on the road. So you go out for 14 days come home for 2 or go out 21 and come home for 3, some have a little more but thats the norm for OTR

OTR: $35,000-$75,000 +/- depending on company and experience
Local: $13/hr-$100,000yr Depending on company and experience (keep in mind the higher end of this pay scale is usually Union companies and hard to come by)
Regional: I don't know lol


American Trucker

 

Yeah Right, OK !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

now that is really good info , but remember getting 3 offers is not a problem you can have 3 offers in 10 minutes by filling 1 application on line. the thing is when you get into school it will come down to 1 or 2 and probably not from who you started with. USA made me all kinds of promises 1 week into school they said we change our mind! Werner and Swift both offered me jobs I went with Swift and had a good time some people don't. Just do your homework and listen to what is not said when you talk to these people.

 

Amnesia- Welcome to TTR!!!- my hubby started about 4 months ago- yes took CDL school to pass test and yes you learn on the job. Training for his company (big one but not one of the worst....) was 160hrs about 5 1/2 wks in total. He got paid a set amt per day during training. He is now on a dedicated route (less miles) but gets paid set amt to unload the truck. He is not making $750+ week although the last few months have been slow and it's picking up some (more loads less home time) From what I have read on here he is making pretty decent cpm for newbie (.32 cpm) as some threads have newbs at .24-.27cpm. He was home 11 hrs one night during training cuz they had a load near our house and his trainer said go! otherwise he would not have been home at all as he spent his reset time in hotel (paid for by company) but that was cuz trainer lived close to the DC. Since going on his own he is home most every weekend but again, dedicate route and at first they did not plan home time in and now they do and he does ASK (which helps). He also was sometimes home 3-5 days again, slow for that specific route but picking up. I think alot of how much you makes depends on if OTR or dedicated and IF you get the loads you need and aren't sitting all day waiting for them to load/unload you. You can make some decent $$$$ but you also need to get set up to start-remember you are living in the truck and will need things like refridge, good (truck) GPS, maps, cooking stuff etc and it can cost. You also need to consider the cost of living on the road (eating out vs cooking, buying supplies on road etc) hope this helps. I have learned alot from what I have read on here-keep on reading and you will get much help from the members of TTR.

 

sammycat, you bring up a couple of good points if someone can provide detail on I'd really appreciate it. I'm a wannabe with no experience at all and am investigating a training school now. (Roadmaster in SLC).

What are some of the details of setting up for OTR? Is it realistic to cook for yourself? Type of bedding? How much clothing to bring? How often can you do laundry?

Stuff like that. Any and all detail is welcome.

 

I almost attended RM in SLC. I decided not to their school and went local community college route, cheaper and BETTER training with MORE seat time.

 

I thought the same way,and i tell you i am glad i found this site.
But if sounds to good,well you know the rest.

 

Hey mspain welcome! There are some good thread thru out this site for cooking on the truck- check the 'Ladies Room' for recipies and also do a site search.
Is it realistic to cook on the truck? I think it all depends on your mind set! Some people say they only eat out one time a week and cook all week as you don't want to spend all your $$$ eating at T/S and fast food joints. Hubby has microwave, fridge, lunch box cooker, small oven and sauce pan. Since we are new we are both learning our way and I am now making/freezing meals for him to take that he reheats in the lunch box (put in small tins I get at Dollar store). Does hubby cook right now not really. By the end of the night he is pretty tired he just gets something or eats canned food. Some get crock pots -which are easy meals throw in meat and veggies and some potatoes or pasta and at the end of the day dinner! I think the biggest thing is you have to be willing to DO the WORK to make your meals-no different than when you are home and don't feel like cooking either....... I am sure you will hear from others that are OTR doing this or other wives.

actually cooking on the truck is on this thread!!