Sitting for 4 days waiting for a load?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by singleton2787, Aug 5, 2025.

  1. singleton2787

    singleton2787 Bobtail Member

    12
    19
    Jul 11, 2025
    Texas
    0
    Been driving since Jan and my avg pay is less than my step daughters pay at fast food. Some weeks are $1000 , one was $1283. Most are in the $800 range. Is this normal for less than a year experience? I’m 61 and don’t have 20 years.
    Has freight just been off since Jan?
    Looking fwd to responses

    Mike , Maj USAF ret
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Walk Among Us

    Walk Among Us Heavy Load Member

    775
    4,070
    Mar 3, 2025
    Fort Worth, TX
    0
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    75,539
    172,719
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Some companies have a guaranteed minimum.
    ~
    Marten Transport is one of several.
    Marten Transport | Homepage
    • Driver Comfort: Late-model equipment with APU’s, automatic transmissions and Invertors on all tractors
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2025
  5. singleton2787

    singleton2787 Bobtail Member

    12
    19
    Jul 11, 2025
    Texas
    0
    It’s really discouraging, I actually have grown to love driving so I beg for those long hauls. Lots of sitting so far. And it’s not like I’ve worked for small companies. Started out reefer/dry van now I went to flatbed hoping it’s greener
     
  6. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Sitting for 4 days isn't normal, but I don't know what the cause of it might be. Some companies try to scrounge freight off load boards, which is usually risky, difficult, slow, lots of trouble. Other companies have direct customers. It would likely be more common to sit for days if the company is getting random freight from load boards than with direct customers. But customers also have issues sometimes.

    This is why it's most important to talk to the current working drivers at a company before deciding to work at a company. Each company has their own normal, so the opinion of online strangers that are working for various other companies, or retired, isn't really a good measure of what is normal at ABC Trucking. But the ABC Trucking drivers with a few years experience at the company do know what is normal at ABC Trucking.
     
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    75,539
    172,719
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Where is your location in Texas. Maybe some good linehaul jobs in the area, such as Estes Express and others similar. Oops, those aren't OTR.
    ~
    Which reefer outfit did you work for?
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2025
    austinmike Thanks this.
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    75,539
    172,719
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    FearTheCorn and nextgentrucker Thank this.
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    75,539
    172,719
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2025
  10. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    22,451
    117,439
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    1099 contractor or W2 employee?
     
    Lonesome and Bean Jr. Thank this.
  11. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

    10,768
    68,341
    Jul 7, 2010
    St Louis
    0
    Tell us where you live.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.