Difference of earnings over a lifetime Dry Van VS specialized trucking

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Aarrons, Mar 31, 2017.

  1. Aarrons

    Aarrons Light Load Member

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    is it like High school and college? or is it why bother with the endorsements with more risk and more responsibilities.

    Like I head an old trucker story about a someone dying in his sleep because of toxic fumes creeping to his cabin from his EMPTY tank.
     
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  3. TheRipper

    TheRipper Medium Load Member

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    Well, it is hard to give exact figures on the earnings of standard dry van earnings compared to specialized freight because it varies so much from company to company.

    But just like anything else, the more specialized the position, the more the earning potential. If you go to college and get a standard business degree compared to a doctorate in computer engineering, the guy with the doctorate will always have better opportunities to make more money.

    The less people that can do what you can do, the more your earning potential is.
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    If you want relaxed driving plus resonable pay, just pick a dry van outfit with no-touch freight and get involved with their 401K or whatever plan they have. Join a credit union and start a savings plan for the future.
     
  5. FireLotus

    FireLotus Light Load Member

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    Hazmat is good to have.. because it doesn't necessarily mean your hauling toxic waste.. it could be paint, lighters, cleaning supplies.. stuff that is on the shelves of stores all over..

    Having doubles and triples is not necessary unless you want to give yourself more options.. same with tanker..
    But you can always easily add those..

    But hazmat takes longer to add because of the background check which can take awhile..

    And yes, it can help you earn more.. but it isn't so cut &a dry.. pulling tanker for a crazy company won't pay as much as pulling dry van for a good one..

    But, pulling tanker for a good company does pay very well.. I pulled tanker for awhile.. I started with no tanker experience for $20 an hour.. and quickly went up with good performance..
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
  6. Aarrons

    Aarrons Light Load Member

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    anyone care to throw ballpark figures of dry van vs specialized over the course of a lifetime thanks
     
    FireLotus Thanks this.
  7. TheRipper

    TheRipper Medium Load Member

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    That's an extremely tough thing to do because it's always going to vary so much from company to company.

    Just a guess here...

    Avg dry van full time driver - 40k per year

    Avg hazmat tanker driver - 50k per year

    Avg os/ow heavy haul driver - 60k per year

    Just an estimate. Maybe some other guys can weigh in... @Chinatown @x1Heavy @TripleSix @passingthru69
     
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Some dry van drivers make $35K per year and some make $70K.
    Specialized dry van make more such as WDTC (Western Distributing Transportation Corp.) or TSMT (Tri-State Motor Transit) or Continental Carbonic.
     
  9. CSDixon

    CSDixon Light Load Member

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    There I go again!!! Whenever these "earnings" questions come up I'm programmed to automatically think about the back end. Not how much was earned (which is important) but how much was saved (discretionary). Our cost of living choices factor in too. Lot's off people making huge sums of money and can't afford to feed their cat.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
    rabbiporkchop, FireLotus and Electric Thank this.
  10. CSDixon

    CSDixon Light Load Member

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    ^^^ Specialists have more job security though.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
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