So sick of not making a living wage!

Yes, but some people can't manage money and stay in debt all their life. Depends on where you live too. Cost of living can be more than double in some places, like NY or CA.

 

Some trucking companies offer guaranteed minimum pay today. That can help take the pressure off of the driver. That's what I'm doing today. The down side is disppatcher never lets the truck sit. They are always pushing for more miles. I never make less then $1,000 a week. Most week I make more. I'm guaranteed $52,000 a year, last year I made $64,000 driving company truck. I'm driving my second brand new truck from them. Most weekends it's only 34 hour off at home or truck stop. I get $100 extra if I do my 34 reset at truck stop. So I get paid not to work kinda.

Sometime in think I should just drive for Walmart and get the big money get 2 day off a week.

 

If getting back into truck I guess you know no more paper log books ! It a big change from the old days. You can't drive more the 5mph without logging it. Running legal is first and getting load delivered on time is second.

 

I think all truckers deserve to make at least 1000 dollars a week after taxes just my opinion.

I don't care about gross pay bc so much gets taken for taxes. All I care about is what you make after taxes.

Like I use myself as a really bad example I went with one of the most notorious companies known for paying crappy wages (starter truck companies), and I make an average of 350/week or 1400 a month.

I got an offer from a flatbed company where I'd make anywhere from 700-1100 a week after taxes depending on the miles. Thats what I'd consider a respectable trucker payrate .

Some companies offer minimum paychecks you get no matter what (like Marten Transport). And I actually got placed on a dedicated route at my current company that's supposed to pay for 2000 miles minimum every week (which is about 450 after tax at this company ).

I'd say anything under 700 a week is disrespectful pay for a truck driver. 700-1000 is good but not great . More than 1000 is great (to me, single no dependants , no car/mortgage/rent just living in truck ). All that after taxes .

 

That's the problem because inflation has risen so much new truck drivers make $1000 per week and so do old hands that been at it for years and years. The only luxury is old hands can pick the local jobs over the new hands but pay is quite similar in most aspects.

I have a good friend who is a terminal manager for JB Hunt and these were his words, "All they need is 3 months experience and we'll give them $1200 per week guaranteed." $1200 per week guaranteed for 3 months and I been doing it for over 12 years. HELLO big difference.

 

#### I got 3 months almost and I'm making 350 a week....

1200 if that's before taxes then it's 840 or so take home without per diem for me.