Realistically, How Much?

I worked for Crete a few years ago, and as their turnover rate would indicate, they aren't much different than any of the 'monsters.' I personally wouldn't work there again - even if they paid .81 per mile, or 1.81. But that's me, everyone likes different things.

The point is, truck driving is in general, on an hourly basis, a LOW PAYING JOB. And just because it's one of the few professions where you can work 100-120 hours a week (not legally of course) doesn't sweeten the deal much in my opinion.

 

We had two guys off today, I had to do ten hours, class B though...they wanted the elelven / wink...

 

Yeah but...

When you choose the road you get the road. You get all the bad and all the good. It still remains true that if you have 2700 miles a week, which is very possible, and get a good cents/mile rate, you can make 60k a year. Driving local is a posibility for some.

But to make the same money I can make otr I would have to do 12 hour days 5-6 days a week, often leaving around 4am to be at work by 5am to return home around 6pm and then shower, eat and kiss the wife and go to bed.

And that's assuming they pay overtime.

I have heard that McClane will pay 28.50 an hour to drive and deliver their grocery accounts. That's golden but also tough work. And rare in the local scene.

16.50 and hour is more the norm around southern cal for a good job.

And 10 an hour to start for cement trucks.

Putting it all into perspective.

And as far as you not ever wanting to drive for Crete. Man... you can do a lot worse.

Take care all

Varmit

 

And of course, we all want to make alot of money right away but it looks like yeah you start out decent but it does go up and I DID only have to have 3 months of training compared to some people that went to four years of college and start out making about the same. I understand that there are downsindes, but I'm sure somedays when those college graduates are sitting in their cubicle wondering wahat it feels like outside, I'm looking at the mountains in Monatana.

 

You made X dollars your first year.... Your first year as an employee, or your first year driving. Please clarify. There is a differance. And at what rate per mile...please.

I made 60K my first year at CFI...but I was not a rookie.

 

You gun or mine LOL

 

First year driving.

 

Or In my case, a lot better. Besides, anyone who doesn't work for Swift or Werner could "do a lot worse."

 

Don't be scared of the 11/14. You don't have to do it all the time. Usually, when you think you can't take it anymore you will get a load that gives you plenty of time to work even 8 hrs for a few days. If you have long hauls, you only need to drive 10 hrs a day maybe depending on when you drive, how heavy you are, when it is scheduled. 600 miles a day is good and you can get that in 9 or 10 hrs depending on how fast your truck can go.

The kicker here is that if you are starting out, there is going to be a few days that will be WELL over 14 hrs. You'll see. You'l learn, hopefully how to avoid it again and remember that route that had 500 stop lights and twent 35 mph zones and plan for extra time or take the longer way which will be less drive time.

A lot of the driving is the equivalent of sitting at your PC playing a very slow driving game. Put on some music, get your drinks within reach, some snacks and chill out. You wont realize it's work until about 10 hrs into it, then you kick in what you need to finish up and push yourself a little, then it's over and you're kicking back at the Flying J or whatever you like, with high speed internet, good food, scenery, people to talk to, play some games and enjoy yourself a little.

The first year will be easy because of all the adrenaline and interesting new things to see and do, after that then then 14 hrs starts to feel like 14 hrs, lol.

 

I had to revisit this post...cuz I'm having a problem swallowing this. Since you did not tell us what you MAKE a mile. I will have to break it down for the rookies...and people looking into truck driving as a career. This sounds too much like recruiter talk to me.

Or a lease/purchase operator letting us know how little he really makes. About 10K more than a company driver...by Trans Am's own admission.

Refering to Trans Am website..... http://www.transamtruck.com/

.30 a mile = 200,000 miles your first year (4000 a week every week)....not on your life! BullS***!

.35 a mile = 171,428 miles your first year....again...not on your life..BS!

.40 a mile = 150,000 miles your first year...do-able...but you rarely went home, if at all. And, I don't know many companies that start 1st year driver out at .40 a mile, and of those, even fewer that will give a 1st year driver that kind of milage at that rate.

So, I guess my next question is.... how much of this 60K was "recruitment" referal bonuses??? Especially since Trans Am admits on their own web site that students make .305 per mile AFTER 6 months and .32 per mile after a year. http://www.transamtruck.com/ta_student.html