New Driver!! How does it work your first year ?

Well the short of it is that most companies will not pay you well your first year. And to be honest you are new and still learning so you should not be getting the same rate as a driver that has been in it for 10+ years. That being said yes you can still make a living doing regional or local. The local will bust your ### I fear. It's usually doing a lot of stops and with loading and u loading your trailer.

 

^^ He's right. Not sure who you started with; if you post whom, we can help a bit more accordingly, but then again, a 'few' of the mega's haul for DOLLAR stores. (DG, FD, etc..you get the pix.) If THAT is what you are leaning toward, to be 'LOCAL' lemme tell ya. I've been driving about 20 years, and have NEVER (nor would I want to) do a Dollar Account, even WITH my experience. The Unloading is SHEER HELL.... and the backing situations, around employees' and customers' cars and such, is WORSE hell. A good buddy of mine up the street pulls for Werner, and he's been on the DG account for 9 years; did 4 OTR prior, and said he STILL remembers some close 'CAREER KILLERS' throughout.

My pal is making kick butt money, sure. Yet, so am I . I put almost 5 years in OTR with Transport America, USX, and FedEx/LineHaul before I got my current tanker gig.

IMHO ..... yes, you WILL make more OTR for the first year, as soon as you get your trip planning down to a science (that, and the HOS stuff...and of course taking care of your assigned equipment.) Additionally, experience is priceless. Your 1st OTR company will be WAY more forgiving of any 'INCIDENTS' that may (and probably will) occur until you get your feet wet; and yeah, about a year. Not sugar coating, not raining on your parade, either.

Just stating the truth. If you are with a company training you via contract; HANG with them a year, learn the ins and outs of THEIR way of doing things to optimize your earnings; and you'll actually do better than many people fear they will. Look at @wfutch79 's thread; look at @Ben Wah 79 's thread... both new(ish) guys that I follow; doing rather well.

If you GET THRU this 1st year, then LOOK at some LTL or food service stuff, like @Mike2633 and @Bob Dobalina and @Naptown (just a few examples.) It's not easy, but it pays well. They LIKE TO see experience before getting in to Linehaul, man.

TL/DR I know; I'm just passionate about my lifestyle/profession; it's there if you can bring your A'Game... all day, every day.

Best wishes; Just IMHO...
Tomcat

 

I worked for a beer distributor as my first job and made around $40 grand.

My second job where I am right now I made better then that.

You can make money anywhere though.

The secret to success is well there are no secrets.

Show Up On Time.
Do Things Right
Volunteer to do extra work when it comes. That's how you make money, but you must prove your self a bit first.

 

That's some good advice Tom!

 

Where is your location and what type trucking are you doing. Some drivers make poor wages their first year and some make $60K + or - a few dollars. Many factors involved.

 

Not trying to be a wise acre here but based upon your due diligence when you signed on with this company I would guess it's easy to ballpark a range. Obviously if you're not hourly, salaried or load-based (maybe something else as well) it's going to be a function of miles, cpm, & other things like pay for stops/unloading.

 

Basing your income on 'stop pay' whilst OTR is not even in the 'scheme' of things. That should be an 'EXTRA' bonus..... per se. And I'm NOT talking Per Diem, either.. Regardless of the cpm...... if you can manage your clock, trip plan, and stay within HOS and impress your dispatch because "you got this," there IS money to be made. Even with the 'bottoms' as people may call them.

 

Thanks, man. When I wrap my mind around places that new people 'don't' .. I get carried away, LoL. I could NEVER be a trainer. Many people just do NOT think as we do, man!!