Is it true 50k to start??

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by petesout, Apr 25, 2007.

  1. petesout

    petesout Bobtail Member

    29
    1
    Mar 24, 2007
    Sioux City, Iowa
    0
    I have been seeing a lot of adds for 50k to start. That to me seems like a lot for a new driver to start. In fact I called a tanker company and they told me I could be home every night and weekends. I would have to attend a community college and they would put me with a trainer. Then on my own. So is this possible or are they blowing smoke up my ##*. I just want the straight poop before getting into driving and getting my hopes up for a good paying job. Everything I have done in life I started at the bottom and worked my way up as high as I could go. I'will be looking for your input. petesout
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. pro1driver

    pro1driver Heavy Load Member

    939
    47
    Mar 30, 2006
    North East, USA
    0
    highly unlikely you'll be earning that much as a newbie/rookie, especially a tanker company. besides, this year is already 4 months old, soon to be 5, then when you graduate, when, in june...?? that'll give you just 6 months to finish this year off.......next year however, expect to make about $35,000 to $38,000.
     
  4. Strngs012

    Strngs012 Light Load Member

    126
    30
    Jul 16, 2007
    Palm Coast, Fl
    0
    Get it in writing before you commit to anything
     
  5. Truckerjo

    Truckerjo Road Train Member

    2,314
    341
    Sep 5, 2006
    Indiana
    0
    like pro1driver already said very doubtful...

    I made just over 40,000 the first year I started and I did not go home 1 time for 6 months strait... I also averaged over 3000 miles per week

    I have a buddy who works for maverick who also claims over $50,000
    Well Maverick is a very good company and he made 48,000 last year..

    He does go home every weekend but he runs his butt off during the week.. I know becuase we constantly talk to each other during the late hours to keep each other alert...

    Anyways more like 35,000 your first year would be a realistic number..
    The numbers they show you is always under the perfect conditions that DO NOT ever exist in trucking...
     
  6. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

    6,257
    4,365
    Oct 23, 2005
    Vegas/Jersey
    0
    Find out what type of tanker company. I can only speak for gasoline and if it is I'd go for right now. I say that because with hauling gasoline you become specialized and in demand if your record is clean. Your starting pay will be low, around $14 to $15 an hour which is still higher than OTR if you count all the hours. You can set your goals to work for the majors like Chevron, Shell, ARCO, BP and such and they pay the top wages of anybody. I retired (almost 8 years ago) at $23.50 an hour and all my time was paid for. But you've got to have experience you get with them and sometimes it takes awhile. But while you're working you're gaining the experience and in no time at all you will know who to work for.

    It sounds like an opportunity you should look at. See if they pay by the hour or by the mile. If they pay by the mile then I would think twice about it because you won't get the miles if you're home every night. Check to see where they load. Alot of times the gasoline companies will use a communty loading rack where all the companies load and you could go by there and maybe find a few drivers to talk to. Be careful and just don't walk onto the property without checking first but you might find where they stop for breaks.

    Where I loaded in Las Vegas NV we all knew what all the companies paid and which companies were worth working for. You might even look for a driver dropping at a station and you could talk to him. I used to have all kinds of people come up to me asking all kinds of questions. Just be careful there too, he or she might be in a hurry and can't talk. Good luck and let us know. If it is gasoline I can help more but OTR tankers I don't know about.
     
  7. larry79

    larry79 Bobtail Member

    17
    0
    Mar 9, 2008
    Ada,oklahoma
    0
    did you guys see that this post is almost a year old?
     
  8. Truckerjo

    Truckerjo Road Train Member

    2,314
    341
    Sep 5, 2006
    Indiana
    0
    LOL nope, didnt even look at it.. Just seen it pop up as someone had posted in it..

    I was wondering a little cause I seen Pro1driver post and I haven't seen him in a long time...

    Oh well perhaps it will answer the question for sombody else...
     
  9. MorrisGray

    MorrisGray Light Load Member

    183
    10
    Jan 14, 2008
    Rock Spring, GA
    0
    I just graduated school in Dec and although I drove several years ago that don't count now, my explorations for a position tell me most tanker companies are hard enough to get on with if OTR. And the good sounding local carriers, especially the gas haulers, require one or two years experience if not more.
     
  10. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

    6,257
    4,365
    Oct 23, 2005
    Vegas/Jersey
    0
    That's funny I didn't look either. Oh well maybe someone can get something out of it.
     
  11. MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

    5,799
    6,440
    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
    0
    count on $30k, be happy if it comes in any higher
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.