My Plan

I know I have a different perspective than most, but it appears that the lure of guaranteed income, more than say $40,000 has peaked your interest? If you weigh the amount of time it takes being OTR to achieve that, it might make you reconsider.
$40,000 divided by 52 weeks a year comes to $769.32. Not bad for a weeks paycheck right? O.K. how many hours did you run this week? At least the maximum 70 hrs. At least what DOT thinks. Divide $769.32 by 70= $10.99. I know I will be told elsewise, but by my numbers that type of pay is achievable local. The thing that attracts "most" drivers to the world of OTR is the Adventure! "Getting out and seeing the country" is what I hear the most. Also they are free spirits and want to run. Granted it does get in your blood, and "most" tell me they love their job, but have sacrificed "things" to be that way. I used $40,000 as a baseline you can change the gross, but remember this job is by no means 40 hrs a week. So the big question is, Do the hours away from home justify the pay? You be the judge. Just my $0.02.

 

Yeah, plus there's no way you are driving 52 weeks a year. Probably at the most 47. That actually makes it worse.

 

Well if you are hardcore and can stick it out for a year or two over the road then maybe you can land a local gig. I just want you wasting time and money jumping into this and getting the shock of your life. One thing that will really drive you mad is when you are out there away from home and you aren't running miles. It really sucks sitting around not making money and not being home. Just make sure you are prepared for stuff like this. Hometime is probably the number one cause of newbies quiting right away.

 

If I were in your position, and knowing what I know now, I would lend my job search towards companies that operate outside the norm of most companies. What I mean is look outside your regular dry van and reefer outfits, and start looking toward tankers, dump trailers, pneumatics, even certain flatbed companies will treat you really well and allow you to get home most weekends, just check out "JimTheHut" and what he has to say about Maverick and it will get you thinking that there are options out there. He's been there since getting his CDL and has already progressed to .41 cents per mile, even at a low rate of 2,000 miles per week that still allows you to gross over 800 per week. I work for a company in Florida that focuses on wood products and aggregates and our road drivers average 5 days out and make a good living. If you have the time, and can afford to put forth all the research necessary in landing a good gig I would recommend it because at the end of the day if you want to make trucking a career your first steps will outline how your life driving will be determined. Pick a good company from the start and it's smooth sailing, go with a bottom feeder and you'll be like so many others on here whining and crying and blaming all their problems on others except themselves.

 

what ever you do no lease purchases and I doubt 40cpm

 

yes glass is 40 to start. i work for maverick great co .you will be out for 2 weeks. home 2 days . it is a hard job. I run flats home on weekends.for 1 or 2 days.

 

Keep us posted on what you decide, graduate and when you hire on. And then how you like it after a few months.