Real simple thread for newer drivers..Company and total $ 1st year driving..

CR England:

Projected first year: 38,750

 

My first year was 11 months working and I made $15,000. I have nothing to glorify.

We all know drivers get one day off a week. And if you take off 4 days a month means you have one bad week and very seldom reach a mileage bonus unless you don't go home. Especially if it's a quarterly bonus. Looking for a load and shop time slows you down also.

CareerBuilder.com has a salary finder and says the average long haul driver today makes $35,000 a year. Sure there are plenty that make more. You'd be surprised the number of drivers out there getting screwed and making peanuts to lower the national average. I can tell you about a $2100 week and I can tell you about a $200 week.

 

Dang dude!

Super Trucker, but in a good way!

 

I made around $24k my first year on the road. The one thing that many neglect to factor in is it's not always the "bottom feeder" companies that cause low wages in the first year. As new drivers we're still figuring out how to live and survive in a new environment out there. Most students are under-prepared to run on their own - it's a case of figuring it all out for the first six to twelve months, and then once everything clicks in you start making more money. Conveniently it also happens right at around the same time as a pay raise at most carriers. Like anything else though, your mileage may vary... you might make a lot more, or you might make less. That all depends on you and your relationship with dispatch. Get branded as a reliable, capable driver and you'll do well. Get branded as incompetent, constantly late, lazy driver? Well, you'll figure that out fast.

 

Wait, I thought first year drivers got paid in peanuts. I'm calling my DM.

 

Roehl Transport 2003 - 37k