New Driver's: How is the pay, really?

He works for KLLM. He started at $0.34 cpm. He usually stays out for 3-6 weeks at a time. Things started slowly and then picked up once he proved himself. One thing that helps him out is he has his Haz Met so he kept working solidly all winter long when other drivers were sitting. He also received a 5K tuition reimbursement that I believe was factored into the first year's earnings.

After his first year, he got a week's paid vacation, combined with 8 days off from staying out 8 weeks (that was waaaaay too long) and gave us our first long vacation ever. His benefits are cheaper and better that what I was getting as a teacher. His pay is almost double what it was when he was running kitchens, and he works a lot less hours. I actually spend more quality time with him now than I did before because once he is off, he is really off and he doesn't have to think about work until he goes back to the truck.

 

See that's what i'm talking about right there. I have a "mentor" streak in me anyway ... so it would be nice to utilize it. wonder what it takes to become an instructor at one of their schools?

 

While I am concerned about the carrot (good to keep one's eye on the prize) it's not why I want to get into trucking. I have other things in mind, trucking OTR is a means to an end. I am hoping the transition into it will be smooth, I adjust really well to pretty much everything (so far in my limited experience).

Yes, I am going to work for Swift - they seem to be the only co. that will take me and i've applied with Schneider (not hiring in my area), JB JobHunt (don't remember why they wouldn't take me ... i'll have to look into it), CR Englad Ad (never called back and I'd rather cut my nuts off than work for them now that I know what I know) and Werner (they didn't like my driving record).

So, when a young man has 3 tickets in 5 years (all are 3 yrs old come 14 Sep), no accidents and a suspension also from 05 - for not paying a ticket apparently Swift is his only option. Not to mention the fact that they provide schooling too.

That's where I'm at, like I said, Swift/OTR is a means to an end. I plan on working my butt off for a year or more and seeing what kind of doors open for me.

Any feedback?

 

I've eaten 4 meals in a restaurant this month. All others have been in my truck.

And, I might add they have been rather good meals too. Pot Roast, Turkey and dressing, Crab, and a few sandwiches with soup thrown in for good measure. But the savings helps tremendously.

Sadly, I ran out of drinks this week. Which hurt like ####, as they cost 300% more at truck stops. I get a 6 pack for what 2 drinks cost

 

I was so clueless at first, i went to a Steven's transport job seminar. But I asked too many questions, so eventually they asked me to leave.

I think swift gets a lot of unnecessary flak. That said, I've seen some of their drivers go to so much trouble to avoid backing up that I wondered if they can even do.


You won't have to wait a year for opportunities esp. if those hiccup drop off your record. I don't know why that in a year idea gets propagated so much. A clean year for a lot private fleets yes. But a good job and/or local job can be landed out of school. (er, maybe not with your record, but time will take care of that).
The thing is, a lot of local jobs you have to bust you butt 40-50hrs a week and make less than a guy that sits on theirs for 70-90. Private fleets are good exception to both.

You probably know all this anyways.

My real problem with OTR is drivers time is not valued. It isn't even devalued. Its not value at all. So the companies/shippers/recievers don't really have to run efficient if the cause of concern is the drivers time. That gets learned real quick to any one who thinks about the logistics and operatins of the business. Also I think it has some bearing of the treatment of drivers, which can be atrocious. What other industries have as disreputable companies as trucking. Sure you might be able to find them but their employees probably aren't living on company property.

OTR trucking works out a whole lot better if you are able to start with a company that either invests in you or you already have the means to make it a two way street. I mean two way street as in- you might be expendable to the company , but the company is expendable to you too.
Too many people in trucking will run all over you because they can or because they want too. So if you can tell them not NO but HELL NO you we'll be way better off. 75 dollar congestion fee to NYC ( what of NJ chicage, atlanta, la...) is a freaking joke. Not only that, but a lot of companies "hedge" on your pay. Dentention pay alone seems a magical formula. Once your in their truck, well, your in their truck

Just a few more things then I'll get off the soap box.
complainers- don't last
people willing to raise a ruckus- can get results
if your willing to take it, in trucking, your going to get it.

The majority of guys out here I don't want to be associated with in the least, but there are exceptional people that drive OTR.

 

hahahha ... that's something that would happen to me. thanks for the feedback, man ... i needed it. i cannot really afford school right now so swift is how i'll have to do it. how often is it that someone makes it through school but then doesn't get hired? seems like they'd want to hire you so that you could start paying on your debt right away ... but maybe they don't care?

well, whether or not they hire me, a cdl is a cdl is a cdl ... so as long as i get through school (their school is accredited) then i should be able to land SOMETHING ... even if it's driving a dump local.

any more of your thoughts on this?

 

I started at TMC in my own truck on the third week of august 2005. When it came time to file my taxes I had made $34,000 and some change. I was home every weekend from friday night to sunday night monday morning. I did 5 loads a week no more no less, and all loads were 700 miles or less each. That is the one thing I like about TMC, they offer the driver % of load or milage the choice is yours. Then in 2006 I stopped driving Sept. 22 due to family ( My wife was having a baby and I wanted to be home all the time so I didn't miis the first steps and the first words, you know all the good stuff). I had made $49,000 and charge thus far that year. Just so you know I have been talking to TMC again and am getting ready to head out to Des Moines next week and start driving again. Also to each his own but I happen to think tmc is a great company especally if you want to work and not just sit there and mozy down the road.

 

Also a couple of things you might want to check before going to there school Inmydreams is that make sure you are not obligated to drive for them for a certain amount of time before you can switch companys, because of them paying for the school you might end up tied in to there company for a year or 2. I went to the unemployment office and talked to one of the people in there about state funding for school that you never have to pay back. They got me all set up and on my way to school next thing I knew I was graduating and had my butt in a truck and going down the road making money.

 

well ive been at it just over a year, i ran 48 states with werner (big mistake) at first. i never made over 500 a week with them. i went to jb hunt and ran midwest, i made about 700-800 a week with them. now i pull tankers for cliff viessman and im home nearly every night and make between 1200-1500 a week. there are good ones out there, you just have to take it in the butt for the first year then be in the right place at the right time.