What's a Good Weekly Allowance OTR?

After reading a lot of post on this forum, I noticed that a few of you guys were born to be a truck drivers, while it seemed to grow on on others.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed driving the truck at my local driving academy. I now have my CDL and committed myself to a starter company.

The reason I became a truck driver is simply. I got laid off in March and have been falling behind due to lack of income.
The trucking industry was kind enough to give me another shot and I want to make the best of this situation.

My question is: What is a good weekly allowance to survive comfortable OTR? So I can get caught back up with my finances

Thanks in advance for the advice

 

One thing I can tell you, buy a fridge, make most of your own food from home. Budget yourself between $50-100 for atleast 2 weeks on the road. Buying food on the road will be one of your biggest and costliest expenses. plus $100 per week for 4 weeks of driving - $400....do you know how many groceries you could've bought with that???? THINK, PLAN, DO

#TRUTH KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

 

well pretty much what you get for pay as a starter driver. the most you can do. is hope you get a good d/m. that is willing to give you enough miles to survive on.

 

This is really a difficult question to answer because everybody's "comfort" level is different. Plus the fact you're trying to catch up on your finances. Plus the fact that different companies pay their trainees different amounts while they're in training. I was happy with $20 a day but I could afford to be flexible as we are a 2 income family.

 

Can't give you a dollar amount, because everyone is different.
Hire on with a company that has APU's so you can keep refrigerated foods and a small microwave, plus the flat screeen TV & computer. Many companies policies and state laws prevent you from idling the truck. With an APU you will have electrical power when the truck is shut down. Stock up on some pretty good food cheaply at places like Walmart or Dollar General stores. Many companies that have APU's are also the companies where you make the most money annually; System Transport, Melton Truck Lines and several others. Perhaps some other drivers will name some companies with APU's. With a good flatbed company, a new driver can make $50K plus per year.

 

I agree with the others. Buying your own food and investing in an actual fridge is one of the best ways to save money on the road.

Heres my best guess for dollar amounts:

If you have a fridge, buy your own food, and are a smoker: $200 weekly

Same as above but you're a nonsmoker: $140 weekly

If you buy all your food at trucks stops and road side restaurants: $1000 weekly

 

WOW I didn't realize that truck stop food was so expensive. Thanks for the insight. While in school I heard horror stories about guys living check by check because of a failure to budget and I also heard the opposite for guys who manage their time and money wisely.

I do agree everyone is different, figure I'd get the insight from the guys & gals actually doing it.

Thanks again.

 

Truck stops overcharge for pretty much everything they have. The only exception is drinks, candy bars, cigarettes, and other basic things like that, which all seem to be priced right around normal convenience store prices.

That can of Campbell's soup? $0.89 at Walmart, $2.99 at Pilot.
A small bottle of mayo for sandwiches? $2.50 at Walmart, $5.49 at Pilot.
A cup of Ramen noodles? $0.35 at Walmart, $1.99 at Pilot.

They overcharge because they know its tough for truck drivers to get anywhere else to park. But there are lots of Walmart's out there with big parking lots, and while some won't let you break there, almost all of them don't mind you parking there if you're shopping. If they don't want trucks in their parking lot at all, you'll know it, because it'll be designed in such a way that you can't safely get a truck in and out.

The problem is that of you eat in a truck stop restaurant, you can very easily spend $40 or more per day (assuming 2 meals), and that's not counting tips. That equates to $280 per week. However, buying canned goods, lunch meat, bread, ramen noodles, and other refrigerated stuff at Walmart can give you a weeks worth of food for way less than $100. Those little portable lunchbox stoves or even a small George Foreman type grill will give you nice a juicy hot dogs and hamburgers.

However, if you do buy refrigerated food, DO NOT store it in the truck stop electric coolers. They will not keep it cold enough in general, and you can make yourself very sick with meat that hasn't been kept properly. Invest in a real fridge.

 

I try not to spend more than a 100.00 a week for everything. That's a 5 day week I have a cooler and keep some stuff in it but prefer to get out of the truck and sit down to eat at least once a day. I prefer it not to be a "truck stop" but that comes with experience. I have simple cooler but I will put a bag of ice in it if I have food that I'm worried about spoiling. Another trick I find is to put it in the bunk with the a/c on low in the bunk with the curtain closed all the time and preferably close to the a/c vent. They will cool to around 40 degrees below outside temp so the colder the better.

 

$15 for breakfast. $20 for dinner. $20 for snacks and sodas. and $13 for showers. PER DAY. $10 for laundry once a week.

i have a tub of dry food that can be cooked. and i have a 1 burner propane stove from walmart.

but i never feel like cooking.