From CT looking for best OTR company

Regarding average income at cfi, the numbers they quoted are real. A word of caution, "average driver", includes newbies and million milers.

As a newbie, I exceeded their newbie average. As I gained experience, I met or exceeded their "average driver" numbers every year.

I've gotten rid of all burdens. No apartment, no house, no car. When I go home, I stay in a motel and rent a car. When I want to spend some time elsewhere, I get myself routed there and take my time off there. I save a ton of money, and see different places.

I think the averages might be outdated. We had a couple of aggressive pay raises, and they introduced a per diem plan when the government took away the deduction. All that combined, I am closer to $65k than the average.

I hope this is helpful for CFI... Can't vouch for the other companies.

 

At .40 you are there. I would prefer you make .55 to start off giving in inflation because I was paid close to .50 as a top hand in the 2001 era. Veterans should be paid .75 to a dollar. But everyone thinks 0.34 which is was paid for the last oh... 40+ years once top salary decades ago now poverty wages today.

The trick is to consider the load you are given, how far you are going, what is your gross pay, withholding and then net.

Carefully using a small amount of that net to take care of your food and fluid needs as you run to deliver a load makes a profit towards savings. Always. Every load.

Otherwise you are just going to blow it through your fingers and when something does come up, youre stuck.

People talk about money whoo money. I prefer they think about expenses out there. The money will take care of itself.

 

Horror stories? If you go into it with the right attitude, a willingness to learn and put in a lot of hard work, how can you lose. Just remember trucking isn't for everyone and at times can be very lonely, but then again if you don't try, you can't succeed and think of all the new and exciting people you'll meet on the road, lol