How are people making good money?

There's money in trucking. Yes, there are ups and down sides to trucking but I think you're mostly talking about OTR. Local jobs are good paying if you get the right endorsements. Not only that but you could also pull doubles or triples locally and that pays great as well. Saying there isn't an "money" in trucking is false. Saying there isn't "Money" in OTR Company driving is more like it but you have to start somewhere. Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

I agree that trucking pay, when broken down by the amount of hours you work (70 most likely), isn't all that great. I, however, look at the take home pay for that 70 hours. In all my years of driving truck, I have probably averaged about $700 take home pay working approximately 60-65 hours a week.

Now, that does come out to about $11 an hour TAKE HOME, but I also enjoy driving for a living. I couldn't and wouldn't work at McDonald's for that many hours per week. Truck driving is one of the jobs that affords you the opportunity to work lots of hours. Most jobs today cut you off at 40, and when Obamacare kicks in in 2014, it will be 30 hours.

To me, $700 take home is great, but, I am also single and have never had an kids. Those that have a family might not consider $700 per week net pay worth putting in the time and being away from the family. Just depends on your situation.

If you get into trucking at a young age, try to stay single and save as much as you can. Before you know it, 5 or 6 years will have gone by, you will have a nice chunk of money in the bank and the experience to get a job that is either local or keeps you closer to home more often.

I am not rich but I also don't worry about my bills since I have been smart with my money over the years. It allowed me to take the last 2 months off after I quit my job to look for another that I really wanted to do and that pays better. Money isn't everything in life, but it does allow you to make the choice of where you want to work rather than being forced to do something just to pay your bills each week even though you hate it.

Live below your means. Wait to get married and have kids. Stay out of debt. Having a nice cushion in the bank makes it easier to accept a job that allows you to be home more often but doesn't necessarily pay as well. JMO

 

Trucking and the Military are not very family oriented Jobs ...IMHO

 

If you like trucking it sounds like you have the right ambition. Now, get your experience and run and squeeze it out with this carrier your running with and try your darnedest to get 2 years of experience under your belt. After this start studying and looking into something that you would want to do for an endorsement for your solid in concrete career. Once you find what you're looking for get doubles, triples, tanker, or hazmat endorsements on your license and then go fishing. Look at Cr@gsList Transport under jobs. Right now if I had 1 year experience I could sign on with a small company running regional or local routes starting at 57k a year starting and going up to 75k. home every night, benefits, and salary or hourly pay.

 

Its all about that time management and trip planning.

 

If you company driver for Otr. ,u ain't making moneys,cause u are not in controll,I been owner 7 yrs,I have my own authority,I book my load,I alway try to get load that is light,so fuel price would be lower than heavy,I make $219,000 and my fuel for that yrs was$88,000, my truck insurance for whole yrs was 8900. My truck parking $2400 for yrs.ifta tax was 2100 ,maintence was 18,000, I drove last yrs 165,000 miles,in this trucking u can't make big money being driver,u have to own your truck n trailer,and your ICc to make money

 

No correcting here,you're abolutely right depending on the local job.I drive locally and the pay sucks but tyson pays us not my companyActually I was talking about OTR.Too bad that did'nt pay a well as hourly driving jobs.Those types of driving jobs value their drivers.But these OTR companies,they could care less.

 

True and not true ... Because if you plan on getting in and out of a shipper in two hours but it takes four hours to load you then there goes ure time management and ure trip planning out the window and now you have to worry bout ure stupid 14 hr clock and worry about finding a new safe haven to park for ure ten etc etc etc

Trucking rarely has ideal situations ... That's why I love it, its the closest thing to real life

 

You pay $2400 for parking each year?

 

I drive regionally. Home two nights and a day and a half a week. Drive a new Volvo with automatic. If I ever need something or have a problem I pick up the phone and it's resolved. My pay and benefits package are right at $70, 000 a year.

My benefits package include:
Health & dental insurance
6 paid holidays a year
Generous company matched 401k
Two weeks paid vacation
Cell phone allowance
40 sick leave days
Permission to take truck home
Bereavement pay

This is not a union job. It's with a smaller family owned company where the owner cares about his drivers. I paid my dues with a bigger box company. Kept my nose clean and found something that is a perfect fit for me. I'm not rich. However, my wages and benefits are sufficient to meet mine and my wife's needs.

I would like to add that I get paid by the mile. I make more than 95% of the drivers there because I know to plan and set myself up in order to maximize my production. In addition, I'm not averse to running at all hours when a lot of guys are snoozing at the truckstops. Of course, it's helpful to have a good DM.

I say this because it's a misnomer that you can't "make any money" in this industry.