How do company drivers make good money ???

As a company driver I grossed $55K in 11 months last year driving for .34 to .42 per mile depending on the load. I work hard, opted out of the company insurance plan for an extra $300 per month. A simple and inexpensive catastrophic medical plan covers me to a level I am comfortable with. Realistically, the odds are that any hospital visit will be workers comp. related anyway. One doctors visit (physicals aside) in the last 20 years makes the insurance premium look darned expensive. Company incentive bonuses make a big difference as well. Last year it accounted for an extra $.03 per mile for every mile driven. All that was required was that a guy worked hard and didn't break anything. Have managed that every quarter since 2001 with this company.

Finally, keep your expenses low. I own my house, two reliable pick-ups, a boat, camper and more hunting/fishing equipment than 10 people actually need and yet I took out my second bank load on May 15, 2009. My first loan was in June of '91.

I know I am in a unique position, but it is all part of my master plan. Total monthly household expenses never top $500.

 

I'm not going to name things that I do or dont have
For me trucking is a lifestyle, some get payed less money because they like there job and dont want to leave.
I haul fuel, so I cant really call myself a trucker anymore,but as soon as I dont have to be home then I would take a pay cut if needed to get out of gas haulin.
The money you make greatly depends on your attitude where I work.
bottom of the barrel is 50 grand, all the way up to lower 90's if you run 7-11 axles
I was happier making less money, but I agree good driver should be paid better.

 

I'm running for a good company for .37 for now. I make decent money by not spending it. I rent a room that I'm only at four days a month for cheap, have phone bills which are mostly reimbursed, mobile internet, a couple games I play, and some old debts I owe mostly to family which I'm paying off. That's it. I have a list of stuff to buy, like a house and getting my cadillac all fixed up, but for now I'm just rolling it all into the bank. It's a living and it's much better than sitting around a hot warehouse all day every day for 1/3 the pay.

 

No, but in my first full year I almost did. I grossed 65k. On top of that I was only gone from home for a total of two month out of the year. I wanted to be gone for more than that but "they" wouldn't let me. Then again I get paid by the hour. I was once sitting in a Cummins Distributorship in Iowa when a female truker asked me why I was not logging my time sitting there as Off Duty. My simple answer was I get paid by the hour and if my truck is broke down I still get paid. I believe that this was the first time this lady had ever spoken to someone that drove and got paid by the hour. I have been 60 miles from the atlantic ocean and I have been to the pacific in the last 1.5 years. I have been to the North West Territories in Canada in -40F temps to Pheonix in 104+F temps. Been to Colorado more times than I can count and have memorized Loveland Pass and Eisenhower tunnel. But this year I am on track to make to 20K less than last year, so goes the economy.

 

But you are the extreme exception to the norm. Be thankful but also realize that that isn't whats gonna happen to the 95% who are just getting into the industry.. Congrats by the way, I wish I could have gotten something like that when I started 15 years ago...woulda saved alot of headache!!

 

How? When the freight is running, keep the left door closed.

 

Well some people think $25k/yr is good money others think $80k/yr is good money. It really depends on what your vision of good money/life is. Living within your means (something most people have no idea how to do anymore) will make sure you get by at either amount. I personally made $32k my first yr driving and thought that was great and it was for what i was used to making up to that point in my life. I now make a considerable amount more but have a considerable higher amount of bills also so I really have about the same amount of $ after all bills are paid as I did then but now I have more toys and things to enjoy.

 

I CAN happen and it DOES! Since I've had my CDL I've averaged around
60K a year.


The reason it does not happen for a lot of people just coming out of school
is they go with one of the first companys that tell them they got a job if
they want it. And most of the time the companys handing out these jobs
to newbies are the big bottom feeder companies.

If they would take their time and research the industry and companies
before taking just any job most could land something far better than
what they get.

 

Absolutly right!!

 

10000 a month...thats a whole lot of sitting. Youre not going to make alot of money if you are doing that much sitting.

How I made my money:

FIRST, I drive. If I am loaded, I do not stop until I get empty. No showers, no sit down restaurants, no TV, no computer games, no trashing around while under a load. Drive a straight 11 hours. When under a load, I do TWO things and TWO things only. Drive + sleep.

SECOND, I dont do late. I will be there when I said I would be there. I'm there. I dont drop the ball. Never. Isnt happening. Screw the weather. Knowing this fact, that dispatcher of mine has to come to work ready to work. Otherwise, I will sit there and call and send messages every 15 minutes. Paint your toenails and visit with the other dispatchers AFTER you get me my next load.

BTW, I would normally run @17000 miles a month.