New or Old, $150 or $1500 in 8hrs, it is all up to you

The beauty of the trucking industry is that we all have an opportunity make it big or drown in this industry. This goes for old heads and newbies.

I was getting loaded in NC heading to NY the other day and it came across my mind the beauty of trucking

And this is a real life scenario

you can have seven trucks all picking up the same load, going to the same destination NC to NY for example and they are doing the same work (ie driving a truck 8hrs)

but their rate of pay can differ from $150 to $1500 for the same work

follow the example about 450miles

a newbie or one working for 30cpm will gross $150

one working for a slightly better paying company may gross 40cpm $180

leasing from JCT or CRE may gross you $400

Prime may get you $500

Owning your own truck and pulling someone else's trailer for mileage pay may get you $600

Owning your own truck and trailer and pulling under someone else's authority may get you 75% of the load $1125

Owning your own truck, trailer and authority may get you the full $1500

all doing the same work, it all depends on how and where you position yourself in this industry

whatever you do, dont let someone else profit the lion's share of your work

 

if your truck gets 6mpg, thats 75gallons at $4/gal or $300

 

i am a firm believer that the truck is your tool, every mechanic should own his own set of tools

every truck driver should own his truck

years ago, if you drove for the pony express, it was your job to take care of your horse(s) or your cattle or whatever else

it gives one a sense of pride and responsibility, otherwise, someone else is making money off of your work

 

there are many other threads that discuss these costs and variables in great detail

my point was to let newbies know they dont have to let others hold them back

and some old heads need to hear that reminder also