How Much Do Truckers Earn?

BUT BUT BUT RERUN SAID

 

Ooops, Sorry Prince but in 2006 the total was $46,168.00 not 45,941 which was the total for 2005.

 

I made $80K last year heavy hauling,things are looking better this year.

 

trucking pays on a bell curve....

5% on the low are really really not making it...
20% on the low are just not making it...
25% on the low are unhappy but surviving...
25% on the high are making it and somewhat satisfied...
20% on the high haven't a clue why the rest of you are pulling for peanuts..
5% on the highest end are doing quite well and are ashamed to be associated with the idiots on the bottom half of the curve.



and only you can determine where you sit on the curve.

*hoping to avoid the boos and hisses*

probably 80-90% all have the same driving ability... meaning pure skill at the wheel doesn't mean you'll get the best job... lotsa good drivers out here earning less than marginal guys making more...

so what the difference???

for many... blind luck.

but for some... decent skill, attention to detail... then that extra thing...

self-promotion... charisma... going after the better job and not settling for less or for only what was offered.

not being satisfied with what they have but to go out and actively seek hirer wages...

so you tell us??? how much are "you" going to make???

 

Easy advice, keep your MVR, DAC and CSA clean and then get on with an ESTABLISHED LTL carrier. UPS Freight, Con-way, Old Dominion, Fed-Ex to name a few. After a few years there is no possible way to make less then 60k.

 

Very good thread, I like this above comment very much. Thank all of you for your comments. TD24

 

Above poster DOT is right. Suffer for a year or two and get your time in with a clean nose. Then go LTL. That's where the money is at anymore.

OTR, you have to help pay for fuel, expensive trucks and the bosses rich lifestyle. That and $2 a drink and hotdogs 2 for $2.22 and paying all the doctor bills for all the fat, cholesterol, triglycerides and caffeine you are forced to eat, you don't have much left. You don't get any overtime but work 70 hours every week. There is no arcadium rhythm in trucking, so you don't have to worry about sleeping. Even TTR member Bumpy has to buy a pack of underware every week because he quite make it to the bathroom. About when you think you are caught up, you get in trouble with the DOT and have to pay a $5000 fine. Yep, it just ain't the same anymore. I'm just sayin.

 

go vegan while out on the road, and do crossfit if you have a exercise truck stop, or carry weights in your truck

 

I started with pepsi beverages company about 5 years ago as a temp and made 18 an hour then last year got full time at 27 an hour and made over 70000 last year with ot after 8 hours and home every night with 3 weeks vacation, love driving a truck do not miss a warehouse job cannot go back to being stuck in the same place all day

 

carry weights in your truck Just remember that for every 100 LBS of toys you bake in the truck thats 100 LBs less revenue generating freight you can haul.