Making the Dollars

Gambling and chrome are the biggies for the misuse of ones pay, from an owner/operator perspective. Lease purchase programs, and confiscatory payment programs for loans on said trucks is another. Going independant before your ready, or know the business is a biggie as well.
Some just don't manage money well, and some like me send every spare dime home to take care of elderly and or disabled family members.
Truck stop resturants are too expensive to eat at all the time, some don't realize that, or are new and don't know abouthow to save money on the road.
There are many reasons drivers can be broke, sometimes companies don't pay well, don't pay what they are supposed to, or when they are supposed to.
Being payed by the mile, and not getting anymiles for long periods can really hurt your wallet as well.

As for money per week, depends on the company, the load, and the miles per week. But as a Company driver, if you can't manage a minimum of 500-750 per week after taxes, I would be moving on to another company. Alot is dependant on what kind of driving you do, where, and for who. Like JB Hunt, they offer alot per mile, but you never get the miles, so you are always broke. Raise a stink about it and your miles could get worse. I would advise you look here in the forums under "who is the worst" to know what companies to avoid, and the reasons why.


As for what state to claim your income tax from, you don't really have a choice there. If you live in say Florida, where I do, then that is the state I claim for taxes. If you don't have a domicile/home, then you may be able to claim that state as home, but you will have to have a mailing adress in that state. A P.O. box should do for that. If you can do it that way, look for a state with no state income tax.

Anybody else got suggestions?

 

Agreed, Mack. Good money there.

 

I ran across a driver once, who had a shiny zippo that read:

"A MANS' RUN" ​

Behind this caption was a picture of a naked lady, a pair of dice, and a bottle of whiskey. As we looked at the lighter, we both shoke our heads and smiled at each other, because we knew it had some truth to it. But what was really funny is that he said his wife gave him the lighter, but he never really read it until now.