First year earnings

dont forget the hustle factor with food companies. I used to be a manager (non-transportation, physical labor) and many guys who think they can hustle can't. Be sure you're up to it and can stick out a full year.

 

I'm actually leaving my otr job for a regional job in food service. Salary pay, guaranteed $700/week plus accessory pay. Home almost every night.

 

37k first year.. 4 months of that was van, then switched to flatbed.
48k second year all flatbed/stepdeck

 

We don't hire drivers with no experience. We require 6 months to a year depending on the quality of the experience. Our lowest paid open deck company driver that worked the full year made $50K. Our lowest paid van driver that worked the full year made $42K.

 

Food service does pay very well; but very hard on the back.
When you start the application process, don't just apply with the traditional so called "starter companies." Apply with any company that interests you. Not all companies hire fresh CDL school grads, but some do that don't advertise it. Get your endorsements, all of them, plus TWIC & passport; this way you will be prepared for more opportunites as you gain experience.

 

Started on march 1 of 11, ended up making 37,160.40 between then and December 31. First 6 weeks or so I was training getting paid $100/day. Probably worked 5 days a week average while training.

 

Cleared over $45,500 in first year Jan 2012 -Dec 2012, and home every weekend but 2. Flatbed

 

OP, I made 39K+ the first year (2011). I didn't get my first solo check until the first week of March, then worked in a dedicated fleet (home at least every other weekend, but usually every week). I got sick of that and did OTR October through December. So 39k for two months training, seven dedicated, and three OTR. I would set a realistic goal of 35K for the first year OTR, but like others have said, if you work hard, you should be able to do much better. The trucking industry rewards smart, hard workers, which can't be said for many other jobs.

 

Rolly, your grammar is bad enough to erode the meaning of your posts, and your posts are not at all constructive. If you want to rail against some companies than go to the appropriate threads to do so. If you have something useful to say put together some meaningful, properly punctuated sentences. You are in disagreement with everyone here on what you can make because we are all making better money than what you purport to be the glass ceiling. The statistics of this thread indicate that you can, and should expect to make well over 25k in your first year.

Good day