Okay - lets be serious here... Salary for a newby

$19K for a years worth of sweat>I have no words to describe how I feel about this.

I am guessing your will be driving for an agent or BCO as there's no way you'd be buying a truck with those meager earnings.

What will you do with all your new found prosperity?

 

I have words to describe how I feel about it, unfortunately, it'll probably get me kicked off the forum!

my family actually pushed me into driving, nearly a year ago. They have a small fleet on with landstar, 14 trucks 2 months ago. The plan this whole time was to "tear up someone else's trucks before you drive ours." We were going to get a truck on with SWIFT for me, but it just doesn't make sense to cut the trucks profit in half or more just so I can make a few bucks for a few months at SWIFT.

As for what I'll be doing with that stuff y'all call "money", I guess I'll start working towards a fleet of my own. Hopefully that'll happen rather quickly because of the financial and business help and support that I have access to.

But for now, I guess I should get ready to pick up my 600 mile load that delivers in 72 hours!! Woohoo, big money right there!!!

 

I did a lot of research trying to decide who to go drive with.
I was not happy about the pay most offered for new guys.
I have a retirement already so I could take my time and decide.
I worked in the oilfield driving and running a Frac Heater..
6k a month salary sounded good until they started charging for everything they said they would provide. I was soon down to 2800 and being away from home for 30 days and home for 7 was not for me.
With a little research I found that I could pull hoppers "Super Bee" for a Canadian company at .44c a mile with all the miles I wanted to drive.
I get weekends off and 12 paid holidays a year. I also get to take the truck home with a load so quite often I will start out Sun evening so I get a extra run in each week if I want it. Last month I logged over 11,000 miles and if this week goes well I will end the pay period with a little over 12,000 miles.I am within a hr of my house every day as I do my runs from Canada to Idaho etc.This is a nice beeny as last week my son broke his wrist and I was able to be home to check on him.If the weather gets to bad just park it if needed no worries as there are no deadlines it gets there when it gets there.
I enjoy running the Super bee as they pull nice and have a low center of gravity so winds and slick roads are easier to handle. When it is slick out I just max out the weight on my steers and drives by maxing out the front hopper.
Loading is easy as you just pull under a chute and they load you. To unload you open a chute on the bottom of the hopper. Sometimes times you have to sweep out the hoppers which can be a pain,however if it is bad they pay for a washout.
After finding this job I wonder what I was thinking when I was willing to accept .26c-.29c a miles and have to ride with a instructor for awhile. I was handed keys to a truck on my first day and logged a short 480 mile day.
Look around as there are other things if you put in the time and work required then running with a big company for chump change.

 

You must be talking about B&D Walter.....

 

sen as low as .33 per mile

 

To the O/P, you decide yet? Moving forward with transportation?Just curious, updates appreciated

 

Thanks for the information everyone

 

Unless you already have a job lined up it is going to be super tough getting hired on without having gone through a school. These days insurance companies make the rules and they are wanting potential new drivers to go through an accredited school for a certain number of hours.

With that being said, if you already have something lined up then you should know exactly what you will be getting paid.

If you are just taking a shot in the dark, acquire your license from the DMV and job search on your own you will have to look into finding a small company or like you said, an owner operator. Typically newbies that go the school route and then get hired on with a mega-carrier usually make between $20,000 - $30,000 the first year.

There are many, many factors that are involved so it is just to hard to narrow down any kind of remotely accurate salary figure. If you are a fast learner, know how to hustle and home time is not a concern than you should make toward the higher end of that salary figure. Actually if you really hustle and don't go home you really could do over that. Also keep in mind that just because you stay out there, or even live in your truck for that matter, it doesn't necessarily mean you will be making good money. You have to know what you are doing to keep your wheels moving. Moving wheels = money!

Another very big factor in your success out there is going to be your dispatcher. This is another huge benefit working for a smaller company. At the mega-carriers a single dispatcher can be responsible for 100-200 drivers. This makes you a number and are randomly pulled out of a huge stack of drivers waiting to get a load. If you ever have any problems, questions, concerns etc... good luck! They are likely to fall onto deaf ears or rather ears that don't have time to listen to your problems. You will be simply put to the side and they will pick the next number in the stack.

At a smaller company your dispatcher may have a handful of drivers. It is much more easy to build a good personal relationship with your dm and also when you do have problems, questions, concerns etc.. they are going to take the time to help you out. Most likely they are getting paid by what you are accomplishing so it is in their best interest also to have a good relationship with you. Never, ever make your dm mad! Never, ever, ever tell them "NO" or that you don't want that load! You are going to get crappy loads from time to time and maybe even some crappy loads back to back. This is part of the job. You smile and tell you dm "thank you". They aren't punishing you (unless you have done something to piss them off) they just need someone to cover that load. You will be chosen because they know you can get it done and won't complain and once it is done they will make it up to you. Scratching each others backs! Having a good relationship with your dm allows the both of you to strategize and work together and make the big bucks. The more efficient and the more knowledgeable you are allows your dm to concentrate on making the plan instead of using their time to babysit you. You always, always want to let them know where you are, what your hours look like, what time you are going to deliver and or pickup. As soon as you receive a load assignment you want to do your trip plan and then immediately tell them how soon you can get it done. Once again the more accurate and efficient you are the more your dm can focus on setting up your next gig. Right here is what will determine that salary figure. If you get a load and 5 days to go 700 miles you want to tell your dm you will be there tomorrow and to set up for the next load. You surely don't want to take those 5 days to make this run. Always, always boogie on to your destination without hesitation! You and your dm can figure out if you can deliver early or maybe drop in a drop yard etc... Like I said, this is where you are going to start to make money. Because you hurried to your destination and didn't play around you bought yourself three days! You could do 2 loads in the time they allotted you for that one! So keep on the hustle, maintain good communication with your dm and this is how you will exceed the $30,000! Do what I tell you and you could be pushing $50,000 a year!


Just a little side note, I saw some posters mentioning cents per mile and just wanted to let you guys know that just because a company boasts that they pay a lot of cents per mile doesn't mean that you will be making more money. A company could pay you a dollar a mile but if you aren't running any miles than you aren't making any dollars. Company "A" might pay $.37 a mile and give you 1800 miles a week, while company "B" may pay $.31 a mile and be giving you 3800 miles a week. So don't choose a company solely on cents per mile.

There is the other factor also of companies that pay lower have nicer equipment and companies that pay higher have much older equipment. Not necessarily crappy, I'm sure they are maintaining them, they just may not be pretty or luxurious. Companies like Central Ref. aren't a high paying company but their equipment is some of the best out there. You just have to decide which is more important to you. Also once again, if you are hustling you maybe able to compensate for the lower pay.

 

Take the better pay and 1800 then a rip for 3800. Piles of miles and little money, uh uh