Poor pay

Location is usually the biggest problem. If you are isolated from the good carriers, you will have less options. I managed go local right out of CDL school... But I timed it just right and I was at the right area at the right time. I would wait for Chinatown to chime in... He tends to know everything about any carrier.

 

Welcome to trucking.........This is typical and I wish more newbies would understand this before they jumped into the industry; then maybe, just maybe more people would stay away and there would be a real driver shortage which would mean better pay for everyone.......Yes, 40k is more likely your first year and, in many cases it will be lower than that.

 

You will never be successful in life working bankers hours unless you own the bank.

Go ahead and deliver your newspapers. Punch a clock from the time you leave home to the time you get back. Be sure to work only 40 hours a week. Bet you won't see $12000 in a year.

Yea, beancounters. Spend more time worrying about how many beans go into each can than how many cans they sell.

 

That's why I tell people interested in becoming a driver don't do it for the money because you won't last 6 months if that's the only reason your doing it. It's a lifestyle change. You have to be comfortable in your own skin and with be alone for long stretches of time. You get to see lots of the country and that's probably what I liked about it the most and why I'm planning on returning early next year.

 

You were the one that brought up the newspaper gig. I personally don't see you doing more than $12000 annually, working 40 hours a week delivering newspapers.

Now, before the IT world rendered you obsolete, and you made your fame and fortune, did someone have to hold your hand to show you how to be successful? See the money you're talking about for the bottom end OTR person is for the people who need their hand held. If you need your hand held, expect to be paid towards the bottom end of the pay scale. Simple as that.

 

One of the reasons "pay is so ridiculously low" is because companies keeping sticking warm bodies in driver seats. Skill and/or training means almost nothing because many of the big carriers receive government grants to train newbies. When the training is up, they are just waiting for a reason to get rid of you so they can bring in the next warm body to fill the driver seat and collect the grant money on him/her. Your wages and quality of life mean nothing to them. Like I said, this is just one of the reasons. Your concerns are not unfounded, and I would encourage you to find another line of work since this is unsatisfactory to you. If more newbies would do this pay would eventually go up. IMO, what's wrong with the trucking industry can be summed-up in one word......"government"

 

Driving trk and especially OTR is I would say the lowest paid job there is.Once upon a time I use to call this a carreer.But now its just another job that I can't wait till the day ends.You're not going to get rich not even close.You do a lot of sitting.Reson being is because companies hire more drivers then freight and myt guess would be because maybe they receive subsidy money for creating a job.You're looking at 25k to 30 k your first yr .When you think about it trucking doesn't even pay min wage.This job you need a 2 income family to pay bills.