First year income for drivers?

Swift has among the worst reputations in the industry. I've talked with many drivers who've worked there and have told me it's awful. I've heard that drivers with only 4 months experience are training other student drivers. Their safety record is atrocious. I'd steer clear Swift and Werner are competing for the title "worst company out there".

The industry norm is 1 day off for every 6/7 days out. The exception is those that slip seat with 7/3 then 7/4 schedule where three drivers share two trucks or the 2 weeks out, one week off which is the same principle.

26 cpm is unacceptable pay. They are recouping their investment of training you. You should look to start in the 28-32 cpm range.

I paid for my own schooling (Sage) and Transport America is reimbursing me the cost at a rate of $150/mo til it's paid off or I leave. They started me (after 4 weeks finishing training at $300/wk) at a base rate of 29cpm plus the oppurtunity of three additional 1cpm bonuses for safety, ontime and idling target. I've hit every one of these bonuses so really you could say I started at 32cpm. When I hit 6 months I went to 33cpm and after bonuses 36cpm.
I've averaged over 3000 mi per week thru now (7 months). My average gross is around 900/week for every week I'm out and on the third check of every month I get a bonus check added of around 330-370. I've had many checks in the 1200-1350 range that offset the 600 checks I get when I go home for 2-3 days.

If you can't pay for schooling and need the Carrier to pay for it, my first recommendation would be Millis Transfer based in Black River Falls, Wi. They are an excellent company that guarantees you'll get home on the day you request, if they don't they pay you generously in the form of higher cpm until you do get home. Most Millis Drivers tell me they always get home on time.

Your choice for your first carrier will probably be the most important since it is with them you receive the training that teaches you the trade of driving in the real world and will be your foundation for your habits and safety for the rest of your driving career. School teaches you to pass the CDL test, your training with the carrier is what really teaches you the applicable skills. The highest priority should be on training and safety. Money comes with time if you have good skills and habits cause you can take those skills anywhere. If you acquire bad habits and skills you're destined for failure regardless of who you work for.
Good Luck. Wherever you go, I'd steer clear of Swift , Werner or Triple Crown.

 

And above ALL ---- avoid
C.R. England.

 

Hello all,

I am new to this forum, but have a question. What are the best paying companies that a new driver should start with? Also the ones that treat their drivers good and not like ####. I have had my cdl for 17 years, but have only local experience, no otr. I have been checking around, and I find that most all want some type of schooling. So I have signed up at a local community college here in GA, for a cdl course. This will take about 10 weeks to complete, then I want to go to work. I have heard a lot of good things about Millis, and Pam, for new drivers. Does anyone know anything about these two companies? Any insight into these questions will greatly appericated.
Thanks

 

hey sneaky, probably 25-33cents a mile. you can do 700-800 dollars a week if you learn quick and can do the job correctly. home time can vary these numbers greatly however.

 

Welcome to the forums SS -----

Now the fun begins.
Your best bet is to utilize this site to do some research.
Many of the questions you're askin' have already been answered in the various threads.

What's a good fit for some, isn't for others.
But, personally, I give high marks to Schneider for those just gettin' started in OTR truckin'.

And I don't recommend putting a LOT of emphasis on what the various companies CLAIM they pay. If a company says they pay their drivers more, ...... but their driver sit a lot, ........... see where I'm goin' with this?

My advice?
Contact several companies you like, and run your story by them BEFORE you make a final decision to attend a school that'll just re-teach you what you already know.

IMO, there's a good chance a company will just require that you spend some time with one of their trainers, --- who will probably release you early to go it on your own.
HaiL!
You ALREADY KNOW how to drive a Big truck. All you need to learn now is how to survive successfully OTR.

 

An F250 can be loaded to MUCH more than 1,500 lbs.

 

YuP!
At a greatly increased wear & tear factor.
And probably a decrease in fuel economy at the heavier weights.

Run an F-250 hard & heavy all the time,
and it won't last too long. Unless y'all keep up on
ALL the maintenance.

 

Hi,

Man I was hoping to get $50,000 the first year, but maybe that was a tiny bit greedy for what would have been real. Wouldn't that be nice to have such a glorious income for the first year. 100,000 would be even better, but I guess that is a 2nd year total, huh?

 

Hey!
At least you are thinking POSTIVE now!!!

 

I want some of what YOU'RE taking!




No, WAIT! On second thought, I don't want any PART of it!