Big plans. Scared!!! Need advice! Thanks!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Assail, Nov 4, 2015.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Nov 4, 2015 #1
    Assail

    Assail Bobtail Member

    30
    3
    Oct 30, 2015
    0
    I've been pondering the idea of moving to Texas and drive trucks for a living for awhile now and I'm finally taking the first steps towards achieving this dream of mine. I want to go with Maverick Glass Division for my first year since they will pay tuition for CDL school, cover travel, housing, breakfast & lunch, pay me while training, and I would start at .45cpm and .50cpm after six months doing (quoting recruiter) on average "2400 to 2600 miles weekly".

    Now I've been hearing all these drivers which are struggling to make a living. I've read stories on these forums about not getting enough miles, not much left after deductions, etc. This gets me worried and is stopping me from moving forward and I need help figuring if this plan of mine will work or if it is a recipe for disaster.

    I like to plan ahead so for now my plan is as follows:

    1) Move to Texas by the end of January and get into the Maverick Sponsorship program where I will be given housing, travel, and food, but no pay for the period of 4 weeks.

    2) Go to orientation and training with Maverick for 6 weeks where they will provide housing, travel, food, and paid $550.00 weekly.

    3) Get a full year of experience driving solo for Maverick. Hopefully hitting this numbers:

    Best case scenario:
    - I make 2,600 miles weekly @ .45cpm = $1,170.00
    - 4 tarps per week = $100.00
    - Gross income = $1,270.00
    - Minus $119.86 for family Medical
    - Minus $ 292.85 for taxes
    - Net income = $757.29 weekly
    -For 4 week months that is $3,029.16 monthly and for 5 week months that is $3,786.45
    -Net income annually of $45,437.40

    4) After the first year I would like to get a local or dedicated route with a carrier that pays more in order to save enough to buy a 2007 379 Peterbilt and do the owner operator thing.

    Is this doable? Expectable? Normal?
    What are your thoughts? Tell me your experiences.
    Would you change something or do something different?

    Looking forward to hearing from all of you experienced drivers out there.
    Thank you very much in advance.
     
    Assail, Nov 4, 2015
    Assail, Nov 4, 2015
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. Nov 4, 2015 #2
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

    14,980
    19,026
    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
    0
    Yes, go with your 'best case' scenario.
    Then, cut it by a third for a more realistic view.

    Are you planning to take any home time? Because you haven't seemed to plan for that.
    Cut another third from those weeks.
     
    Moosetek13, Nov 4, 2015
    Moosetek13, Nov 4, 2015
    #2
    Texnmidwest, xlsdraw and Canned Spam Thank this.
  4. Nov 4, 2015 #3
    Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

    3,439
    7,811
    Jun 4, 2015
    0
    cut it by half for the first three months. Freight is slowing down, down, down. They aren't going to give the freight to the rookie, first.
     
    Accidental Trucker, Nov 4, 2015
    Accidental Trucker, Nov 4, 2015
    #3
    Canned Spam Thanks this.
  5. Nov 4, 2015 #4
    jerezxp7

    jerezxp7 Medium Load Member

    569
    469
    Apr 4, 2007
    oregon
    0
    Your numbers actually seem really close to me and so long as your cpm is .45 getting 2000 to 2500 a week is very realistic . Do yourself a favor and don't divide the $750 a week by the number of hours you work to make it and you should go blindly thru driving truck for nothing like the rest of us and be happy.
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2015
    jerezxp7, Nov 4, 2015
    jerezxp7, Nov 4, 2015
    #4
    pumpkinhead, Badmon and Assail Thank this.
  7. Nov 5, 2015 #5
    Redtwin

    Redtwin Road Train Member

    5,525
    7,702
    Aug 17, 2012
    PBC, FL
    0
    Someone struggling to make a living may have less to do with how much they earn and more to do with how much they spend/waste.

    If you have a goal, then don't let stories from strangers put you off it. It may take you longer than you planned, but if it is a realistic goal i.e. buying a Peterbilt rather than the Patriots, then you can achieve it.
     
    Redtwin, Nov 5, 2015
    Redtwin, Nov 5, 2015
    #5
    Texnmidwest and Assail Thank this.
  8. Nov 5, 2015 #6
    KMac

    KMac Road Train Member

    3,427
    3,067
    Jan 26, 2012
    Waxahachie, TX
    0
    If he realistically wanted to find out hourly, he would divide the gross, no the $750. That's net.

    The last time I was laid by the hour it was $18.75... That was pretty Tax and Deductions, i was probably nettin in the neighborhood of $12, but what I earked was Paid, amd taxed on was $18.75
     
    KMac, Nov 5, 2015
    KMac, Nov 5, 2015
    #6
  9. Nov 5, 2015 #7
    dennisroc

    dennisroc Road Train Member

    1,753
    1,257
    Oct 9, 2013
    Anjung-Ri, South Korea
    0

    You were "laid" by the hour ??? :)
     
    dennisroc, Nov 5, 2015
    dennisroc, Nov 5, 2015
    #7
    BigDiesel2011, austinmike, truckon and 4 others Thank this.
  10. Nov 5, 2015 #8
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    19,062
    133,282
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    You're beancounting. The problem with beancounters is that after counting so many beans, they began to abhor beans. Want to hate your job? Start beancounting.

    Want to live a little bit? Simplify your plans.

    1. Move to Texas.
    2. Get your foot in the door with Maverick.
    3. Learn as much as you can, meet new drivers, make new friends. Learn the industry.
    4. Drive for Maverick for about a year. During that last 6 months, I want you to better yourself. Run more efficiently, run smarter, work smarter, polish all your skills, learn the freight lanes. Bank your money until you see the truck you want or a better opportunity comes along. When you see the truck, pull the trigger.
    5. Go home and get some owner operator sex.
     
    TripleSix, Nov 5, 2015
    TripleSix, Nov 5, 2015
    #8
    Highway Sailor, CJndaTruck, truckon and 5 others Thank this.
  11. Nov 5, 2015 #9
    KMac

    KMac Road Train Member

    3,427
    3,067
    Jan 26, 2012
    Waxahachie, TX
    0
    Pretty much... LOL, why I am no longer there
     
    KMac, Nov 5, 2015
    KMac, Nov 5, 2015
    #9
    dennisroc and truckon Thank this.
  12. Nov 5, 2015 #10
    Assail

    Assail Bobtail Member

    30
    3
    Oct 30, 2015
    0
    Not doing that hehe. Do you work for Maverick? What region? is the 2000 to 2500 miles weekly easily achievable given I get a good fleet manager, not many break downs, and have good management of time?
     
    Assail, Nov 5, 2015
    Assail, Nov 5, 2015
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

    • Page 1 of 5