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

My goal is $150K this year. Actual will be more in the $130K neighborhood I think.

 

Easy.

 

We're asking the question "what can a carrier [employer] give me?". There are a few other questions that need to be asked/answered first.

1. What can I bring to the carrier?
2. Can I learn to do the job at least fairly well?
3. Will I even like the job?
4. Will the job like me?

Truck driving and it's requisite skills and demands aren't easy. Anybody can "drive a truck", but few can drive a truck well and not hurt anybody over the course of a career, and make the carrier money, year after year. Consider the washout rate. It's tremendous ... hence the never-ending search for new driver wannabe's

 

I like fill in the blank ____________________________ Trucker!

 

LOL! I see how you got there. Sorry, 13 years of driving, never a ticket or an accident of any kind. The username is a play on the movie "accidental tourist"; trucking is what I have to do to support my primary business, I became a trucker accidentally. Don't drive much at all anymore, but still own a trucking company. But, blessings to you for your concern!

 

My goal is $180k this year. Actual will be more in the $150k neighborhood, I think. Then again, I'm a real owner operator.

 

And don't ask me to prove it either, it is the internet after all.

 

I work in LTL, most of what you've stated is wrong. I'll make over 100k this year.

 

I just want acceptance from the people I don't know.

 

Trucking you can make 100k+ a year but his question is CAN YOU MAKE 70k+ YOUR FIRST YEAR? AND BE HOME EVERYDAY. NO EXPERIENCE. UNDER 60 HRS. Cause he makes 75k a year already non trucking in 55 hours.

I say it’s very hard to. Unless your location is right and a company for example Old Dominion needs 20 linehaul drivers asap. You can’t go to UPS and make 100k your first year. You can make 100k+ Owner operator but you’ll be on the road all the time.