How Much Money I'm Gonna Make? How about Home Time? etc, etc...

I call BS.

 

We haul a lot more then steel, and yes I made 64K. I actually stayed away from steel most of the time. We hauled everything from shingles to insulation to lumber. Only a small % of our work was steel.

 

Lol, everyone calls BS, that doesn't make it bs. Now I was top driver in my fleet (out of like 45 drivers, not the whole company) so my numbers arn't average, but it can be done if you manage your time well and work hard. I had a good relationship with my FM and that's the most important thing if you want to make green. I had enough money to buy my current truck with no financing, so i must have made something at TMC.

 

75k as a company driver, or o/o ?

 

I attended truck driving school in 2009, my instructor schooled and prepared me for everything this fellow said. I went into truck driving with my eyes wide open. I had no other choice at the time, I needed a job after the crash of the housing market in the Fall of 2008.

I didn't become a trucker so I "could see the country", "visit friends and family" far away, "have fun", or to even make a "lot of money". I just needed a job and was desperate financially...

I made over 40k my first year and my pay increased every year for three years thereafter. In my fourth year, I was well on my way to 60k plus, running a regional route and getting home 1.5 days and 2 nights every week. I got to where my benefits compensation package was decent, including adequate medical & dental insurance, two week paid vacation, 80 hrs of sick leave per year, 6 paid holidays, cell phone allowance, a generous 401k match from my boss, etc.

There are a lot of opportunities out there in our industry. However, a lot of folks just aren't willing to put in the hard work, stamina and consistency it requires to advance.

Enough said...

Btw, I'm no longer driving. My boss called and asked me if I'd like to come into the office several months ago and to become part of the management. Which I gladly accepted

 

You did not make 64k 1st year with TMC

 

I believe you made 64k. Congrats for making it happen.

 

After 7 years in the industry he does a firm grip on what some companies require...but not the entire industry. He would better serve those that take the time to watch his videos if he took the time to explain to them why he feels the way he does....after only 7 years he has barely touched the tip of the ice berg.....there are lots of jobs in this industry that don't require the dedication and the the effort that some OTR jobs require.....he paints a really terrible picture for anyone interested in starting out....however some of his statements are true....they are sort of exaggerated at least IMHO....

 

That is one possibility... another is I am doing it right. I simply.control my vehicle and my space and it all works well. There is the occasional morom doing something incredibly stupid, but I usually can anticipate it and it is but a minor inconvenience. I maintain my following distance and that gives me plenty of reaction time.

There was a reason in a follow up comment I modified that statement to acknowledge that it can at times be mentally taxing, but all on all, it is the easiest job I have ever had.

I drove in the Army, 64C, it was easy duty there too. That is my M915 in my Avatar.