What is the REAL average first year income for a new driver

I considered oil patch work, but my wife didn't want to have to move closer to a field

 

Travr1,

While the helpful attitude is respected, sometimes what you say is less than accurate simply due to lack of personal experience in the industry.

For someone with ‘life’ experience, and the ability to work, you should be starting well above the $40k figure.

If you’re the sort of person that needs a job, and goes to a chain grocery store to apply as a cashier, then you are likely to fall into that $40k job as a driver.

If you’re motivated, willing to knock on doors, and start conversations...there’s no excuse for having no GOOD options.


As a general rule, I don’t know why anyone would CHOOSE to go OTR, if they had the option of going with an LTL, with better pay, benefits, and lifestyle.

 

About a happy meal per day.

 

WTF are you doing with your life if you're grossing less than $25k/year driving a truck??

 

Driving a Swift or CR England truck?

 

Contact Trimac Transportation and ask if they'll hire you for OTR. They may not hire in Las Vegas, but call and ask. They do hire new cdl grads. You can make there what you're making in your current job, if you go OTR. You'll have to turn & burn to do it though and won't have a fancy truck like the reefer outfits use.

 

Your first gig is not about money, its about getting experience. I cant remember exactly what I made my first year, but I think it was a little under 30K. This was OTR 48 states. And we took every load they gave us. I guess 40K is possible but I dint see it.

 

LOL, you definitely don't know me, cause I is a cheap bastage. I haven't bought coffee from one of those coffee houses for 25 years. Not only is it expensive but its terrible. I drink mine black! $5.00 for black coffee, I don't think so. No way I could have bought my 2 industrial lathes, 2 industrial mills, a industrial tig welder and 210 amp mig, plus my 85 grand in tools, plus a dozen high end rifles, not to forget my rare or very expensive USA custom built guitars, amps ect buying that coffee. Every shop I worked at since 1978 has had a coffee maker in it but one.

I work too hard just peepee my money away. Gawd, I would hate to move, not only a moving van but a rigging company as well. I have a lot of shop equipment.

 

Like I said earlier, I'm a workaholic.

 

I'm not otr I'm dedicated, at a mega, and this is my first year. I only have a 200 mile running radius and most of that is covered by cities.

I started, officially, in February and will break $30k this year. That being said I did not run NEARLY as hard as I could have because I didn't want said mega to burn me out of the industry in my first year.

I can't imagine not hitting a 40k minimum if you like to work and are living in the truck.