Pay for new drivers?

Always remember that they use the words "Up to..." or "On average..." Meaning: "You can earn up to $1000-$1200 a week" or "Our drivers earn on average around $1000-$1200 a week" This means that it has been done which means it "can" be done but your mileage may vary.

 

Also keep in mind that those numbers, as stated above, will usually include an average of bonuses and "extras". Such as additional stop pay, short haul pay, on time bonus, fuel mileage bonus, low idle bonus etc. ad nauseum.

 

I work for a small company. We have some company drivers, and I think they start at like $0.34/mile. Minimum 1 year experience. Our owner is the best set up for instant reload / wheels turning I've ever seen. Most everyone does 3200 to 3400 weekly with a 34 at the house. So even at $0.34, they all pull a grand. But its also big boy trucking. There's no hand holding. Most of the company trucks will run 75.

 

I don't think you quite get the "JIZZ" of it. LOL Believe it's Jist.

 

Most companies are going to tell you the "average" pay they give is on a really good week. We are talking 500-550 miles a day for 5-6 days. What most companies don't factor into this is a slow week, waiting time, weather delays, etc. that will cut into your pay cheque at the end of the week but are a part of trucking.

You are likely going to be making, gross, $700-800 a week at most to start at any company (not including training rates either). Not only are you going to be slower because you are learning, but you aren't going to get the gravy runs. You are going to get the short runs or the crap runs that go through lots of congested areas.

My advice is find a company you enjoy working for and one that offers you a large variety of things to do. Put in your time doing something you like, and time will fly by. Don't think about the greener grass on the other side... chances are it's just painted on by the recruiter to make you want to move to their company.

I'm currently at 22 months now with my starting company and am working in both our major divisions (regional flat deck and dry bulk), doing driver training (in truck) and driver orientation (in classroom) and getting lots of the gravy runs (I am currently doing one every two weeks that pays almost $1000 CAD for three days of work and they are at most 10-12 hour days).

What a lot of truck drivers make the mistake is just going into a company for "experience" and keep jumping ship every time they get offered 1 cpm more.

 

$0.34/mi at 3,000 mi. a week gets you $1020 gross while $0.42/mi at 2,000 mi. a week gets you only $840 gross.

What I've gathered from this site and common sense is to find a balance between rate and run. For me the second example is plenty. While others would rather spend more time on the road and get that little extra.

 

Your pretty much dog meat when you start. You need a solid year, and two is better.

If you just want to be a driver, join the union. ABF & Yellow and some others are taking guys on green, you have CDL just no experience. The're food guys doing it too. They make in high twenties with overtime.

I worked at CEMEX as a teamster and we made $20 plus our perks, OT after 10 hours in a day and 40 in a week. They even took in like 3 kids green, but they were all friends of management.

But I see ABF & Yellow advertising for guys to start green.

If you want your own truck-
There are times I made $1,000 in a shift for a 500 or 600 mile run after fuel.

There's a lot of opportunity, and it's what you will make of it.

You just have to be punished for a year lol.