Can I make 40-45K 1st yr OTR?

LOL...you know how many guys on the road right now would LOVE to sit behind a computer and go home to their families every night?

Anyway, to answer your question in regards to $45-$50k:

1st year, no.
2nd year...possibly, tho not likely.
3rd year...yeah, it's doable.

However, in order to get that $45-$50k you will pretty-much have to live on the job.
And put in 70-80+ hour workweeks including nights, weekends, and holidays.
There's no overtime in trucking and the hourly breakdown works out to like $7.00-$11.00/hr.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr so trucking is basically in the realm of burger-flipping and other low-wage service jobs.
Only reason you can make $50k is that you're working/on-the-job an insane amount of hours.

Stay where you're at.
Trucking is the deadest of dead ends.
You'll make the same money in 3 years as the guy that's been doing it for 50.
7th most dangerous US occupation.
Worthless health bennies with high co-pays.
No friends, family, or social life whatsoever.

 

You're in the technology field which will always be in demand. I'd suggest continuing your education (possibly paid for by your employer). In the long run you will make more money and be able to 'see the country' while on vacation with your family.

 

+

are you being sarcastic, dude??

 

dead serious...

 

what did you haul that year?

 

ltl furniture...

 

My first year on the road for many years was 3 years back.
I made close to 50k, but was not out OTR for the full year.
Second year OTR I made over 50k.
Last year I made only around 35k, but I was laid off for 4 months.
This year so far is looking sad. Really really sad. But it is only the first quarter so I will give it 8 more months to really make a decision.

 

that would be hump busting if you had to unload your trl.

 

What kind of money can a husband/wife team make (first year OTR)?

 

xiaoen311,

What you are reading here, for the most part, I have found to be true. Now, as for the 23 year old who says he made $60-70k in the first 9 months? Not sure about that one. Maybe he drives for his Dad, hauls extremely sensitive freight...not sure...all I can say is that is NO WHERE NEAR the norm out here.

I knew what I was getting in to when I decided to do this. Well, for the most part. You will know too, if you keep reading here and figure out those that are shooting straight with you and those that are BSing. My experience...most here shoot straight. But, as with everything, there are others who don't.

My background...I am a CPA...one who also sat behind a desk for 15 years before breaking away to "see the country and get paid to do it" (aka, drive a truck).

I live in JAX, FL so my options were few, as there weren't many companies hiring from my area at the time I finished my CDL training and got my license. But you will have to sign on with a company that is willing to train...not all are. Most require a minimum of 6 months verifiable experience and many companies require even more experience than that. But there are those who are considered "training" companies. A place for one to start, get his experience and perhaps move on. Although some stay...my trainer has been with the company 5+ years...and I met a driver this week who has 7.5 years with WSE.

I am a newbie with WSE (Willis Shaw Express)...primarily temperature-controlled freight. Good company and smallish, with only 500 company drivers and a couple hundred OOs. But like most others, they don't pay squat. In fact, when I was hired, newbies were offered $0.275 per mile with a penny raise each 6 months thereafter. Wow...what a deal!!!

Effective Jan 1, 2010, pay dropped to $0.26/mile. But they turned on Idleaire for us...GREAT!!! Not so great for long though...as you might be aware that Idleaire just went out of business.

Oh well...I had to start somewhere and up until now, I have not been lied to...everything has been just as they said it would be. I had a great trainer and I currently have a great Fleet Manager (aka dispatcher). At least one who is easy to get along with...not so sure how hard he works to get us good mile loads.

I went to orientation in November, trained through about Dec 20, and have been solo since.

While sitting here in Shepherdsville KY (not getting paid since 6PM Friday) waiting to take a load to Hanover Park IL on Monday morning, I was running some numbers on January.

I try to stay out between 14-18 days. Per WSE rules, I have to stay out for a minimum of 14 to get 2 days home time. If I stay out 18, I get 3 (1 day home for every 6 days out w/minimum of 14 out). So, 18 has been my target thus far. That doesn't count the day I arrive home or the day I leave...so, if lucky, I could get almost 5 days in JAX for every 18 out...that is my goal.

Looking back at January, I went out on the 4th and stayed out til the 16th (unusual occurrence to go home on day 13) and I averaged 414 miles per day (actual miles driven which is different than miles paid) and I earned 1017.12 or about $78 per day. That is PER DAY. I used to bill $137.50 per hour, one third of which was my salary. So, I used to earn in less than 2 hours per day what I earned per day for my first trip in Jan. Most days are 10-12 hours long and we don't get paid for every mile we drive.

On my current trip (left on 1/19 and will try to get home on 2/4 or 2/5) I am averaging just over 300 miles per day. You do the math. According to my calcs, I get paid for about 93% of the miles I drive. So, at 300 x .93 x .26, I am earning about $73/day on this trip.

Again, I am not complaining. I chose to do this. And, in fact, I love the lack of stress. My wife works, so my earnings are very secondary to hers right now and sufficient for our needs. If I was the primary earner in the family, I couldn't do this. I think this is where most of the stress comes from in the business. Frankly, the job, at least thus far, is quite easy...and not even a fraction of the stress I have endured over the past 15 years.

If you have specific questions, I would be glad to offer what I have experienced. Just ask.