new driver

if you look in the company dac report section, on this forum, you will find a ton of information on both companies

 

$900 a week can be done but reading all the feedback from new drivers it's a rarity. Especially when you use a company to pay for your school. Most have said they are lucky to clear $300 to $400 a week for some time after starting. And what I have read that's after all the training and you're on your own.

You've really got to sit down and make a plan of what your goals are and what you need. Never believe a recruiter or the school and ask a few drivers of that company. Don't expect to get the full picture from just the computer. The computer is a great tool but never should be used alone. Go out and see what you can. A recruiter is working for the companies and the school is only there to get your CDL. Drivers can help drivers and IMO that's the best source when you talk to 4 or 5 of them from the same company. I've always used one indicator to start off with when looking at a company. That's to see if that company has any drivers that retire. If they don't there's a reason and vise-versa. Good luck.

 

I got hired by PAM in June 2006, in 2007 I made a little over $40,000. I ran so illegal to get it. But right now there ain't much freight out here. PAM will take loads that lose them money to keep you running. That way they don't have to pay layover.

 

You get into an accident running illegal and you'll find out that $40K is not worth what you'll be loosing.

 

DH went to C1 in Indy in September 2008 and signed with Decker (division of PAM) and last week's check was the biggest he's gotten at $518 after taxes and the stuff they take out for schooling and escrow. He'd gotten one $400 check before that and all the rest were in the $250-$300 range. He ran hard this past week (3,000+ miles) and the check is still not gonna be near $900. So no..$900 won't happen for a while..unless you're talking gross and not take home..

As far as being slow..there was a lot of waiting around in the beginning (waited 2 weeks after training to get his truck) but once he finally got his truck, runs have been pretty consistent. In the last 6 weeks there's only been a couple times he's had to sit for more than a day. He's gotten more miles each week since he started so I don't know if they start you out slow to see how you do or what but it's been picking up (knock on wood).

 

How could you do a lot of research and ask if it's slow out there ? Research shows over 70,000 drivers lost their jobs last year . Over 2,000 trucking companies went out of business the first half of last year . And the unemployment rate in the transportation industry jumped over 50% from 6 % to over 9% . Yeah , it's kind of slow .

 

Congradulations markymark, which company are you going with?