Realistically, How Much?

Sorry its in black and white but you get the gist here is what you should expect to earn in your 1st year roughly

 

Swallow it anyway you want, after expenses I make about .45-.55cpm. And I don't get referrals, if someone from here wants to goto TA thats on them, but I don't do that for people I don't know it just looks bad on me when they quit. And if you really want to ####### know, you're right I hardly went home because my wife was in the process of leaving me, anything else you wanna know? Blood type? Service number? Preference of beer?

 

Sounds like a good deal if they at least claim that you can do 4000/wk. Might indicate they do long hauls and those you really appreciate after working for a company that rails everything and makes you sit around waiting to pick up loads within 100 miles going 400 same day, draining all your hrs.



Yes I have a question about the .45-.55/mi....You are talking sliding scale or o/o or what?

 

Lease op, it varies due to maint, savings, fuel, hookers and beer.

 

4,000 miles a week on a constant basis - that would mean driving 9-10 hours a day at an average speed of 60-65, seven days per week.

Is that realistic?

 

I like that! Nice and dry philosophy. LOL

 

No, its not. If you expect 2400 every week, when calculating income, you will normally do better than that in the long run.

 

I didn't think it was, but thanks for the clarification!

I have a suspicion many people don't to the math and get into the industry with very unrealistic expectations in regards to income - as well as the time they have to drive to achieve it. And I would have been one of them if I hadn't discovered this forum.

 

Up front... Let me state that a Lease deal can be a good thing, with the right company, and a driver with good to excellent business skills. It's just not for me. I wish only the best for you.

For the true Owner ops who might read this... I'm proud for (and of) you, but this isn't a "owner issue".

Once again, we play the math game....Fleece Ops = Married to the truck. I was a contract driver in the past, not the same. But only because I didn't make payments on their truck.

$60K per year sounds good to the beginning driver. But we need to break it down, to show it for what it really is.

.85 per mile plus fuel surcharge (most companies do pay a fuel surcharge)

A generous fuel surcharge would be about .35 per mile at the moment. Some pay more, most pay less. I would want much more.

So now you are up to $1.20 per mile. Assuming you do 2400 miles a week. That gives you a total of $2880.00 per week.

Now let's do the total figures...

Assuming you got a truck with an APU and you averaged 7 mpg for the entire year.

Fuel cost per week.... $929.15 @ the current cost of 2.71 per gallon a very generous estimate. I know you get the "discount rate". But let's forget that...I gave you a VERY generous fuel economy rating.

Your weekly check is now down to $1951.00

On average, most Lease ops have to make a minimum payment of $400 a week. Most/many pay more. Average is $500.00 Although you could lease a nicer truck directly from the dealer for about 40% less.

Your weekly check is now down to $1551.00 per week. @400 a week lease payment.

Most companies ask that you pay for your insurance...about $100 a week, some are more, some pay it for you. Most don't. Trans Am mentions a lot of things paid...but not insurance.

You're now down to $1451 per week.

Escrow account, typical company requires at least 8%. If yours doesn't require one...then you should have your own..otherwise your looking at a future failure without the means to fix it. 8% = $192.00 a week. It's not yours until the lease is up, and provided you didn't spend it all on repairs.

Now you're down to $1259 per week.

Let me stop there.......

Assuming you are able to get your tax liability down to zero, and you paid NO social security or state taxes. You have a great looking weekly check.

Your benefits.....

No insurance

No disability or Social security at retirement, because you've paid nothing into the system.

You have to keep track of and do you own taxes. Do you do them quarterly or annually? An additional workload that doesn't pay squat per mile/hour.

All this.... for the ability to refuse a load, and call yourself an "owner op". Although you are only a "contract driver".

I can refuse a load. And have. As a company driver.

I am home every weekend, without fail when I choose to be.

Health insurance....add $100 to my check...subtract $100 from yours.

Now that we've effectively taken your salary down to $1159.00 a week pre-tax.....

You averaged only .48 per mile ......equal to what I made per mile when you include benefits, taxes, unemployment, social security, and a few other company provided items.

Figure taxes.... and we brought home the same money last week But I've been home 5 days in the past 12. And I'm not worried about next weeks payments on the truck.

"Owner/Lease" Op badge = Status symbol

Peace of mind = priceless

 

^ Dude, whats your deal? I told the guy 2400 miles as a company driver. This has nothing to do with me. If you have some issue with lease ops thats cool, but no one cares how much you point out. Even if you read in my TA lease op thread I even state that its not a good idea. Not once have I recommended anyone to become a lease op.

I love how you think you know my situation so well. Why don't you look out for yourself? I can handle myself fairly well. No one cares that you are home X number of nights a week. #### I don't care if you like to blow guys between trailers. This guy asked what he could make first year, I gave it to him. I am not calling you a liar, because basically thats what you're calling me. It seems like you're staying up at night wondering about my situation, I am pretty ####### good. I don't worry about health insurance because I get it thru my wifes work. That's right my wife isn't a lazy cow that sits at home waiting for my next paycheck, taking care of some unwanted kids, while ######## on a message board about how my company is trying to screw me over.