How much can I expect to make as a new Long haul driver?

Hey guys I am 26 and I'm in the process of getting my AZ license in Toronto. Right now I am making about 40k a year but I absolutely despise my job. I am going to shell out the 10k and go to a really reputable school in Toronto so I was wondering If i would start off with a decent paying job? I know the megas, like challenger, only pay like 40cpm but would going to a reputable school help with getting a higher salary?

Am i being too optimistic when I am envisioning myself making 60k/yr without working like a dog (70 + hours a week)?

 

Sounds do-able. Sometimes have to take some crappy jobs to get enough experience for better companies to hire you.
Seeing more ads approaching 60 cpm with experience.
Best paying jobs are local private carriers. Companies that haul their own products. Some tanker companies approach $100k per year.

 

Do you think I'll have to do OTR in ordered to get hired with these local/regional companies?

 

who's gonna teach you how to drive AFTER you get your licence? Bet you didn't think about that.

 

If you go to a reputable school and get your license from a "reputable " school places like Challenger will train you how drive .As long as your inexperienced don't expect to find a high paying local job.
I don't know what Challenger pays you while training but I do know that once you're experienced they pay a lot more than 40 cpm.

 

first off call a few mega carriers like challenger ,schneider,kriska etc etc and see which schools they hire from don’t make a $$$ mistake going to a fly by night school then finding out the hard way no one will hire you. like the rest of us experience drivers you will most likely have to get 1-2 years in with a mega carrier before u can look at better jobs . sometimes food service companies like gordon foods will hire newbies. with covid right now some companies don’t even train because of having two in a truck

 

No, just need 1-2 years driving any kind of tractor trailer.

 

Everybody asking for 3 years experience these days. This is insurance mandate. Most likely you will be running for a flip flop outfit with another flip flopper. Pissing on asphalt at rest areas and taking showers once a month. For 20 cents per mile

 

Gordon Food Services/Sysco hire people with no experience and they earn over 60k a year but the job is severe manual labour delivery 10-14 hour days working 4 times a week. Big carries you'll be away from home 4-5 days and only earn about 40-60k the first year. After the first year of experience, you have a lot of options tho! I know you can get hired at ERB transport and earn over 70k a year doing only 1-2 days away from home doing local work. You can also get hired doing DZ work with the city or garbage collection companies, so many options out there but it depends what type of work you want to do bud!

 

Yes Yes Yes.... and we are just getting started with the stress and strain. People will figure it out after this year and next. 2022 should correct these horrible people in charge.