Realistically, How Much?

everyone quotes 38-40k but from what im seeing its more around 30ish still not horrible compared to what i can make now about 18k/yr

 

Well, I haven't gotten through a full year, about 10 months, but I am in line to see 40K.

Some might think that is a small number, but after 17 years in manufacturing I was only getting 28K so I am not complaining.

 

Remember you will have an increase in cost of living, from being on the road. This will effect what your actually going to bring home.

 

While I don't drive OTR,(Line haul), I've been drivng 5 months, and am on target for 35k this year, have not figured in the 6 month raise of .02/mi or $2/hr dock. And I don't have ALL, just some of the costs of living on the road..It's nice to see the wife not HAVE to work in order for us to survive..Seeing the kids every day is a plus as well...My hats of to all the OTR guys, I really don't see how you put up with "headaches".
I run between the Quad cities and South Bend and from Milwaukee to Danville,Ill. Any further than that and they put me up in a motel.

BOL to all

 

On average, $30-35K. 1st year.

You need to make at least $6000 more bring home than you make now, to justify the additional cost, and even then you get no increase in living standards.

It's a simple math issue. THE absolute most you will run is 140K miles, less with the majority of companies. At .30 a mile thats only 42K. You'll be hard pressed to get that kind of milage with ANY major company.

Subtract $100 a week expenses at 48 weeks. You're down to $37,500 before taxes. Take at least 25% from the 42k (probably higher) for taxes, leaves $26k. Subtract schooling, insurance, and other needed items.

You're down to about $18k for your first year. If not less.

It's a common mistake of people who look at the "money" and think that all is good. They never account for the added expense of just "living" on the road.

If you have a wife and kids at home....they will need as much as they are used to getting. So you will need to watch your expenses VERY closely. It is real easy to forget why you are here, when you have almost immediate access to large sums of money...before you even earn it.

A single person: Can do this easily, and really make a future for themselves if they are finacially responcible.

 

So what I don't get is that you work 6 days for 1 day off. I always thought it was like you work 4 days, get 4 days home time. I haven't started yet so I'm no expert. So say you work 10 hours a day because that's all you're allowed right? lets say you average, and I'm just guessing here, 60 miles an hour. X .30 cents that about 19 dollars an hour, but you don't get any overtime. Well now that I put it that way if it works out like that that's good pay for starting out. Because you should get a bit with having to live on the road almost your entire life, compared to alot of jobs where you come home every night, weekends off, family and friends time.

 

#1 Most companies give you 1 day off, for every 7 out.

#2 Most companies require that you have "actually" been away from home at least 10-15 days before you can ask to go home. Then, some (not all) take as long as 3 weeks to get you there.

#3 You can't do 60 mph in the parking lot. 10 mph = $3 an hr.

#4 You are going to be away from home and family for 164 hrs a week. And you are going to make $800 if you are lucky. I'll let you do the math.

#5 Work 10 hours a day??? What planet are you from? Truckers have 2 clocks. One is 11 hrs long, the other is 14 hours long. You essentially have 14 hrs to drive 11 hours. And EVERY company will expect you to drive those 11 hrs every day, as long as you have hours to run. EVERY company will expect you to return to work...after your 10 hour break....immediately!!!!

#6 There are no "guidelines" stating you only have to work X number of hours a day. The guidelines ONLY cover driving. Nothing like driving for 11 hrs...but taking the entire 14 to do it, then being told to unload 40,000 lbs of ice cream, restacking the pallets (so their drivers don't have to) as you go. Then finding out your company only paid you $50 for the past 5 hours work.

OH....and you're late...you have a load waiting on you RIGHT now, 80 miles away.

 

I made 60k my first year, but I was also careful with my money, kept good records, and didn't sit in the truck stop complaining to other drivers about not getting miles.