What is YOUR income, any/all experience?

Hey
My son works at ACMI. Just asking, but in order for me to break even at Millis I will have to make more that $450 per week. Is that unreasonable or impossible at first. Tell me a little more about your experience at Millis and driving. I am a retired paramedic and I am the only one in my family that is for me to go OTR. I have a 13 yr old son at home and two adult sons. I do not want to mess up. This is either going to be the best decision or the worst in my life so far. I am employed now and my family says" keep what you have " in this economy. Good point but I am starving at 450/week. Sorry for being personal........also I live in Wrens and I go to school in Cartersville 3/30 but can still bail. Thanks

 

BT-60, last year i avg. approx. 770. wk, out a avg. of 4 to 6 weeks at a time, or 305 days away from my bed.

my thought process goes to the teenage son at home. is he a good son, wild child, or some of both. IMO dont dismiss the presence that a father's influence has on children, it is something to consider as well.

 

I remember my wife asking the same questions in 1990 and I paid attention to her request. After a complete year where I was home maybe 10 days that year. I cleared under 12 thousand. Thats right, under 12k. She asked me to monitor what I spent, track all the actual hour and not just the liars book. Boy was I surprised. I thought I was making money. She told me she could afford to pay me what I was making just to stay home and work anywhere. Anyway, I quit and went back to school. I've been in a different profession now for 17 years. I loved driving, but as my wife said, "your job is to make money". My profession is suffering from the downturn of the economy but I'm home every night. The stimulus will allow me to improve my skill set free and work a part time job while I wait for a brighter day. I almost re-entered the trucking industry. Went through all the crap, Physical, Hazmat rip off, all the orientations with BS, and tested with 4 different companies. I saw the same old crap: We used to say that the only difference between companies are the 800 numbers. I believe that.

But when it came down to it I couldn't afford the pay cut. What drivers make in a week is about what I make in two days. I make nothing now, but driving wouldn't get me much more. So, back to school, adding more skills and requireing more income because of it. Drivers are very important, but it seems the drivers (as a whole) have not been able to take advantage of their value over the years.

Of all the reading I've come across in the forum, you have made more sense than most. As you know, truckers are not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and are easily manipulated into thinking they are in charge.

Dav, the X Driver

 

I have had jobs where I ws paid for time I left for work until the time I returned home. This included flight time, drive time to work site, lunch time, dinner time, and most all time spent away from home. Unless you count the hours, then you will never be aware of what it costs to make 49k. Add the taxes and then the pay really drops. Are you ready to see what is really being made? I think not, its not you dealing with the BS every waking hour. (Every Waking Hour) The big picture is not the picture you may be seeing, but I could I may be missing what you have to deal with in your area of the country. This driving may be God sent to some, but not all. Hang in there and start tracking the money so you will see what you are really buying.

To the point...I like that...

 

If you have any job and at home, then you are not starving. Just struggling like most of us. But you aren't going to improve your lot in life by being away from a 12 year old. And you may not make anymore money than what you are making now. I almost took the same position and realized that there is a lot of Bull in the trucking Industry. If you can not get a guaranteed contract to pay you X amount of money, you are not going to make what are being told. It gets deed as you get further into the woods. I was told I may get 1000 miles a week, (MAY GET). I'm still at home doing what I do wiht patience, this will be over soon.

38k before taxes, 21k after taxes

 

The way I look at it right now, and I'm sure it is the same way a lot of people look at it (they may not admit it) The only "picture" is what you bring home at the end of the week, cause that is what pays the bills. I hope to some day be in the position, that I can look at a different "picture"

 

Hello everyone, I'm tying to find out how much to expect my first year out, i know everyone's situation is different with many different variables and i'm not trying to pry but it's hard to get a definative answer. So how about a close ballpark from everyone. Thanx for the help

 

Pass the Popcorn, please !!!













20-40K

 

You're right , there are many variables but if drivers that started 10 -15 years ago say what they made their first year it would be in the ballpark of what you could expect .

 

omg people, No one knows who you are and probably does'nt care so serously y not give a realistic # for those getting in the bizz. I thought truckers were supposed to be like a family and look out for each other.................my bad.

Unless your embarrased to say i understand.