So 75K is the average pay right according to yahoo

I'll chime in on this from my own experience. I put in two years with Swift. During that time I worked up the ladder, running a dedicated team gig for a while, then becoming a trainer. I got all my endorsements, including Hazmat but not my TWIC card. At the end I was earning on pace to make about $65-70K.

After two years I changed to driving flatbed in the oil fields, a job requiring two clean years experience and Hazmat. Now I'm earning on pace for $70-75K as a company driver and looking to become an O/O within the next year. Then I should be able to pay myself that $70-75K and make profit on top of that.

Have a plan, work the plan. If you want to be an O/O, then don't settle for leasing on with a low revenue carrier. Look for high revenue opportunities, like flatbed or tanker with a high tariff commodity.

If you want to stay as a company driver, then show a stable work history and put in your time with the starter company to become qualified for the company of your dreams.

 

But realize the "company of your dreams" is going to want you to WORK and be DEPENDABLE. They are looking for drivers who ..

• Have reasonable home-time expectations, depending on the gig, and are not "demanding" about home time (will work some weekends or certain holidays as demands dictate)
• Are on-time consistently and reliably
• Will not tear something up or hit somebody every 4th month
• Will not complain about "back trouble" every other week
• Will not park every time it starts to snow/ice
• Can keep equipment clean and well kept
• Can work well with customers and the public and be a good carrier representative at all times, both behind the wheel on the highways, and at a customer's location

If you might have a problem with even just one of these traits, you should probably just stay put at the mega carrier where you are at and be happy there.

 

But, but, but, I've been on the road for 4 day and I wanna go home. !!!!

 

I believe that. Too many drivers work terrible schedules, stay out for weeks, and do it all for peanuts.

With less than 2 years experience, I found a company where I'm home every night, weekends off (Friday night to Monday morning), paid holidays, paid vacation, medical / dental coverage, and drive less than 2000 miles per week. My first year with them I earned $65K. This year it will be closer to $80K.

Stay away from the mega carriers.

 

Yes, but you stuck with it for over a year and I'll bet you kept your nose clean.

 

Or job-hop from mega carrier to mega carrier and expect a different result. But yep, in a nutshell, what you said

 

If your a reliable driver,with good attitude,and like to stay out..75k is quite possible,for a new guy.
If you love being home..not going to make it.

 

The Average wage for truck drivers in the United states is around 41,930 per year. According to the Bureau of labor and statistics. Don't believe everything you read, or hear. Its just simply not true.

 

Tat sounds more believable. Think of all the mega carrier drivers who only do about 30-35k.

 

Exactly, very few people make a ton of money driving. That's why we have a "driver shortage" The jobs not worth the pay. But as long as there is a steady stream of cheap help they can lie to, it will never change.