Is truck driving about $10 per hour?

Lupe, you've been around here long enough that we all make more than we say. After all, it's classified. But mid 6 figures unless we drive ships on the side.

 

7 days
10 hours a day

10 hours * 50mph = 500
500 * 7 days = 3500 miles

3500 miles
.30 a mile

7 * 10 = 70
3500 * .30 = $1050

$1050 / 70 = $15 hr

But in reality the miles and hours may differ per week.

You are safer to "estimate" your miles at around 2200 TOPS.

You can't really measure a trucking salary (real OTR trucking) by "hourly wage".
You are at the mercy of the loaded miles, driving conditions, and the book hours.

BTW - $1050 * 52 weeks = $54,600


But you will NOT make that unless you resign yourself to:
A - not being home often
B - driving at night when you can "make time"

 

Lupe, the only way your going to find out what you'll make as a driver is to get off the couch and do it.
Given the posts that you have made, that isn't going to happen in the near future.
Without trying it, you just be wasting your time. And, you'll fail to discover whether what your made of>

 

Lupe. .. don't you have anything better to do? Maybe go play xbox or something. Maybe join the military and do something useful.

 

to be honest? no.

lets just figure 40k a year income. The question isnt 'how many hours' but 'how many days'. Lets just assume you're "out" OTR for 300 days. thats 7200 hrs. 40k/7200= $5.55.

"But why do you figure 7200 hrs?" It is simple. Lets pretend you have a 9 to 5 desk job. You're "home" between 6p and 8a. So you dont count that time against what you make at the desk job, yeah?? So when you're OTR, are you at home? Nope. When I head out on the road after hometime, i'm workin'. Even if i'm sitting in a nice toasty sleeper starting my 10 hr break......i'm "working". I say i'm "working" because...i'm not at home.

so look at it like that. If you can't afford to live on $5.55.....i'd find another job.

 

Remember that even though you may only make $35k the first year or two doesn't mean that you'll always make $35k/year.

The pay during the first 2-3 years in trucking for most people is sad. The first year is usually the worst but things do get a bit better. Most people get better at their job, which means they're able to do things quicker and more efficently. That doesn't mean the actual driving part, which is the vast majority of one's pay. (500 miles / 60 mph is always the same, no matter how much experience one has.)

My first year I made a little bit more than $37k. My 2nd & 3rd year it was over $45k.

Then, there's the experience factor. Many jobs that pay a lot better than the big starter companies require time behind the wheel. There's only one way to do that. So, the way I look at it is as "paying your dues". If doing a $35k/year job for a year or two can lead you to a $50k + job then it may be worth it. Also, there are $75k/year truck driving jobs out there. Think UPS.

That's my 2 cents.

 

Based on your days example, 5 days # 24hrs/day = 120. But in those 24 hours, you should be sleeping/break for 8-10 hours just as you would at home; so 5 days # 14hours/day = 70/hrs a week. Sure you are not sleeping at home, but you are (hopefully) sleeping. To get to a 9-5 job. lets say is a 30 minute commute = 60 minutes a day = -3 hours a week. In a truck, no commute (unless you don't get paid deadhead miles). Just as at the 9-5 job, you take a 30 minute (if not longer) lunch break 5 days a week = -2.5 hours. so deduct 6 hours from 70/week = 63 hours/week. Next using you example above of $35,000 gross year/ $673.00 week/63 hours = $10.68/hour. No, not good, but is going up. "Yeah, but you will never be home while you make such small pay," someone will remind me. So what? I have nothing keeping me here and it's not like I do anything here anyways. The Browns, Indians and Cavaliers have sucked for years; not into much of a social life plus nothing I want to do here; best friend is busy taking care of his 5 kidsblah..blah..blah... I am sure I will "miss my Mommy", though.