OTR Earnings

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Labrador, Mar 31, 2023.

  1. Labrador

    Labrador Medium Load Member

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  3. Labrador

    Labrador Medium Load Member

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    I lost my text above. Original post
    "
    I had some questions about OTR earnings. Below is a spreadsheet I made based on 55 cents per mile.

    Is 55 cents per mile competitive for OTR?

    What is the actual average daily miles? I assume you won't be driving 600 miles each day. You a have to deliver loads at the terminal, drop and hook, stop at weight stations, maintenance, etc.
    What do you think of the spreadsheet results below, does it seem accurate?
    "
     
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  4. Labrador

    Labrador Medium Load Member

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    Should note that this trucking company advertises $105K a year at 55 cents per mile.
     
  5. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Driver pay is a function of SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIABLES...including, but not limited to:

    • how much CDL "seat time" you have (and can verify)
    • where you are located geographically--some parts of the US pay more
    • the type of freight you are pulling--generally speaking, the more specialized the freight, and the more experience required for it--the better the pay
    • how many/what CDL endorsements you have
    • the carrier for whom you are driving; some carriers pay more than others, for the same freight
    • the time of day/week you pull freight; fuel haulers make more at night/on weekends/holidays
    • I'm sure I've probably left out something.....o_O :rolleyes:
    With all that said--your spreadsheet is just "an example" of what can theoretically be made by a top driver at a carrier if everything goes EXACTLY RIGHT for him/her, in a year of good freight volumes.

    -- Lual
     
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  6. Labrador

    Labrador Medium Load Member

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    That is what i figure. you would have to drive almost 7 days a week to get the income they advertise, and everything else would have to work out perfectly. I just wonder if there is a way to get an expected average.
     
  7. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Expected average?

    Suggestion: I don't know how much "seat time" you now have....I believe you started driving not long ago. But....with that said....

    Get AT LEAST A YEAR of driving where you're at now (& more than that will make you look even better). After that....start looking around at some of the private carriers that are near your location. See what experience/endorsements they want/require....and when you have that.....apply to one (or more) of them.

    Private carriers are NOT trucking companies. Private carriers are instead businesses that specialize in something else--but have their own fleet of big rigs to move their product(s) about. Easy examples: Walmart, Tyson Foods, Pilot/Flying J, Love's, Kroger, Frito Lay. You get the idea....

    Driving for a private fleet is a great way to make better than average driver earnings--for the same work that a non-private driver elsewhere will do.

    -- Lual
     
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  8. Opus

    Opus Road Train Member

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    Well, you answered your own question.
    Indeed, according to your spreadsheet, if you drove 550 miles a day, every day, you'd make $110k.
    The problem is, you can't drive 550 miles a day for 365 consecutive days.
    If you were to AVERAGE 3000 miles a week, and most members here would tell you that's a pretty strong average for a company truck, and if you did it for 52 consecutive weeks, you would gross $85,800.
    But that ain't gonna happen.
     
  9. Labrador

    Labrador Medium Load Member

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    I have noticed that, thank you. Walmart for example seems to pay their drivers pretty well.
     
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  10. Labrador

    Labrador Medium Load Member

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    Yes 3000 seems like a lot. Prob 2500 is more an average that drivers do is my guess. If you drive all year round, $71.5K
     
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  11. Turtlelegs

    Turtlelegs Light Load Member

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    I think probably the biggest thing you are missing is accessorial pay & bonus pay.

    I drive for Schneider (team) and I get $200-$300 per week with those. Plus there is supposed to be a 2% bonus at the end of the year. We average 6300 miles per week & drive 5.5 days. I know we are a low paying company but I really enjoy it.
     
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