Am I calculating the truck driver pay correctly?

This is a wonderful forum, and there many experienced drivers who love to help other drivers and those contemplating driving. At the same time they will tear someone a new one on account of a bad question or advising to do something illegal or in any way gives the trucking industry a black eye.

Now, on to your question regarding the ad you saw on CL. One, no one is paying an experienced driver rates that are in the top 1% in the industry. Second, assuming it is a legitimate ad, what they promise for average week is what you get in the best week. Most drivers do it too, and I only found out how much I did too when I got hurt at work and got total temporary disability, which is based on the average weekly wage. I found out, including all the ups and downs, holiday closures, etc, that I earned about $150 less per week than I thought I did.

 

I wouldn't trust Craig's list unless it's a legimate employer I've seen.

 

And that 63 cents being advertised probably includes the "value" of all your possible forms of compensation, like stop pay, mileage and safety bonuses, benefits, etc.

 

I said "no one is paying experienced drivers rates that are in in the top 1%"
I meant to say "no one will pay an inexperienced driver rates that are in the top 1%"

 

If I were paid by the foot, I'd leave my current cubicle farm job and get back in a truck so fast it would make your head spin.
Let's use a 300 mile run for an example:
5280 * 300 = 1,584,000 feet.
1584000 * .5 = 792,000

Let's play with some numbers just for fun.

A relatively short 300 mile run would give you a gross of $792k. One round trip would be 600 miles and your gross would be $1,584,000. Then, we'll assume that you have 25% ($396k) taken out for taxes or other expenditures, that would leave you net pay of $1,188,000. You're still sitting slightly over one million dollars for a 600 mile trip.

Now, let's take our $1.18 million and divide that over 30 years. That gives us a yearly "salary" of $39,600, or $3,300 per month. If you only divide it out over 15 years, you get $79,200, or $6,600 per month.

 

I suppose I'd settle for half that. But only if it were no-touch freight!

 

This kid is sharp.

I'm convinced he has down syndrome.

 

That may be true but for those situations you speak of like waiting for a load isn't actually work. Also i know the checks are inconsistent in trucking that's why i look at it monthly instead of weekly because bills are due every month not every week. So if i made $400 one week and $600 then next and $800 the next.... it doesn't matter. As long as the total monthly earnings are good. That's how i personally look at it. Also one benefit hardly nobody speaks of driving a truck is you have no boss in your face while you are working. That alone is priceless to some people. This guy who works in retail i guarantee has a boss telling him what to do pretty much all day.

 

Craigslist is like a box of chocolates. Never know what youll get lol

 

This all begs the question....what in the name of Hades ever happened to putting in your Sunday best, and actually going to a prospective employer IN PERSON?

OP, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Aside from what you've read this far, here's a little news flash.

Are you ready??????


You don't need to go to truck driving school, or work for the mega fleets to start a career as a truck driver.

Huh?

Find a small company, with maybe 5 or 10 trucks, meet with the owner, explain to them what you want to do. Offer to do whatever it takes to get in the door (within reason), with the agreement on their part of helping you obtain a CDL (This may take some time). You'll learn the industry from a different perspective. Stay loyal to said employer until whatever arrangement you have is settled. Then you have experience, (hopefully good), and can move on if you want.

Why isn't everyone doing this?


Because it may be harder and you'll be rejected a lot in the beginning. But if you want it bad enough, and it shows, someone will give you a shot. It'll be tough for a while, no question. But the reward later on is so worth it.

Good luck!