Is there no money in company driving?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Thedave35, Apr 16, 2026 at 12:05 AM.

  1. Thedave35

    Thedave35 Bobtail Member

    6
    2
    Monday
    0
    I've heard plenty of stories of guy drives truck, buys his own. Buys another and hires a driver.

    I'm in my mid thirties, have had the CDL for 4 years. Of that, 1 year was otr.

    My thought was that I'd go otr again once they pulled all those fake cdls with silly names from the individuals who swap company names and have a hole in the floor for relief....

    I thought the rates would come back up and money would be good..

    Why am I only seeing 52-58 cpm? I've seen a couple in the 60-78 range but they want 6 years otr experience and 2 years oversize load or 10 years otr and 2 co drivers..

    I did a lease purchase for a company who pulls trailers owned by the largest refrigerated carrier in Missouri..

    There was no way I was driving a company truck otr with 7-800 take home pay. I can do that in a light duty tow truck.

    Can someone walk me through consistently making $1,800+ a week in trucking?
     
    BeHereNow97 and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

    7,738
    37,281
    Aug 20, 2014
    New York State
    0

    car hauling once you get experience.
     
  4. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

    15,781
    34,390
    Sep 18, 2009
    Memphis, TN
    0
    You've only got 4 years in trucking. Of which, only 1 is OTR. 1800 per week just pulling general freight is very infrequent. You need experience and you need patience. You'll also need endorsements(hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples). You must look into specialized hauling as well.

    The range for experienced drivers hauling general freight is 55 to 65 cpm. You aint thay experienced. Your pay will be closer to the 55 cpm mark. You will not get rich in any category of trucking, but especially being a general freight hauler.

    As you get more experience, perhaps you can work for the LTL companies, maybe Wal-Mart. Even then, you'll have to put in time to get to the bigger money. You'll have to tailor your expectations some. What you must understand is that trucking is good money but not great money. It's good money in the sense that you can pay your bills and make a living. It isn't good money in the sense that you can live a life of luxury or in the fast lane. With the money truckers make, it ain't how much you make but how you spend.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2026 at 1:18 AM
    gentleroger, Lonesome and 201 Thank this.
  5. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,981
    76,899
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    And most don’t. If you have -

    Hazmat and doubles endorsements - clean record, 2 years experience -

    Then pursue it $100k easy. Solos well over .82 cpm.
     
    Speedy356 and High Stepper Thank this.
  6. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

    2,139
    1,064
    Apr 27, 2009
    0
    Flatbed and hustle will get you there...a lot of blood, sweat, and tears but the money is there.
     
  7. Radman

    Radman Road Train Member

    2,089
    2,569
    Apr 18, 2011
    0
    There are a lot of companies but they usually it involves the night shift. LTL Linehaul with Saia, Estes, ODFL, FedEx Freight, ABF, R&L Carriers etc.. fuel haulers, also Grocery haulers. But once again it involves what truckers don’t want to do night shift.
     
    bryan21384, Speedy356 and High Stepper Thank this.
  8. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

    13,650
    28,073
    Mar 29, 2008
    TN
    0
    You could have days starting out, or very soon after, at Walmart if that's what you wanted. 30 months of full time tractor trailer (any experience- doesn't have to be OTR) and a clean record + hazmat is all it takes. If you want days at an LTL probably have to do P&D for a few years. Nothing wrong with P&D unless you're afraid of work.
     
    bryan21384 and 201 Thank this.
  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    12,814
    26,379
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    :rolleyes: Thing is, as long as I've been affiliated with trucks, drivers pay has got to be the biggest BS story of all. $1800/week( gross) comes out to about $45/ hr., or about $93grand a year. I think there are drivers that do make that, but under VERY limited circumstances, and quite frankly, .55-.60/mile is about what I'd expect for a company driver anyway. Again, unless you do some sort of specialized trucking, that could easily be over $1/mile, I'd be happy with .55/mile. And for the record, I don't think recovery pays all that well, in fact, I heard it's on the low side for a driver. .55/mile on a 2000 mile week, still comes out to $1100. Sounds okay to me.
     
    bryan21384 Thanks this.
  10. mustang190

    mustang190 Road Train Member

    2,895
    6,258
    Jan 18, 2011
    Florida Panhandle
    0
    Tanker/Hazmat, aviation fuels.
    And willing to run 48 states, Canada and all weather.
    And if you can get in a company hauling propane or other high pressure tanks along with what is mentioned above, even better.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.