The six-figure club.

My buddy started at Estes this year 8 months ago. He started at .77 and made 87K in 8 months. I thought that was absolutely insane honestly. Seeing as how OD is ahead of us again we're getting an automatic raise to put us above them. From what I've heard for sure, it'll go like this at Estes...

Topped Out

Line haul... .83 (I've heard .84 also)
Extra board... .87.5 (I've heard .88 also)

Teams should be somewhere in the .90+ range and team extra board should be the highest given they get priority over everyone when they're around.

Since I've been at Estes 7 years. I know for a fact pay has SKYROCKETED. We did not take pay cuts during covid. They were actually paying more money to just come to work and even work extra.

When I started on the extra board the pay in the interview was .565!

Now extra board pay tops at like .84! That's an INSANE increase year on year!

 

I’m not sure were we are on linehaul mileage pay, our top P&D guy st Fargo is making almost $40ph. He’s been there since the start in the late ‘80s.

 

finished with $112,614. Not too shabby. I was about $1400 off my mark.

 

City driver made 82k. Longest week I worked this year was 48 hours. Basically work 8:30-5 with the occasional OT. Went from 100+ running linehaul. Better quality of life in the city and I hated running daytime linehaul. I do miss nights but got divorced and nanny’s are expensive plus I love having my Saturday mornings back to not be half dead at my kids games and whatnot.

 

The final total for 2024:

$124,980 Gross
156,429 Miles
4,239 Hours worked
Average/Hrs per day ... 13 hr days (lots of 15-20 hrs days mixed with some 4-6 hrs days)
Average of 12 days worked per 14 day pay period.

Not bad for my 4th year as Commercial Driver, and someone working local and regional with ability to be home every few nights.

If you're a new driver and willing to put in the long days, I highly recommend looking at Agriculture Feed driving as a place to start. I started in Nov 2020. Had driven fire trucks for 25+ years but had no tractor-trailer experience. 2021 made $60k, 2022 made $82k, 2023 made $106k and now just shy of $125k for 2024. I'll take a 20k pay raise per year .... Think I'm pretty close to my top for awhile though.

Guess point I'm making is get out and bust your butt if the $ is what you want. I know I'm the only one making that much at our small company. But I did it by taking all the 911 calls and by doing whatever my dispatcher asked me. In return he's increased my pay and give me priority on the loads.

Have a great new year guys and be safe.

 

Keep on keeping on driver. Hard work pays off!

 

Rub it in.. I’m over here and the big S eating noodles with our little mileage rate and drop and hooks.

 

Bro... You got a successful wife lol. You don't have to do anything! LOL

 

Ain't neither ONE of you guys hurtin. Lol