what is a decent CPM to start out with?

you need to be more specific because CPM depends largely on how many miles you're expected to run. Short haul / regional / dedicated, might not be CPM at all. OTR, I would think at least .35

 

40+ is what I would say.

 

I agree. Just above 40 to start out with would be good. I think it also depends on what you need in life. I'm in the process of adjusting my own job situation. Given the bills that I have and the lifestyle that I lead, I've come to the conclusion that I need to get paid more. That's not always the case, though. Sometimes time is worth more than the money you'd get for the energy you put into work.
Let's do the math. At an average of 2000 miles/wk and a cpm of 40, your base pay before taxes would be 800/wk, or roughly 3200/month, and 38.4K/year. That puts you on the higher end of the 12% tax bracket for the year 2018, according to forbes (whether you're single or married). So, you'll see about $33,792 in your pocket with those miles and cpm. Is that good enough for your situation?

 

And what do you think someone with five,ten,fifteen or twenty pulse years should be making?

 

percentage

 

I would hope quite a bit more than 40 CPM.
If not its time to buy your own truck get out of that organization

 

Mid 50s or so. Currently at 48 now that bonuses have been incorporated.

 

What are the accessorial pays?
High cpm doesn't mean diddly-squat if the accessorial pays aren't good and the miles aren't there.
I was making $65K per year at $.36 cpm and working 11 months a year. The runs were long and the accessorial pays were great.

 

They're doing the same job as a guy fresh out of cdl school. Experienced drivers are generating the same revenue for the trucking company as a fresh new cdl school graduate.
A driver chasing the cpm is never going to be at the top of the pay scale.
Many Schneider tanker drivers are making $1500.00 + weekly and they're sure not doing it on CPM.
Where I was making the $65K and working 11 mos. a year, other drivers there were making $72K because they worked more weeks than me because I like to travel to my overseas home.
At that company a driver with 30 yrs. experience makes the same cpm as a driver right out of cdl school, because we all did the same job. I see no problem with that.