What should I expect in my first 2 years as an OTR driver?

I made 42k my first year in 2009/2010, and that was with May Trucking. 17k is pretty dismal.

 

You can not compare 2010 with 2016.
Times have changed and freight is slower these days.

I also began at the end of 2010. In all this time I have never seen so few loads until this year.
And it just isn't my company.
I pulled in to a TA yesterday at around 1230 and the place only had 2 parking spaces free, plus 6 or so reserved parking spaces. I snagged one. By morning there were trucks everywhere they could find, and the on ramp was totally packed.
I didn't see many trucks on the highway the whole weekend, while this time of year it should be packed with us passing each other.

 

17k is dismal even in today's economy. I know lots of guy that earn well over 50k a year, slamming van doors on the I-5 corridor, and they're home most weekends.

I'm an owner operator now, however, have every confidence I could do the same as a company driver in today's climate.

 

First six months you can expect the D... after that options improve. Many companies that say they want a year or more will take a good driver after 6 months. Big thing is... no accidents and no moving violations so when in doubt... get out and look, watch your speed, pay attention to scales, get a good tablet with a large data plan (you'll want this anyway) and download the best trucking GPS (I like SmartTruck Route) cause imho the ones at the truck stops are garbage but OK as backup. Also, it's important to know you suck at first... stay out of the way as much as possible and practice your backing in the back of the lot. The main goal is don't oversleep, don'the complain and don't hit anything... do that and life will suck much less in 6 months.

 

Expect a lot of WTF moments. I took early retirement and thought what could be so hard driving a truck. Boy was I wrong.
Started with a sand and gravel company where I got my license lasted about a year then housing boom hit SoCal. Went to second driving job with a lumber company delivering to stores in SoCal. It was ok job but the beat downs and belittling were too much for me so I looked around found what I hoped would be decent company and applied.
That was three years ago haven't regretted it since. Working for a solid company making a more than decent wage treated right by all management. Home every three days pulling loads that might weigh 15000lbs.
What I wish I learned was better backing skills before I went OTR. Not a lot of opportunities driving a bottom dump or set of doubles.
By now you should have the skills that will land you a job with a decent company that not only will treat you right but pay you a fair salary as well.

 

Best advice to u op. Get with a long haul company. You will feel more like a truck driver running 1000 mile loads to the coast than u will hauling big box store frieght 339 miles. My 2 cents. Also don't be discouraged yes trucking is frustrating but has its perks, especially for a single guy. just get u some driver buddies u can call and vent to and Ull be fine

 

i just had my first accident today haha. thankfully it wasn't bad but still got overstressed and not wanting to do it anymore and i just started. I'm trying to sike myself back up. got bills and owe.