OTR Earnings

Id go to a shelter and see what they have, 3-4 yo so they have mellowed out some already. Dont get the one that is barking and jumping and carrying on with high energy, but something that is calm but not scared. Every dog will have their own personality, look for "easy going."

 

I hate to be the contrary ol fart here but....
Rookies chasing miles= Disaster
If you’re new the obstacles you’re up against are greater than you’ll even begin to image
There was a time in this business that the rookie attrition rate was well over 50%
I remember the senior guys back when I was a newbie....basically saying I’ll see how he acts if he’s still here by the end of winter
So for what it’s worth IMHO...just chill...run what they give you...quietly and calmly...don’t even consider the $$&
Learn how to live on a small budget....
Get some safe seat time....and evaluate things after a couple of years

 

Here's the only part of those numbers that matters to me.

If you drive 156 days and gross $47,180, you are making $12.60 per hour for each hour you're on the truck and away from home. Is $12.60 per hour adequate compensation for 43% of your life?

If you drive 364 days and gross $110,110 for your effort, you are making $12.60 per hour for each hour you're on the truck and away from home. Is $12.60 per hour adequate compensation for 99.8% of your life?

OTR trucking doesn't pay more for the work you do, it just allows you to work more. You're not getting a CDL and living in a metal box without plumbing to earn more for your labor and sacrifice, you're doing it so you can work and sacrifice more than a normal job will allow you, and often for a lower rate. You may take home more in the end. But is the juice worth the squeeze?

 

That's the truth, you make more hourly at McDonald's.

 

Then again, to make that $110,110 in a 40 hour per week job you would need to be earning $53 per hour.

 

This is true. I look at Regular Work vs OTR like this. Imagine you get a job offer from a company. The company gives you a choice between two pay-structures.

The first pays $20 per hour and allows you to work up to 40 hours per week. This means you can make up to $800 per week.

The second pays $10 per hour and allows you to work up to 120 hours per week. This means you can make up to $1,200 per week.

Which do you choose? The answer comes down to how much you have to make per week. If you absolutely have to make over $800 per week, you go with option two. But if you can survive on $800 or less, you probably go with option one. That's why I think turnover is so high with new drivers. They quickly realize that they can make it on less, and the added income from option two is nowhere near proportionate to the added work/sacrifice.