Was there ever a big money ($150K to $250K/yr) era for truckers?

Yes, then came the tax man.

 

Well the $250K per year can only be total REVENUE that you created by running the loads. Not gross profit. Then you can take off your everyday expenses. And even that is pushing it, depending on the freight you haul.
But making $250K profit as an O/O
Wishful thinking, but alas, NO !!!

 

yes in 2001 I grossed 262000,00 after all costs I still cleared about 170000,00 those where the good old days, now everything costs so dang much, in 2001 fuel was 1,35 a gallon now just happy to pay under 4 bucks a gallon, doing the same kind of work, so not making as much but o well I living

 

I did better than 125 a couple years, but that was the late 90's. freight paid almost what it pays today, and fuel was a buck per gallon. those days are long long gone.

 

There are a few places you can clear 150k before or even after taxes, but they generally don't advertise and you need to live in the right area. It's much more common to clear. 0-75,000 though.

 

Depends on what your definition of "pick up" is? I have to laugh at the thought that one day life will go backwards, or that the powers that be will give up, what they have taken. I too dream of the how this Country should be, as it relates to trucking but, I fear it will only get worse, especially for the little man...

 

I know 20 years ago guys were making over $100k hauling cars as company drivers and home every day. There was also guys who worked for Grand Union hauling to there grocery stores making almost 6 digits a year before they closed. Thank the mega carriers for the industry standards you have now.

 

Siberus
It doesnt matter how much the economy improves or how much things may get better--if history teaches ANYTHING in this biz--it is:
Once a rate goes down-drops-get undercut-etc--It does not come back
sad but true