best starting cpm for a total newbie?

I love me some trucking stories

 

Usually new drivers are held in the Texas area and kept out of the rockies a while, especially over winter. They don't yet show the judgement, warrior mentality for battle and the necssary fear that is required in a certain part to a sort of a mix with courage to get into difficult areas and not get killed.

You will see the whole country. Don't worry about that. It will take time. Sometimes a life time.

 

If you have to make a living and support a family from your first year's earnings I would definitely take medical and dental insurance and factor that into the equation because depending on who you choose to work for that will eat up a quarter of your earnings, Or it might only amount to $50 a week. And then if it amounts to $50 a week you need to factor deductibles into the equation. If its a $5,000 deductible before they pay a penny then the insurance is totally worthless unless you have an extra $5,000 laying around stashed under your pillow.
Some of the best companies to work for offer 100% company paid insurance with no deductible. If you can get in with a company like that right out of truck driving school that would probably be the smartest move in regards to taking care of your family.

 

Don't get stuck on cents per mile. I work for a company who everyone says is "low" yet I make more then most everyone I know. They have a bonus program that works and is achievable. Some companies bonus programs are impossible!
I e put the offer up many times I'll go paycheck to paycheck with anyone. I have only seen 1 person who matches my pay consistently.
I could pay you $5 bucks a mile but if your sittin a lot that big money per mile ain't nothing.

 

I was fresh out of CDL school & went to Magnum (check out their forum on here - http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...num-ltd-fargo-nd.266917/page-911#post-5381704 ). They're based out of Fargo, ND, but are OTR. They fly you to Fargo for orientation, put you in a hotel and feed you. Then you're out with a trainer for ~ 4 weeks, then start on your own at .36cpm. On your 6 month anniversary you go to performance pay which is based on a number of factors (miles per month, fuel mileage, safety record, etc) than can be up to .50cpm.

They have excellent equipment - oldest are 14's and they're phasing them out. They have APU with heater & AC in sleeper, TV connections, refrigerator and a lot of room. And, they're reliable. I've been here 9 months and have never broke down. They don't micromanage you - even as a new driver. Early on you'll get fewer miles, but I'm regularly getting 2800 miles a week now, on average.

If you have any questions, let me know. Read the Magnum forum and you'll learn a lot.