Wanabe, but what the heck?!

I made 64k my first year as a trucker. There are good opertoonities if your willing to work hard. I worked flat bed for TMC and made great money. I then became a trainer and made a lot more. I then had so much money i bought my own truck and make even more.

It may suck for the first year while you work for a bottom feeder, but with a year of clean experience, you can go any ware you want.

 

Back then a Corvette was $4000 now it's well over ten times that. Pay hasn't inscreased the same way, has it?

 

To the Op.....do lots of research..then pick a niche of the industry that you think fits you. Then do more research on that particular niche , when you finish that research , do more research on the companies in your local area or within the area your willing to move to that occupy that particular niche. It's not too difficult...it's a niche thing you understand.....If after all that niche research doesn't satisfy your needs...then Pm Chinatown...he's the niche go to guy around here....he'll give you some great ideas!

 

OP....Keep in mind that a majority of those that post frequently on these boards are disgruntled, and upset about something at their job. I have only been driving 2 years, and I gross $1000-$1200 a week. I am home every night, and off on the weekends unless I choose to work on Saturday. I have 14 hours a day to make my money, I stay away from the rest areas and truck stops. I bite my tongue when my dispatcher pisses my off, and only say "No" when it's an issue of not having the hours to do what he needs. I keep him happy, and he keeps me moving. I have talked to other drivers who hate my employer because they are making $500 a week. Driving is what you make of it, you can make money if you want to. I will repeat what others have said, because it is soooo true......Do your research, on the Company you decide to go with before you start.

 

That answer your questions - huh??!!

Its always the squeaky wheels getting oiled, there's a lot of silent wheels rolling through this forum.

I'm looking at a low year as a company driver at $75k. Then again, I write from the sofa - here for a week after tooth surgery.

And like you sir, it baffles me as to why folks go and dive headfirst into the misery pool, when the signs clearly say . . .

" Enter at own risk - did you do your research?"

 

Same for me....home most nights and all weekends.....from day one. I hunted for 2 months to get the job I wanted. THEY ARE OUT THERE. Don't settle for less than you can be happy with.

 

What is your driving record? Any moving violations in last 5 years? Any accidents including those not your fault last five years? What is your health?


If you are a cowboy then you should be able to do a little lifting which most truck drivers HATE doing. Two types of carriers have trouble finding drivers due to not wanting to lift are the house/furniture movers and food service. The house/furniture movers are Mayflower, United Van Lines, Atlas, North American van lines and others. Reinhart, US food service, Sysco and many other smaller carriers are in the food service sector. Pepsi, Coke, Budweiser, Miller, Coors also do a lot of lifting.


I am told that the house/furniture movers make $60,000 after three years so if I were you I would call one of them in my area and ask them what your driving record need to be to get on with them and how much they pay. I made $70,000 last year driving the road with a Less Than Truckload carrier which requires night driving which most drivers HATE doing and may involve chain-up. If you are going to drive in the west you WILL chain-up.


Check with a community college in your area, mine charges $1,112 in tuition plus drug screen and physical fees.

 

Boy, lot's of wealthy truck drivers on here. They say that they all found the "right" company.

So everyone that isn't making 100K per year, you are at the wrong company.

 

Thats what I've been saying for years. If you call up a company and ask about the average driver income, you get one number. If you ask them what the top driver makes you get a number that's usually around 1.5 to 2x average. For the exact same company? Bottomfeeder included? What's up with that?

Some drivers may be slow starters, hence the low average pay on the first year, then they pick up the system and boom, sky's the limit. Some drivers come straight out if school like a force of nature...strong as hell, driven and nothing stop them. Some drivers are stupid. 10 years on the road, they haven't improved much at all since they got out of their trainer's truck. Whenever you hear a driver bellyaching about low pay, don't say anything. Just sit back and wait. Within 5 minutes, nimbus will tell you why he doesn't make any money.

Want to hear something stupid? How about a driver that tells you and other of places where he won't go? Think about it for a moment..."I am a truck driver, but I won't go _________(fill in the blank)". Say what???? That's like a football player telling you that he won't play the Broncos in Mile High. Or a fighter telling you in a 12 round fight, that he won't throw any punches past round 6. Yet they expect to be successful? Doesn't happen in pro sports, therefore it's highly unlikely to happen in the trucking industry.

 

....pretty much.