Income???

I only have one word for that ##$%^&*()!##$%^&*

That doesn't even make sense...........what is it with these companies....
That is why information is needed before someone says yes......

The main reason I am with the company I started with is because, now when I go out with a student to train for 4 weeks I go home for 6-7 days........

I would have left awhile ago but everybody I talked to said things like
2-3-4 for being out 21-28 days............heck when I get home I sleep for a whole day...............

 

Thats a good question. As far as OTR drivers go, I'm sure the money varies greatly. It depends on many factors. Pay, miles and delay pay etc. Just remember that expenses are high for OTR drivers (food, toiletries and laundry) so plan accordingly. It looks like you need schooling, you will need to bite the bullet and do what you need to do.

I think you are on the right track in looking for local work. Family and friends are very important. I was fortunate enough to have never driven OTR. I have had six jobs (local) in my twenty + years of driving. In 1985, I made $11.96 per hour. Not great but I was home every night.

Local work will pay differently depending on what part of the country you live in among other things. The reward is that you are home more with your family. Just where you need to be and where most wish they were.

I live in the Los Angeles area of California. I work for a very good company. I work Monday thru Friday. I must say that I do have to work an occasional Saturday or Sunday but I am well compensated for it. I have had to work on holidays as well. The last being today. I worked 8 hours today. Total pay today was $482.80.

I received my final direct deposit check for the year on Wednesday. I am only going to show you what I made so you can get an idea of what it is like to work for a good local company. Remember that your pay will vary accordingly. It is by no means meant to demean you or anyone else. I do this to show you and others out there that there are good companies. They do exists however you are unlikely to find them advertising on here. The reason for that is they don't have to. That is one of the most important things to remember.

Total gross - $79,750.20
Total net - $60,949.13

Good luck in your quest for the right company. Remember that you are looking for a career, not just a job.

Drive safe

 

I'm currently not a driver and I have no family like wife or kids"I hope" lol and I make 12k a year. Would it be a huge step for me to enter? Doesn't really bother me to stay out weeks at a time.

 

If 1k is what you are currently making then a move into trucking may be a significant increase for you. Even the realistic numbers of first year drivers are approx.28-36k. Also if you are in Ark. they are currently implementing a new training program for people in that state to recieve free or paid training for truck driving. May be a good time for you to make that move.

 

Don't let too many recruiters know that! They will ALL be calling you! LOL! Starting out, i would say the average is what those here are saying - 28-30k or maybe more if you get a good company. They do exist... look around on the forum and you will get lots of information. Sift through it, let the BS drain away and you should be able to make a good decision. After a couple years of experience, there is no reason you should not be able to pull in 45-50k a year - or more. Biggest key is "If the wheels aren't turning, you aren't earning." About 2500 miles is a good industry average per week, once things pick up again here soon. Good idea to go to school NOW so about the time you are ready to get out and do it, the freight will have picked back up.

 

#jash369: Um, I've not heard much on it other than company sponsored training. If you don't mind if you hear that again try and get some more info on it for me please I actually make 15k a year but 12.5 is my take home "takes rape me good" Shoot 36k is a lot to me lol.

# Kingsson: Yea, i was talking to my dad's boss he runs a small flatbed business which all of his trucks run Arkansas->Goshen Ind-> Chicago ->Arkansas run every week and he told me that if i get the experience he would let me work for him and they bring home a good 800weekly. But Money isn't the only reason. I feel like this career is the career for me. I know what trucking is all about and I've seen it first hand. Yea I would like to go now But i don't turn 21 until July of next year Tbh i really considered Prime as my first company but not sure just yet. Got plenty of research to do.

Btw, Thank you both for your kind word's it has put me in a positive mind.

 

Just remember that it costs money to be on the road. Money for food will be the biggest expense a company driver has. Figure on $7.00 to $15.00 per meal, per day. The government per diem rate for transportation workers is $52.00 per day. 80% of that is deductible on your taxes. Spending $30.00 to 40.00 per day on the road is pretty common especially if you are a smoker or buy soda and snacks during the day. Factor in 300 days on the road and you can easily spend $12,000.00 per year for food alone. Sure makes that 30 grand much smaller at the end of the year. If your frugal and careful you can save ALLOT of money on the road. Making the money is only half the equation. The other half is minimizing your expenditures while on the road.

The veteran drivers know the only way to make money out there is to run as many miles as they can to maximize their earnings. They do this by making themselves available for as many loads as possible. Delivering loads early or picking them up early when possible. Managing their time will allow them to easily turn 3500 "paid" miles in a week. Be prepared to drive MORE miles than you get paid for. This is commonplace. there will be a 5 to 10% variance between your "pay miles" and actual miles. This is where the drivers break into the 50 to 60k range (depending on the cpm of course).

 

Cory, you are more than welcome. We all have opinions here.......some good and some not so good. Just as Kinggson stated you have to sift thru the info here to assist in making a good decission.

I happen to work for a co. that gets alot of bad input here however, I am very happy and it is working for me. It is not for everyone and you will have to find what works for you. OTR incorprates alot of aspects not just the life. You have to figure out what is important to you so that you can make the decission that will keep you from becoming unhappy.

Look at things like: hometime, benefits, pay raises, starting pay, solo vs. teaming, power invertors, truck parking, load pay (weekly etc.) forced dispatch, does the company pressure drivers to run illegal.

Good luck and hang in their. As you finish school their are and will be jobs available somewhere.

 

Great money for a local trucker. I didn't know you guys made that much over there. I talk to LD whenver I see him here and he says the money is very good but that good? If I didn't live so far away from there, I would put in an app. I still grossed 64K this year and living very close makes it hard to leave and spend my afternoons in traffic for an hour or two.

I did not take your post as demeaning to anyone. You are just trying to tell others that there are really good companies to work for out here. I know a lot of these people have to start somewhere and that somewhere might not be in the best area. Still, looking at what drivers settle for can leave a bad taste in your mouth. And you don't even work for them or know the driver.

Good luck and I hope this new year will be even better for you.

 

I left the house on December 12. Stocked my truck with my groceries from Wal-Mart...total $114 and got $40 extra cash to go with the $20 I had in my pocket.

I scaled 1 load and ate 2 meals in a truckstop. When I got home on Dec. 23, I still had $9. I took no cash advances, nor did I use my debit card while out.

OH, and I brought the remaining groceries home with me during the holidays. Several heat and serve meals, ritz crackers, popcorn, 6 pck of drinks, 6 pck of grape juice, hot dogs, 3 differant sandwich meats, multiple soups, and a half eaten 4 lb bag of chicken strips. And of course, loaf bread.

You can live on the cheap...easier than you think.