How much would it take.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by starmac, Jul 18, 2019.

  1. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    I keep seeing guys post that they make as much as 1800 bucks a week driving a truck.
    I also keep seeing guys steadily harping about the low pay in the industry, and how low pay will only draw the bottom of the barrel types in to the business.
    My question is how much a week does a guy have to make, to make it a competitive job in your mind?

    Most folks on here snubs anybody that is only making a 1000 a week, so I am assuming that 1200 is somewhere near the bottom dollar for most jobs.
     
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  3. bigjoel

    bigjoel Road Train Member

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    Remember this is the internet. People will always "embellish" their wages.
    Truth is most drivers don't make squat.
     
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  4. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    If you're talking about $1,200 a week gross (before taxes), then that would be pretty close to average for somebody driving 2-3 years with a mega. Of course after taxes and benefit deductions, we're talking about considerably less. Most first year drivers are lucky to gross $800 a week. At least that's been my experience.
     
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  5. Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

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    It runs all over the map.
    For the average company driver, about 850 per week take home.
     
  6. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Back when I started in the work force, in construction we worked long hours, from can to can't usually.
    This made for decent checks.
    These days most companies in most business tries not to pay overtime, so most people are limited to 40 hours. In a huge part of the country a first year anything that averages 800 bucks a week, is probably considered a good job, if after 2 or 3 years 1200 a week would still be considered a good job, in many areas a great job, money wise.
    I know trucking is more hours, but it is also easier than many types of work. it doesn't take long to get into a jpb. You sure don't have to be overly smart to hold a job, and even excel at driving.

    I tend to think it is much more involved than just money is the reason we get a lot of bottom of the barrel types .
    My thoughts is just about anybody can do it.
    You can get into it quick compared to a lot of other types of work.
    Cheap compared to going to college, plus you sure don't have to be college material to start with.
    As far as manual labor, it is easy compared to many jobs, and sounds even easier.
    A guy is not stuck in a little cubicle 40 hours a week.
    A guy does not have a boss standing over his shoulder all day, though with some of the new rules and technology, that is rapidly changing.
    I takes a different mindset than most other types of work, and I don't think many would be happy no matter what it paid.
    Personally I think it is other factors besides money that is the problem. I have done it for years and have always made a decent living, at anytime I thought I was not making what I should be, it was easy enough to make a change.
     
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  7. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Depends what ur haulin and what company name is on the side of ur door. I seens some companies will give u .36 cents a mile to drive a shiny 389 pete all tricked out. But swift starts there drivers at 42 cents a mile straight out of school . i wouldnt drive a shiny truck for that #### pay. Some even rewuire u have 3 years experience and stil pay u ####. Then some companies pay u very well but have ####ty equipment
     
  8. MartinFromBC

    MartinFromBC Road Train Member

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    Money is proportional to what you are doing, hours or miles you put in, experience, and who you are able to get a job with. There are both extremes, people who will work too cheap, and those who expect to be paid too much. Find the right job for you, the balance of time off and income that fits your lifestyle, don't worry about the others.
     
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  9. singlescrewshaker

    singlescrewshaker Road Train Member

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    This is a little off topic, but what would be considered crappy equipment?

    Never worked for a trucking company besides my own.

    People probably look at my truck & think it ####ty equipment because its 27yrs old & needs a paint job. It squeaks & rattles here & there. Probably has more engine, exhaust, wind & road noise too, but I like it. Its reliable, paid for, & always gets whatever is on my trailer delivered on time..

    I look at lots of newer trucks loaded with emissions, cattle prods, automatic trans, & driver facing cameras & think how shotty that must be to operate that all day every day..
     
  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Money takes care of itself whatever dollar amount it be AS LONG you are able to pay off your debts and build savings.

    When 9-11 happened that morning, we were paying a contractor 9000 flat that month to finish replacing our Bathroom damaged by a recent storm that was not insured due to preexisting damage in roof. (That got repaired eventually)

    Our savings of approximately 14000 dollars reduced by 9000 dollars came out to 5000 dollars on hand.

    The reason that 5000 dollars was a years accumulation in cash our work for 10 months as a team, because 9-11 terrorists destroyed our current payroll company and or the people. So that afternoon my Dispatcher calls us and says we can send you to unemployment and home full pay for both of you to sit and wait until our company payroll is back up.

    To sit means the important high dollar medicines do not roll to the sick, needy and hurt bad people who has immediate and dire need of such medicines. The terrorists would have won. We told dispatcher we have savings in two differnt forms, but the immediate cash flow is not a problem. Next medicine load please.

    Instead of loading cardboard bales back to Memphis that horrible day, Detriot distribution cubed our reefer to the max with narcotics, trauma kits and god only knows what else all the way front to back stuffed trailer. Going straight to Linfield CT that controls distribution into NYC and surrounding states. So that was a special war type load and we treated it as such after fueling. (Fueling was more than triple the cost before 9-11. But my company paid it without a sound. Probably running on a pre negotiated lower cost fuel for the year)

    That savings lasted us 6 weeks of hauling medicines without stopping. At the 7th week the company payroll kicked in and was caught up. Terrorists did not achieve their goal. Disrupting the trucking.

    I grew up in a time where the dollar actually had some value. Prior to 71 you had Silver certificate bills in a few denominations where you can go to any bank and pick up that amount in silver eagle on demand. (Bullion Coin) When the Govt closed the Gold Standard permanently, those silver certificates became a collectors item depending on condition but not any good at the bank. You could buy a house for 21K with 4 bedrooms and a garage. Gas was .20 a gallon and so on.

    Inflation ate away the trucking earnings over my lifetime. I rolled on 300.00 net a week more or less which isnt that bad in the 80's and saw 500+ net in the 90's going into the early 2000's as a team there were weeks that we just tossed the whole fat check into the bank to sit ready for a future week without any freight at all. So feast and famine. Only that your savings tide you over in bad weeks.

    When paid a salary for trainer etc at a net of 1550 with FFE for my spouse paid at 290 a week as a trainee (About three to four times less than take home in her former Federal Employment.) In a short time the Federal Govt managed to replace her job with a computer. And eliminated her office group for more space for other needs.

    I have no reason to embellish. I know how to truck on 200 a week and not starve or get sick and still have some savings increasing. I also know how to handle the 1500 net per week and most of it goes into savings. This post is strictly repeating three words. Add to Savings. So that when you have a really bad week (And dispatch knows it without you complaining) you can dip into it alittle bit to get ready for a new week.

    We also built in savings against taxes. A large deduction for state and a not so large deduction for Dear uncle sam in addition to our 0 W2 form. That means a bunch of money goes to savings for tax time. Making that a foundation for the new year and no taxes to pay. Might come home with oh... 7800 dollars after everything is settled first of Feb in tax forms. That forms a foundation for the new year of trucking. And we add to it. Constantly adding to it.

    The biggest talk back we got from our family in those days WTF? That's ZERO Interest. Don't be stupid. Guess what. It's been Zero% at the savings account for years. Still is... No more talk back today.

    Eventually the savings are large enough to simply turn in the tractor and take a leave of absence during the holiday and winter time. Come out ready to run truck early spring time until next winter. Keep stacking more to savings.
     
  11. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

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    Plenty of guys in the south are on 1099 making "25% of linehaul" that amounts to 600 a week before taxes. Trust me, theyre just not gonna speak up and get blasted over it.
     
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