How realistic is it to make 75-80k a year eventually?

You may have a future in this business then.

BUT

You are not alone, shippers, receivers, brokers or dispatchers all in the mix, not to mention all the rules.

That's a big part of why I drive as well though, especially where I am now, it's almost all on me.

That was an answer that fits the mold.

 

I'm sure being able to go home to sunny AZ takes some sting out of the winters. Count yourself lucky. You have something to look forward to when you retire.

 

LOL.
You need to sift through these forums and follow my winter time adventures.
There's lots of pictures.
LOL.

Yes I look forward to a 2 mile walk home when I get back, because the local PD is gestapo and I have to pay to park my truck at a trucking companies terminal.

I'm into the exercise though. I'll be glad to get home. Truck needs things fixed and a PM. Serious barbecues on the agenda.

Typically after I deliver a load a celebrate pretty hard with a plate of good Chinese and a cup of Starbucks. Maybe $15. That's pretty high on hog for me.

 

At the risk of sounding braggadocios I did very well during my productive years. My investment portfolio has well enough in it to allow me to live a comfortable life for the years I have left. I made a bad mistake in 1980 when I got out of the Air Force. However I worked hard and saved my money. I have never been married and over the years I have did a lot of different kinds of trucking both local and OTR. If I had it to do all over again I would have stayed in the AF and got my degree and after retiring I would have got into the management end of this job. Nevertheless Trucking has treated me generally OK. I have seen most of the US and had a chance to see things I never would have had I just stayed on the porch. If you are cut out for this life I highly recommend it. The problem is all the lowlifes that have infested the carriers and most of the businesses that support truck drivers and keeping them on the road. I mentioned a driver stuck in Wyoming. This is not just an example. I know his older brother and he is depressed and about to do something really stupid. Yes he drives for Swift and has been royally screwed over by them. At this point I am not sure how this is going to play out. I just know this guy has had it and has sworn off trucking and wants his old job back. So when I say it is not skittles and beer all across the industry I mean it. Yes there are some great good paying driving jobs out there for drivers with little or no job experience. Only a moron would say otherwise. The problem though is not all drivers is seeing this part of it. In fact the largest majority are not. I salute the successful drivers out there. Some are making some great $$$$$ however and lets be real about this. Nowhere near a majority are finding this. A huge amount give up during those first 3 years. One of them is in Wyoming TONIGHT!

 

Moose.
Moose.
It's ok. Really.
It is.

 

It took me about 6 years to go from company driver, to office management, to where I am now as an owner operator for the last 3 years. I am truly independent and love it. I don't do well taking orders and allowing others to make decisions for me that I know in most cases I can do better.

That's just me...

To say that there wasn't a learning curve and price to pay along the way would be disingenuous. The job itself is not physically hard, it requires mental fortitude more than anything along the way. I don't recommend this industry as an OTR profession to younger folks with kids at home.

For the OP to be able to transition from a 75k a year job to the same amount as a local, home every night, truck driver is not likely. Not impossible, but very difficult.

The other question I would have is can you afford to take at least (if not more) 4 to 6 weeks of time off with no income while you go through training to obtain your CDL with necessary endorsements?

Not to mention, the time it will take to get hired, assigned to a trainer, work for another couple of weeks while you wait for your first trainee check? Work for much lower wages the first year or so while you earn your stripes and climb the ladder?

These are legitimate questions only you can answer.

 

I made 70k the first year but I didn’t go home much. I’ll make 80 this year. Don’t think it can’t be done, but also don’t think most will do so. You have to work your ### off for it! 55 hours, what do you do with the other 3 days?

 

In addition, I haven't done OTR since 2012. It's been regional & local with plenty of home time in between. Heck, I've taken off 7 weeks this year so far. It's the path I've carved out for myself though. For me, life is made up of both quantitative and qualitative. I tend to lean more towards the qualitative

 

To OP:
i didn't have time to read thru all 14 pages, but what do you do now?