New driver with a quick rant

This is probably the best time in modern times to be paid well in Trucking if you do the research to find a great job. There are really good companies currently that in years past wouldn’t consider hiring someone with less than 10-15 years experience, that will hire you today. I realize you are a rookie and some people will tell you to pay your dues like most experienced truckers did, but I say get you a great trucking job tomorrow and leave the BS jobs for others. Yellow Freight just for one example (I am not telling you who to work for or not work for specially) will hire you today and so will numerous other non truckload jobs where the drivers get home often or daily and generally make $100,000. Some of those jobs did away with the normal several year progression to full pay. Also if you have to pay back your training you need to run the numbers, but it could be possible to pay it back with the raise you will get at a better company and still net more money.

 

Try sticking it out til 6 months but it doesn't hurt to put in some apps and see what bites. 800 take home is doing pretty decent for your 1st job. Lots of 1st jobs your lucky to even gross that.

Screw the no shower. I would PC my way to the nearest truck stop. I can deal with some bs but no shower is not one of em.

 

I didn't realize OP said it was $800 net. That's better but still a lot of hours for what you end up with.

 

I would definitely be working a shower into my day or every other day. No doubt about it.

 

What you are doing is not uncommon for regional. I refuse to do regional. Leave that for the rookies. Long haul OTR reefer is what I prefer. Not many stops and plenty of time to shower, eat, relax -ie be a human.

 

baby wipes come in real handy for tight schedules.

 

Low wages is a huge issue for a lot of new drivers. I started out with Gordon trucking several years ago, and six months later Heartland bought them out. My weekly pay with Godon was around $1,200 and the first two weeks after Heartland bought them, my weekly pay was $400. I didn't work a 3rd week for them and moved on as did just about every other Gordon driver.

 

Has @Chinatown Been here yet?