How long to get a grasp of income?

It can varry... I did 160k in 2018..

 

Funny. When I started driving, any hazardous tanker work would require 8+ years recent OTR experience. They would never dream of putting inexperienced drivers hauling fuel or other hazardous bulk

 

When in need, rules of practice tend to be reduced. With the outfit I'm with, it takes a bit of extra training for the rookies, but they make sure you're ready before turning you loose. If they feel you aren't going to be safe, they send you packing.

 

Lumper and other company expenses will show as income and outgo for bookkeeping purposes, so it is a wash and does not inflate your gross income. Your current mileage pay is above the average, which is usually .40 per mile. If you are running 2500 miles per week @.45 a mile your gross pay will be $1,125.00 per week . That is before deductions. Multiply that over 52 weeks and you come up with an annual gross of $58,500.00. Once again that is above the average gross earnings for a OTR driver in the Truckload sector. Look at your current deductions to make sure that they are correct.

 

making 36k for the first 6 months isnt to bad because that means your yearly pay will be 72k and for the first year truck driver thats pretty good.

 

Really? Oh. Well, where can I go with 9 months experience and earn at least $100k/yr? I’m tired of working for peanuts.

 

Wait 3 months.. Get a 2016 freightshaker for 5000 down from lonemountain.. Lease to landstar or xpo and BOOM.. Six figures. If you chase the right lanes.

 

Cone on over to Schneider - we get paid cashews with the occasional WALNUT!

 

The Drivers that make the most money are ones who not only drive but also unload there trucks. Its great exercise and it breaks up the day instead just sitting on my ace all day.

 

True that. That's part of the reason flatbed trucks earn more per mile than reefer or dry van.

If OP pays attention to the WIDE variety of semi trailers being pulled by semi tractors, he will see that there's a whole different world "outside the box" (dry van). Many drivers pulling end dumps, bottom dumps side dumps, grain haulers, etc. etc. are home every night AND making more money than dry van OTR.

Then there's the variety of tankers or bulk trailers. If you have your hazmat endorsement you can earn north of$70K a year delivering fuel to gas stations and truck stops, or hauling crude oil, acids, or any number of liquid hazmat.

It seems that most folks that get into this gig start with dry van, many with a mega carrier. I did. Almost four years ago I switched to flatbed, pulling loads for the oil industry. The money is good, with fewer miles.

It's all what you make it to be. OTR is nice, if you don't have home obligations. Once you have a year or two under your belt, the doors open. I had a little over two years recent dry van experience before I landed my current gig.

Don't be a quitter. A resume that shows short stints at any given company is a red flag.