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

SinCityShooter · Dec 15, 2017

Toomanybikes said: ↑

The problem asking "how much do you make" on the internet we are all faceless, nameless, BS'ers. We all make more money on the internet then ever shows up in our bank accounts. You can take that to the bank.

The federal government says in 2016 the average truck driver made $43,590.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Of course everyone here is above average and kills that in in their first year. Just who are those drivers with decades of experience making the lower numbers to come up with that average?

While I have found the Bureau of Labor to be quite accurate over the years, ignore their hourly estimate for truck drivers. A large portion of the industry works on percentage and CPM. The total is real, but the hourly wage is deceptive since many truck drivers don't punch a clock and are financially motivated to misrepresent the actual hours spent. Hourly wage is often less then minimum.

The same thinking should go for miles driven. A new driver hears from the recruiter that the "driver's here average 2500 miles a week." No driver thinks of themselves as average. We are all above average! So when you tune in here, you will hear reports of 3000+ miles a week since we are all above average, of course. When you get into the bowels of the statistics at most of the mega trucking companies, you will find the weekly average for drivers is around 1700-2200miles a week, through no fault of their own. Obviously the recruiter is motivated to exaggerate and so are the drivers that appear on this forum.
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God bless you for you complete honesty. I did get that figure from the labor statics board but I think it may have been a couple years old. This is why I asked.

The minimum wage part is what I don't understand. I assume that is for otr.

Peelsession · Dec 15, 2017

Fuelinmyveins said: ↑

Who are you working for?
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SinCityShooter · Dec 15, 2017

Britton is my 1st choice right now.

Peelsession · Dec 15, 2017

SinCityShooter said: ↑

Britton is my 1st choice right now.
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No complaints really. Other than the usual trucking/flatbebdding/wasted time at shippers type stuff at times. They're definitely not a mega. I don't take a lot of home time but living not too far from our flatbed yard, I get enough free weekends anyhow.

I don't see myself going anywhere. Especially once I hit the two year mark this summer...with a decent raise.

Dan.S · Dec 15, 2017

@Toomanybikes

While you’re correct to a large degree about non-factual claims regarding income, I know that $40k is absurd for a starting wage.

Maybe I’m ‘above average’, but....in my limited experience, the $40k number is for the low hanging fruit that simply aren’t willing to put in the work required to actually land a good job.

SinCityShooter · Dec 15, 2017

Peelsession said: ↑

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No complaints really. Other than the usual trucking/flatbebdding/wasted time at shippers type stuff at times. They're definitely not a mega. I don't take a lot of home time but living not too far from our flatbed yard, I get enough free weekends anyhow.

I don't see myself going anywhere. Especially once I hit the two year mark this summer...with a decent raise.
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That is really good to know. I have talked to someone there but I can't remember who it was. They simply told me to call them back after I get my cdl and they would put me to work. She said they do their best to get you home often. I'm looking at the refrigeration side.

If I had to work for a mega it would be Schneider. A dedicated route like O'reilly Auto parts, as I know what they pay and I know what the driver needs to do. They only do 5 working days, off Sunday and Monday, home daily, fully electric pallet jacks and lift gate. Need hazmat for this job.

UturnGirl · Dec 15, 2017

I get the feeling Sincity is asking a question but is not getting the answer he wants. Try again. Are you experienced and know all about trucking just looking for who pays highest or are you new and wondering if you make enough or just stirring the pot?

SinCityShooter · Dec 15, 2017

UturnGirl said: ↑

I get the feeling steelcity is asking a question but is not getting the answer he wants. Try again. Are you experienced and know all about trucking just looking for who pays highest or are you new and wondering if you make enough or just stirring the pot?
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Who is steelcity?

Midnightrider909 · Dec 15, 2017

SinCityShooter said: ↑

I've read in quite a few places that first year is like 41k a year, but somehow I don't believe it. Maybe I'm talking myself out of going otr and driving. Seems to me that you live in a box for what, 310 days a year, probably running 9.5 hours a day. Personal hygiene or should I say lack of. DM's that don't care if you don't see home for 3 months at a time. Which brings me to lack of family, friends, hobbies and oh, what if you have a house and something breaks or just maintenance. Lets not forget stress of dealing with freakin 4 wheelers, road or weather conditions and being detained for stupid long times. The list could go on and on and on.

If I could get a local gig right out of school then that would be consideration. Its not the part of being a lonely profession that gets to me, I'm a loaner for the most part. Most of my friends have been my friends for a long time, but they are few and I like it that way, mostly because when people find out what I did for for the last 35 years of my life I'm instantly asked to work on their broken down POS auto. All of my friends are master dealership techs and they won't ask me to work on their cars. Getting out and seeing most of the country is a positive as I haven't really traveled much. I'm a workaholic so traveling never fit into any schedule for me.

I have what it takes to do the job, but the money seems a bit low for all that ANY driver has to put up with. I'm of the belief that there are plenty of drivers out there and they simply don't want to work for peanuts and I don't blame them. Take a kid fresh out of say UTI or Wyotech. The dealers are going to pay this kid good money and I mean good money because its very technical now days and not just anyone that can hold a wrench can do it. I guess anyone can hold a steering wheel.

Is it really worth it now days for what these large carriers pay?
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You will basically trade a year if your life for 40 to 45K and your interpersonal relationships will suffer. The wear and tear you put on your body and crappy truck stop food will likely take off another year on the back end.

SinCityShooter · Dec 15, 2017

Midnightrider909 said: ↑

You will basically trade a year if your life for 40 to 45K and your interpersonal relationships will suffer. The wear and tear you put on your body and crappy truck stop foid will likely take off another year on the back end.
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If that is a real income then i would say its not terrible but not great either. My wife and I have been together for a while and she knows that I would be gone for a while. We trust each other and work together for a common goal, no matter what it takes. A year on the road will not kill my marriage anymore than it is now. I thought it would but after talking it out, we know it won't.

Thanks.

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