Considering getting my CDL

Trucking, OTR and local salaries ranged from 25k to 85k a year for a company driver. And just because you work harder doesn't necessarily mean you will make more money. Realistically, I would say you'll probably make around 35k your first year as an OTR driver who is never home (which doesn't bother you, you said.) You'll see the country alright, you'll be in every armpit of every city and state. Wanna take vacation while you're on the road and see the sights you say? Okay, if the company allows you to (hard to believe since it's their truck that's not making money while you're site seeing), your income will be even less since your money is earned driving. The 88 hours you work at your security gig you are paid for. In trucking, it's only legal to work 70 hours in 8 days (not to say you won't work more) and you may spend a good part of those 70 hours sitting in loading docks and traffic (not getting paid.) And........"running hard" as you say isn't easy like it used to be with computers and more and more and more and more and more and more and more government rules (get the point?) Most companies run straight legal which usually means for the driver a lot of down time with no pay. I'd look for another job that pays you more consistently, fairly and doesn't demand 88 or 70 hours of you in a week. Just my thoughts.

 

The ticket won't hurt you if you have been clean before and since. For a new person like you, with no strings attached...............I say go for it! It would be just another adventure for a person like yourself. But, don't burn yourself out trying to make the 45K. I would settle for 35-40K my first year. Take a little time to enjoy the places that you go. A person like you could shut down anywhere he likes and call it home for a couple days. Work hard & enjoy life.................. there is always a load waiting for you.

 

Go for it...don't worry about the ticket. If you apply yourself you can make 45k...just don't be the dope that thinks everyone else is gonna make it for you.

 

Go tanker and you will be making that 70 to 80 in a few years.

 

you'll have better luck finding local work in Orlando than tampa that pays better than otr.

if just wanting to see the country sell everything and take it very slow like its a big vacation you'll regret not stopping at places and having more life experience than going without sleep for an extra 100 dollars a week. with the no real expenses you'll be able to buy a couple houses a year and rent them out.

88 hours a week you are never home anyway drop that expense. just bring a guitar books or something... gonna be spending a lot of unpaid hours in docks otr.
I got very good at guitar quickly while trucking under my first midget man ceo. had 4 of em while I was at my company. xD

 

Whole lot of negative about trucking in response to your post (common among drivers)....however some good info as well.

No - you likely will not make $45K your first year. But, if you don't make that or much more from year 2 on.....there is something wrong with you or your company.

From your writing you seem to have a mindset that will contribute to your success. People say this over and over, but until you've been there you really cannot understand: "Trucking is not a job - It is a lifestyle". Words that are more true are seldom spoken. Some get in thinking they will like it and do....some don't. Others say "I'm going to do this until something better comes along." and fall in love with it.

It is all about your attitude and your ability to know that you that you can roll with the punches and that things will not always go as planned. All I can say is good luck with it and if it doesn't work out for you it will be an experience gained in life.


I was Popeye...now I am so much older.

 

Go for it, you can make more than that in tankers.
There's a good community college CDL program around Orlando that costs about $2000.00 or if you can't afford that, then CTL Transportation has their own CDL school.

 

Check out tankers and LTL. For the average OTR gig...you're going to have to put in a LOT of hours to gross $45k/year (starting out).

Starting out LTL...I'm looking at grossing ~$45k my first year (that's a conservative estimate). That's assuming I stay at ~40 hours a week, which I've averaged over the past two months...which are slow freight months. That gross estimate doesn't take into account that...realistically...I should be averaging ~50 hours a week once the spring freight picks up. It also doesn't take into account the cost of living raise/adjustment I'll be getting next month, or the $0.50/hr raise I'll be getting in four months.

If you want to go OTR and make the same amount of money (if you're lucky) for putting in ~60 hours a week...have at it.