Real simple thread for newer drivers..Company and total $ 1st year driving..

The majority never see a year..........

 

Ok i will add my 1st years work history and income, it wont be much use but might give you an idea of what alot of drivers try to do. I started out local then went OTR, now back to local/regional. 1st job was hauling tanks ( seasonal, liquid fertilizers) was making $ 15 per hour plus a performance bonus. Was consistently making $200-250 dollars a day. That was a seasonal job so after 2 months I went OTR hauling reefers. 32 cpm + 2 cpm fuel bonus + 1 cpm on all miles if i drove over 11000 per month. I consistently got all bonuses so i was in the 35 cpm average. Its a low pay rate but i was new and wanted the experience. Company was allways busy and I consistently drove 11000 to 12000 miles a month. You can do the math on that one. Now I am back hauling b train tanks for $16 an hour plus a performance bonus. With the bonus it has consistently worked out to $20 dollars an hour since i started. This is also 12 hours a day 5 days a week.

 

typical first year pay in a bottom feeder company will run around $25,000 - $30,000. That's about what I'm on track to make.

 

Watkins Shepard Trucking-Dry Van Division- $45,468.53 First Year OTR



American Trucker

 

First year OTR was 2008. April 1st to Dec 31st $47,600
2009 Second full year $62,300
2010 Third full year $64,300
2011 right now at $68,702 on 86,000 odometer miles

 

Are you an owner operator or employee? What system of pay are you on ? Percentage or mileage? 86000 miles for an income of $ 68702 is $1.25 per mile. I am not challenging your post, I am just curious who is paying that much to a company driver.

 

As long as you get a starter company that knows how to keep you moving, 40k is easily obtainable first year. A lot of rookies look at mileage pay and equipment etc etc but never actually investigate the biggest factor (mileage).

Do the math, Schneider OTR my first year was getting me right at 3,000 avg miles a week. Start at 31 cents a mile. 3k X .31 = 930$ a week average. There are 52 weeks in a year, lets make it 45 to account for off time or emergency. 45 X 930 = 41850$ annual, which is modest because im not adding pay raises within first year and im assuming 7 full weeks of the year you wont run.

Where as I have heard some people with other starter companies struggle to get even 2,300 miles a week, and they only start at .27 a mile, ya thats gonna put you in the poor house.