What Is It Really Like?

How is it?

The roads are crowded with inattentive, drunk, or angry drivers. I drive typically 7-10 hours a day (I'm a dedicated driver so I typically do runs with 4-8 drops) so it's real easy to let your guard down.

Lots of the docks I go to I'm pretty sure were designed by the devil. While he was on crack.

Quite often the people I deliver to are not really happy to see me (when I bump the dock that means more work).

I sleep in a small metal box and live on canned and fast food (great for your health).

I drive in and work in the snow in January and in the heat in July.

On the other side I have a pretty decent bit of autonomy. I do my thing, do it well, and they leave me alone.

I've been doing this for 7 years now. Didn't make much the first year OTR (a bit over $30k) I've made well over 40k the last few years (was a local driver, now I'm regional). Around here it's pretty tough to make that in a blue collar field.

 

So I can expect to make about 30k a year to start? Is that normal?

 

Yes, unless you have to set around alot or do a lot of short miles and then it could be less. Don't forget what it will cost to live on the road too.

 

Well, you might be a quicker study than I was. The other thing to keep in mind is the pay is wildly variable. When I was starting out I kept a spreadsheet on my pay and miles, IIRC the average weekly gross was $730 with a high of $1100 and a low of $200.

 

Ok, good to know. I never made that much money before.

 

One thing that makes me happy is that it seems there are a lot of people like me in the same situation. In the real world people make me feel so weird that I am single with no kids and like being alone. I have read a lot of topics here from people who are the same as me. There is nothing wrong with it imo.

The weird thing is that you get totally used to it and you still feel like you could make more lol. When I was making $60k per year I didn't feel like I had a ton of money, I just bought higher quality things that still left me broke lol.

 

Thanks for all the help from everyone here. I'm glad to have all the different opinions about the job.

 

Feeling weird , hum, i always felt that way, i myself , been pretty much a loaner all my life, ecept that 12 years, being married, were you share everything, and i do miss that, and its hard for me too make freinds too, so i just stay single for now i guess, but far as trucking, i trained and had teams type thing going on, but on the other side ,i like my peace and quite, but there was times i wish i had anthor set of eyes on that blind side when backing into a super tight dock

 

New drivers; Get DOT regs read them,read them again,commercial DMV state book read over and over, yearly things change, But being safe never changes. e-logs GPS locaters accurate to 6" to 6', potentiometers can record g forces,lock up wheels signal to company, drive out of legal limits,to company. red flags,,,,,,1st rule in DOT book owner/boss are resonsible for you/ you are responsible ? as a caption of a ship. 1st name on ticket yours, if ordered to move get name of officer time, date, move, report to co instantly. Don't argue with officer, follow instructions to t. Just because u can work 14 hrs 11/3 doesn't mean u have to, if falling asleep, pull over, failure to, can kill u and anyone nearby,you have family who cares, 80000lbs x65mph=u add it up, WE ARE HUMAN ,NOT A MACHINE, Planning a trip,knowledge, is everything. Log book rules have changed 4 to 5 times in 10 years, Ca. has changed 3-4 times in 5. Elogs know where ur at what the truck doing at all times. Qual-com etc....like 1 driver said homeland security, has to, because ok. city bomb was a uhaul, imagine a semi full. question ur loads, watch where u park. 1st words in ca. dmv You are a professional now. Drive with Pride, Safely. Good luck, good bless, HAPPY TRAILS, Kevin W sac ca Hi foodlink!

 

Ok. I don't understand but I'm sure what you said was important.