Looking at going OTR that I can make $85k a year.

I have a buddy who works local for Penske driving a day cab home every day making $115,000 a year

 

You'll easily make more than that running LTL and be home daily. There are some great high paying jobs out there that will get you home each and every day if guys would just put in the effort to seek them out.

 

A lot of hazmat things fall off after 5 years? 12 years ago when got hazmat a lot of misdemeanors were 5 years max.

 

If you're fine with doing 100% hand unload. Aldi or an automotive part account with Penske. Not to mention all the old ####s with Penske that have seniority.

 

young family? children? parents responsibilities? OTR is not worth it.
Im 100% independent O/O. I used the load board. I drive an average of 60K - 70k miles yearly and I make more or less than 250K gross.
I have the freedom to take my wife , dogs / friends anytime I want it. I choose my rutes, I park my truck anytime I want. being an o/o takes a lot of responsibility, BUT , in my personal opinion, IT IS WORTH IT. FREEDOM!!! make enough money to pay my bills and to stay alive . I drive to live, I don't live to drive.

 

My guy runs night shift line haul. He has a pre-loaded trailer ready for him when he gets to work, he unloads himself but has access to a forklift for that. He’s only been with Penske for 3 years. Hasn’t made under $100k since he’s been there.

You think you have to work hard to make that money lmao, you don’t. If you have a pulse and can show up on time you can pull these numbers in and never break a sweat.

 

Short answer: yes, it’s possible, but not in the way most ads make it sound.

With 5 years of clean local experience, you’re already ahead of most applicants. The $85k+ OTR jobs usually come from a combination of lane consistency, pay structure, and how much unpaid time you’re willing to tolerate.

A few realities to keep in mind:

• CPM alone doesn’t tell the story. A “high CPM” job with poor freight or long detention will never hit those numbers. Consistent miles and paid accessorials matter more.

• Dedicated and regional OTR lanes are where a lot of guys hit that range — especially if you can stay out 2–3 weeks at a time. True random OTR is a gamble.

• Detention, layover, and breakdown pay will make or break your year. If those aren’t clearly defined, assume you’re eating the time.

• Equipment quality matters. Older trucks = more downtime, which kills income no matter what the ad says.

• Teams pay well on paper, but you’re right to be hesitant. It’s not for everyone, and burnout is real.

Also, be wary of any recruiter promising a specific annual number without showing you actual weekly averages from current drivers. Good operations will talk averages, not best-case scenarios.

If you’re willing to stay out, run hard but legal, and choose the right freight mix, $85k isn’t unrealistic — but it’s usually earned through consistency, not hype.