Are these expectations reasonable?

Assuming you're going to a CDL school, then a trucking company:

Sure, you will be with a trainer, which most of us don't look forward to. Some companies the training time is short and maybe only 10 days, which is wonderful in my opinion. Watkins & Shepard is 10 days unless you request more time.

Next, start out making good money, if you have the endorsements for the good paying jobs; tanker/hazmat/TWIC/passport. These companies hire new CDL graduates.

SVTN
Superior-Carriers
CTL
Schneider tanker division
Melton Truck Lines
System Transport

If you want a trucking company CDL school, a good one in Texas is Millis Tranfer.

 

Or you can go to Prime... no money out of your pocket to get a CDL after 1-year on the road with them. $600 per week gross guaranteed after you earn your CDL, .42-cpm once you're in the seat. Prime does a lot of freight in Texas. You want tanker? They have a tanker division.

 

42 cpm straight out of training?

 

Prime has one of the beat programs out there. Lots of miles, good pAy, new equipment. Go for Prime if they are an option to you. Also, Millis has a terminal in Texas, and a great training program. Good luck.

 

Yep... reefer division, solo, and that's not including the fuel bonus. Miles in the neighborhood of 2200-2800 average, it depends on what part of the country and time of year. My long-term average on the company side was over 2800 per week.

 

I work for a sub 100 truck carrier. I never complain where I go or whine to get home and consequently I get good miles and get routed home often.

I won't be home for Thanksgiving but the holiday bonus will make it worth my while. By the time I get home I'll have 3600 miles for the week. Gettin' paid n laid. That's the name of the game. Lol.

 

As long as you're NOT getting laid by the same person who's paying you...

Sorry, couldn't resist. Back to topic, please

 

The average zero experience driver takes about 6 weeks before they are ready to be cut loose. Some companies cut them loose as quick as 3 weeks all the way to 8 weeks. Your first couple weeks should be in rural areas learning to shift and getting some wheel time in. The trainer has to watch you like a hawk the first couple weeks. Depending how you progress he will introduce you into city driving and more difficult situations.

Once you get on your own most new people aren't use to driving 600+ miles a day. A dispatcher and you will go through a get to know each other period. He's going to see how you handle the miles slowly. He's going to see how dependable you are. He's gonna see if you can make it from point A to point B without leaving a trail of destruction.

You'll slowly build your relationship with a dispatcher. You are team players. Attitude is everything. Of course there are crap loads and as a newbie you'll probably get more than your fair share. Everyone has to do them. Some shipper might tell the company we'll give you these 10 good runs but you have to cover these 3 bad ones. That's where crap loads come from. That or relocating out of a bad area through some brokers.

Be that driver that doesn't argue, do your job and do it well with minimal supervision. Once the dispatcher builds trust in you and he sees you are one of his good drivers then he will start taking care of you. You have to remember a dispatcher might have 100 drivers on his board. It takes time to get to know the new guy. When drivers are quitting all the time dispatchers are taking in new guys every day. Give it a couple months with your lips zipped and you should see things improve. If not go meet your dispatcher in person and introduce yourself. Sometimes it helps to put a face with a name or truck number. Tell him you think you have been doing a good job. I'd like to see better runs and more miles. It's called building a work relationship.

Or you can be that bad driver that throws a fit over a little problem. All of a sudden you hate your dispatcher and every day slowly gets worse and worse until you quit. Problems in trucking happen every day. But for the most part they are all little problems. Deal with it at the moment and then forget about it. Move on to the next one. Don't dwell on a problem for days and days until it snowballs on you. A good driver has a calm demeanor and has patience. Your days will be like a roller coaster. Some days you won't make much and the next day you'll make $250. What matters is what's on that W-2. Look at your gross pay at 3 months and multiply by 4. That will give you a much better picture than taking one pay stub and multiplying by 52.

Before you know it that first year will blow by and then you can start picking a better job.

 

I think every new driver needs to go to NYC and the northwest. In the winter. That's my own personal opinion. Learn how to drive in the extremes so they are ready for anything. A new driver cut lose after a few weeks in Florida or Ohio has no idea what they are up against on Cabbage in the winter or a blindside alley dock in the Bronx. My opinion. I know.