How much did you make your first year?

1st year I made about $50k for OTR, NEVER home, which is what I wanted. This year I project something closer to $60+.

A lot depends on where you live. There are about 10 jobs (For 500 drivers that want them) within 50 miles of me that pay $60k-ish for day-cab jobs. There are TONS that pay $15 an hour. There are ZERO jobs for a company driver that TOUCH $70k per year.

Other places, that's different. But a lot of people on this forum do not understand what it's like living in truly RURAL areas. Where the nearest city with 100k population is 200 miles away.

We pay school bus drivers $13 an hour plus overtime for over 8 hours or 40 and people are FIGHTING to get those jobs.

LTI pays $13.75 per hour straight pay for 10-11 hour per-day work local. Logging truck, if you can handle it, pays $50 per load with an average for EXPERIENCED drivers of $50kish per year. (And back surgery needed in 5 years). The two larger OTR companies pay 37-39 CPM for EXPERIENCED drivers.

The only exceptions to this of which I'm aware are a couple of small-time Hazmat carriers with less than 15 drivers who pay $23 per hour. And you have to wait for someone to die.

That's my small town.

If I lived in Minneapolis, Chicago, or other large urban areas, the numbers would be a lot different. But like real estate, its location, location, location.

 

I'm guessing the cost of living is a little better where you live also

 

I'm in my first year right now with a local driving gig. I'm home every night and getting 45-55 hrs. A week hauling produce with a long nose Freightliner XL classic and 48ft. Refer. Averaging $1300.00 every 2 weeks. The average hourly pay is $14.00 an hour for new drivers here in Yakima, WA. I'm hoping that after I put in a year with one company, I can move up into a better paying job... With better equipment!

 

First year... peanut butter & jelly and free rent. Lol. Pretty dang near anyway.

Honestly I *think* we were making like 28 cents. But that was a few million miles ago.

These days we wont roll for less than 60 cpm with a 5k mile minimum. 5k is a nice, easy week. Tired of too many 7k+ mile weeks. They beat the crap out of you.

Mr. E and I are on the five year plan to retire now. Too much stupid out here now.

 

I made 28K, $0.19 a mile and lived in the truck. I was home every day. This was in 1993, so your results may vary.