Money

You will not make any where near that much during training even with the best companies.

Once you get in your own truck as a rookie you will most likely run 2500 -2600 miles per week for the first 6-9 months.

So take 2550 and times it by whatever the company says they will be paying you and that will give you your gross pay. Now take about 40% off for taxes, Social security, and benefits. That should give you a pretty good idea how much you will be taking home.

The first year is really the hardest, once you get past that you'll be grossing $1000 a week easy.

 

Has anybody an idea of the mileage pay range for the big outfits down there in Amerika like Hunt, ABF, Werner, TWT, Melton? I've seen rates from $0.35/mile up to $0.48/mile but don't know if that range ($0.35 -- $0.48 per mile) is representative of what the market for OTR drivers will bear.

 

Nope. Not for the first few years anyway. Do yourself a favor and walk away, before it's too late.

 

You wont see that kind of per mile pay til year 2 probably. After year one you should be at .30-.32cpm. First year is hell, but you have to pay your dues like we all did.

 

I've had a few recruiters advertise a lil over 30 CPM, it differs company to company. Then theres the bonus pay. Another example is that Stevens has WiFi through their qualcolms. Travelling WiFi isn't cheap, if that's something you want to have OTR.

I'd suggest doing what I'm in the process of. Look around this site, get some advice, get an idea of what the better starter companies are, then check into those companies in more detail and talk with their recruiters to get real numbers, in writing. You're more than likely going to have to do a year with a mega carrier, but not all of them are terrible.

 

Also figure it will cost a $100 week just to eat and live like a half-way civilized human being out on the road, maybe more, maybe less depending on how frugal you HAVE to be.

 

Sounds about right,,even if ya get on with a tight wood company they pay at least 29 cents/mile and that was about 900 a week take home when I was drivin a route for GLT in 2006.

Pilot Truck stops have wifii that charge monthly so you can keep that from being a huge expence.

 

As a new driver you are going to make $300-$600 a week. You could definitely make more than that but not likely at the mega-carriers (ie Swift, Werner, England etc...) If you want to make the big $$$ you need to find a smaller carrier to drive for.

Cents per mile doesn't mean jack! Companies out there can advertise all they want (and usually do) but if you are sitting at a truck stop not making any miles then you aren't making any money. Typically the companies that advertise the higher mileage rates are the ones that don't run any miles.

This is just a ploy, don't fall for it.