Rookie pay

Some-one, on another thread, claimed that most rookies make less than $30K in their 1st year. I'm just wondering how true that is. It doesn't make sense to me, if it is true, because that would be a huge discouragement for prospective truckers. Any thoughts and/or comments will be appreciated.

 

Do some reading here . It's not only rookies . It's experienced drivers . Last year drivers could get 3,000 miles a week . Now they're lucky to get 2,000 . Many complain of sitting at truckstops 2 or more days between loads . At $.30 a mile (many newbies get as low as $.26 ) and 1500 miles a week it's nowhere near $30 ,000 .
With an average of 20,000 job losses a month in the trucking industry since December anybody with any sense would be discouraged from pursuing a career in trucking . People talk about going flatbed . Mercer is a flatbed company that recently let over 200 O/O's go because of lack of freight .

 

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Everybody is hurting right now. Some worse than others.

The best advice I can give anyone starting to drive a truck at this point. Have your house in order before you get here. Otherwise you'll lose most, if not all that you own. And be in debt the cost of the schooling as well.

As Rick pointed out, many drivers are sitting or have been let go. Companies are cutting back their pay rates, staff, and trucks, to remain competitive/afloat.

He didn't even get close to the lowest pay rates. CRST is paying new teams .22 a mile. That's .11 a mile per driver. Even if you get 6000 miles a week, you'll only make $660. Before taxes and expenses.

Expenses are your biggest issue while on the road. Some drivers spend over half their checks in a week. While some manage on $50 a week.

In a good year, a company driver could pretty much count on at least 130K miles. Based on what I'm seeing here, that number is about 90k or less now.

Companies are charging drivers for fuel, log books, trip paks, and a whole host of items.

I compare that to charging an auto worker for the electricity and toiletries used while he is at work.

There are some companies that are holding the line. But they are getting far and few between. Choose your company carefully.

 

Dan, I don't understand how a company can charge for fuel. Is this for the fuel expended when going out of route to get home periodically? Fuel used when idling overnight? If so, isn't there ANY allowance for this? This just seems so wrong...!

 

I was on track to make 55K my first year. I drove for an O/O.

 

That was then . This is now .

 

A few are charging for idle time fuel....like Covenant.

That will equal $200 or more a week this summer.

Of course you can get a motel room. But I advise drivers against this. You can deduct that amount on your taxes next year. But it will be part of the $52 per week per diem allowance, unless you produce receipts that are more.

If you allow the company to take the fuel out of your check. It's unreimbursed expenses, and not subject to per diem claims and return rates.

They (Covenant) may argue this till the cows come home. But it is a company expense. And it will be front page news in every market if they contest your filings.

 

So if I go to Swift I'm paying for the fuel? Sorry I'm new at all of this and just need to know.

 

The more of "ya`ll" they hire @30,000,the less they need of us # 50,000+.Do all of us a favor,stand firm and say "NO" to low pay.Anybody who will drive a truck deserves top pay from day one.Don`t sell yourself short just to work.I say that as I sit looking out of the window at my dumptruck which has been parked since last June because I`m not working for peanuts.Wish others would do the same.

 

When a person attends classes for obtaining a CDL, do most schools generally cover these things? If not, it could be a very expensive lesson to learn from experience.