What is an acceptable rate (cpm) for a New Driver?

Of course they don't! We are cheap labor. We are driving trucks not submitting bids on a proposal. As much as I love trucking it is not a difficult profession to acquire new employees. We will always be on the bottom, just hoping it is high enough to still have self respect.... I do hope that is somewhere above 1000 a week given the hours worked.

 

No one is buying anything right now... My sister works for BNSF railroad, said they have laid off/furloughed over 7000 employees in the past couple months. I think both companies and the entire population are holding their breath.

 

There are a lot of great paying truck driving jobs around where I live- hourly and cpm.

The catch: you need at least two years experience (usually OTR).

Newbie companies are there for newbs to get valuable experience, then move on. Good starter companies reward drivers who perform well and stay with them.

Most new drivers won't make it a year. A lot will quit their first company within a few months and a lot won't even remain drivers. Isn't that why companies are always hiring?

Companies than hire newbies don't have a crystal ball. They don't know who will perform well, who will quit under dispatch leaving a dump in the truck, or who will clip a bridge. Why should they start everyone at .45 cpm?

I was willing to start this new to me career at the current newbie driver market rate. And I'll do my job a year or two and move on to something local that pays better.

 

We may have different opinions on the topic but good luck to you and yours during this strike.

 

While others have made some pretty good money from it... Some winners, some losers.

 

Ok, what's keeping you from getting your own authority and competing with those companies? There are options.

 

First, you are comparing team CPM to solo CPM.
And one may still get 48 CPM ... But miles???

I think where I work has a good balance of CPM and miles to drive... With full benefits too. Nice package deal... Not the best but not the worst either.

I believe it to be a matter of perception.

Pushing 50 second career guy here... College degree and worked white collar accounting profession for 30ish year... And...

Making more here in trucking in my FIRST YEAR... And, it's the EASIEST job I have had too.

although I value your concerns and opinions, to some one with no path ahead or working for 25k a year... Suddenly it's not a bad option.

And just like McDonald's, if one opts to stay and work for minimum wage for life.... Ok... While others will go forth and find better and better opportunities.

One can stay a company driver or go for more. If one wants a bigger piece of the pie, go for it... But it will envolve more work... And different skills too.

But yes, everyone wants to be paid more, me too.


Stay Safe,
MD

 

Driving jobs and any job for that matter is no different then oil prices. When supply is higher then need, price goes lower. It's really just that simple.

You can try and capitalize on the hassles and requirements all you want as a means to rationalize higher wages, but let's be honest. Any moron can drive a truck. In fact many carriers prefer them "young and dumb" and as wages are at the bottom, so wages remain dragged down up the scale.

You got 2 new drivers. One is good. He's safe, proficient, and gets the job done. The other always oversleeps and misses appointments, hits things regularly , and requires constant supervision etc. You trying to tell me both new drivers deserve the same wage?

 

This... Good reply... And here's to hoping rates go back up soon.

 

But since you ask. Typical OTR gig for new apprentice...

30 cents plus any fuel and safety quarterly bonuses. With accelerated 10 cent increase inside first 12 months assuming they aren't screw-ups