Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

Thanks guys for the info. The recruiter did say I would run about 2500 miles per week. Just wanna make sure I will make enough to provide. If I can make around 3k per month, i'll be alright to begin with. I'm itchin to start turnin.

 

$3000 per month is really a stretch at the start. That is even a stretch after a few months. That money you gotta be running 3000 miles per week.

 

Socal, you are talking to a recruiter! (car salesman) They get paid by getting a driver to show up for the first hour of orientation! Take EVERYTHING they say with a grain of salt! They do not necessarily represent what really goes on at Central! They are a whole little separate department there just like the lease department. They are reciting to you a script that they tell every driver that calls every 30 seconds of the day!

This is not whatsoever a bash against Central, you will get pretty much the same pitch from any recruiter you talk to at any mega-carrier!

Over the road driving is over the road driving no matter what company you go to. As an otr driver 4-6 weeks is going to be a minimum of time you need to put in to make any kind of money out there.

This being said, I personally, highly recommend you look into something else. You are going to be putting forth a lot of time and money to get into this career only to find out that you are going to see your family and little ones 10 times a year for a few days at a time. I have 16 years in the biz and know exactly what needs to be done to make it worth it out there! In your current position I would advise you really put some heavy thought into this!

Good luck man!

 

I'll share my actual numbers with everyone since I've been with central from my orientation pay in July 2011 to Feb 2012. 29 weeks. That's all I have with me at the moment. In that time I grossed 13,500. An average of 465. week. I went home 4 times for 13 days total. Had some bad luck with my first trainer. His truck kept breaking down and he didnt run hard at all. Took a long time to get my miles done. Finished with another trainer. I waited too long to switch.

For me personally, if my wife didn't make the big bucks in her job, I wouldn't have stuck this out for the amount of pay I received.

So heres my numbers.

7/28 $128 orientation pay
8/9 thru 9/27 $3400 training pay. 7+ weeks. 1st trainer truck kept breaking down.

10/4. 669 mi home time
10/11. 1932 mi
10/18. 1692 mi break down
10/25. 2452 mi.
11/1. 2747 mi.
11/8. O. Home time
11/15. 1995 mi
11/22. 3052 mi
11/30. 1931 mi
12/6. 1971 mi
12/13. Breakdown.
12/20. 3498 mi
12/27. 0. Home time
1/3. 3095
1/10. 2753 mi
1/17. 2423 mi
1/24. 1249mi. Break down
1/31. 2542 mi
2/7. 725 mi break down
2/14. 1301

 

thanks for posting that it should give the new guys a general idea on miles per week. those breakdowns really hurt too cause when your sitting waiting to get the truck fixed you aint making a dime. no money for the week due to no fault of your own . amd no they dont pay you for it thats what a lot of new guys dont factor in.

 

let's not forget the all mighty govt rules that truckers have to live by also.

each screw up will stay with you for 3 years on all kindsa various govt mandated safety protocols.

is it really worth becoming a trucker for minimum wage.

 

I've had no real issues with miles or money. Central has bent over backwards for me so far. I have a clean safety record and perfect service record, that's what they want. If you get off your ### and drive and do it efficiently they will take care of you. OTR is a lifestyle and you have to learn how to make it, not let it make you. Yes I'm just a driver for central, no I'm not on the staff, frankly I can't stand most of them. I've simply learned how to use them to get what I want by playing by their rules.

 

Sent you a pm

 

Hey Bone collector, why not share with the class? My trainer is giving me a lot Of tips on how to stay running hard, but every little bit helps. I know it's gonna be hard at first, but I want to run as hard as I can for as long as I can.

 

Tip # 1 . Make your freakin trainer train you, make him or her earn that money. Don't short change yourself, if you feel you're not being taught ask for another trainer! If you upgrade and don't feel comfortable you have no one to blame but yourself. Be a sponge, absorb all you can from other drivers and your trainer both good and bad! You ask why the bad, you can just as easily learn what NOT to do as you can what to do. You could get a very good lesson in being a professional driver by just parking in a truck stop and watching for a couple of hrs!