Were do they get their numbers from?

From reading the boards here, I think it must come to them in a dream...

 

It was common enough when I started at TMC. What I don't understand is new drivers working for companies that don't pay that much in the first year.

 

Otr drivers are paid on a mileage scale (normally).

Here are some examples as to how a new driver "could" earn $40,000.00 in his/her first year as a truck driver;

mpw (miles per week)

2500 mpw x .31 cpm = $775.00 x 52 weeks= $40,300.00

2600 mpw x .30 cpm = $780.00 x 52 weeks = $40,560.00

2700 mpw x .29 cpm = $783.00 x 52 weeks = $40,716.00

2800 mpw x .28 cpm = $784.00 x 52 weeks = $40,768.00

2900 mpw x .27 cpm = $783.00 x 52 weeks = $40,716.00

3000 mpw x .26 cpm = $780.00 x 52 weeks = $40,560.00

3100 mpw x .25 cpm = $775.00 x 52 weeks = $40,300.00

The above examples show pay for mileage "only." Some carriers do offer additional pay for other things such as; detention, multiple stops, drops/hooks, congestion, lay over, loading/unloading, tarping, holidays, sick days, personal days, vacations, safety bonuses, etc.


The more miles a driver turns the greater his/her paycheck should be. Just be advised the carriers use different routing programs (Rand McNally, Pc Miler) to calculate the distances between stops. It is common to drive 5 to 10% more miles per trip than you are paid for based on the route the driver uses.

 

I'll let you know when I make that two years in a row

 

My spouse attended truck driving school in November of 2007. After she graduated my carrier hired her on as a student driver. After 6 weeks of training with me she and I were upgraded to Team status.

Her earnings as a team driver with me for 2008 were a little over $58,000.00. Not bad for her first year.

Her rate of pay?

.23 cpm

Our starting pay was .47 cpm to the truck. As senior driver I make .01 cpm more than her. Of course everything else is split down the middle; Drop/Hooks, stops, breakdown, safety/compliance monthly bonus and detention. She also gets $15.oo per hour (calculated at 8 hours per day) for her vacation pay, sick days, personal days, and holidays.

This year has been slower based on the current economic recession but so far ytd she has earned $29,000. Based on current projections she will (in all likelihood) earn between $58k to $59k for her second year.

In the current economy teams get preferential load assignments as well as more miles than their solo counterparts.

 

Sounds like an ad for the companies that can't run solo's so they think teams are the answer.
Just to be fair I will amend my post to state,

"Some teams are able to do this and not burn out too quickly"

I waste my valuable free time on these forums for two reasons. To spend a few minutes recounting the enjoable experiences I had OTR driving and too try to change the industry and keep well meaning new people from being screwed by ######## advertising.