what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

[roscoe]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

But no one has mentioned the lot lizards yet, what gives?

see post 40

 

[skargo]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

see post 40

Sorry Roscoe, missed that.

Kyle, as you are someone who likes to bend the rules sometimes, you should think long and hard about this. Breaking rules or regulations driving a truck can be very costly, just food for thought.

Being single you could make a fortune working for a contractor in the middle east, or maybe working the oil fields in Canada, and put together a nice nest egg in a short period.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

All i can say is 25 cents per mile! INSANE!!!

I have drove trucks since 1982 and that was low pay back then!
The average today is 36....
And that is hard to make a living at unless they have great load planning and keep you rolling.

Look up a forum called The Truckers Report....Great info on all the different companies and some great guys to ask questions.

 

[mscher]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

All i can say is 25 cents per mile! INSANE!!!

I have drove trucks since 1982 and that was low pay back then!
The average today is 36....
And that is hard to make a living at unless they have great load planning and keep you rolling.

Look up a forum called The Truckers Report....Great info on all the different companies and some great guys to ask questions.

26 cents is low, but remember, no trucking company in it's right mind, is going to pay new drivers top dollar.

New drivers are slower, they get lost more often, they get more violations and accidents.

Plus, they tear up the equipment, AT LOT more than most experienced drivers.

They are more likely to get frustrated and leave the load sitting at the side of the road and hitchhike home.

 

[mscher]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

Like everything in life, trucking is what you make of it. The most important thing to remember is keep your driving record clean(no accidents or tickets) As a safe driver it's easier to find work.
I did an independent CDL training school, then went over the road for 6 months. Then regional for another 6 months. The pay and home time were not great but I just wanted to get my experience.
With a clean driving record and 1 year experience is was able to get a good job as a car hauler. I make about 70k a year as a company driver(small company-10 trucks) I work mon thru fri with only 1 to 2 overnights. Miles are about 1500 to 2000 per week. We load and unlaod the cars so the miles are lower than a normal driving job. I've been doing it for 5 years and love it.
Good driving jobs are out there if you know where to look.
Good luck!

The absolute truth.

All drivers have to "pay their dues" in the first year, or if they don't, they should. The first year grind akes-or-breaks a good driver and can weed out the duds.

Anyone who obsesses of the whole "dollars-per-hour" thing, in truck driving anyway, should be probably be working elsewhere anyway, as they will be unhappy and then we have to turn off our CB radios, because we get tired of hearing them whine.

I can make over $300 day. I might work 9 hours, I might work 17 - who cares?

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

I can make over $300 day. I might work 9 hours, I might work 17 - who cares?

What company pays that ???.

I'll come out of retirement for them dollars.

 

[mscher]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

What company pays that ???.

I'll come out of retirement for them dollars.

Mine does.

I might be interested in trading you, my job, for your retirement and your retirement income.

 

[skargo]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

Mine does.

I might be interested in trading you, my job, for your retirement and your retirement income.

Off topic, but every time I see your user name I think of MC Escher...

 

[mscher]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

Off topic, but every time I see your user name I think of MC Escher...

Describes my mind to a tee.

Picked up a prescription at Walmart, sat it down to look at windshield wiper blades. They were out of my size, so I walked away, leaving the prescription. Received a cell phone call from another customer, that it was left there. My cell number was on the package. Nothing good, only rash creme, anyway.

Life is great.

 

[skargo]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

HAHA, awesome!

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

26 cents is low, but remember, no trucking company in it's right mind, is going to pay new drivers top dollar.

New drivers are slower, they get lost more often, they get more violations and accidents.

Plus, they tear up the equipment, AT LOT more than most experienced drivers.

They are more likely to get frustrated and leave the load sitting at the side of the road and hitchhike home.

Tell me where I can go and make $300 per day net pay and I am there, and legally I dont' think you are supposed to be working 17 hrs per day. Unless 3 of those hours are not followed by driving.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

I was just driving for a local grocery distribution company.
Hauled pallets and bumped 4 docks a day and brought home 296.00 per day after taxes...
This was through a temp service too..and no touch loads!

I am now trying to get on with that company!

Through the driver temp service the lowest paying gigs they have are at least 15 bucks an hour. Every company they send me to i make over 150 per day.

As far as new driver pay.....many companies will start you out at 30 cents per mile or more..

All of those big outfits like Swift,USA,JB Hunt,and all the others are known as BFI's.....Bottom Feeders Inc...

 

[treedancer]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

Retired driver here?. Well, will be retired the first of the new year. I wouldn?t work for $.26 per mile, hell if you think about it, flippen burgers would pay better. What I would do is somehow go to a driving school as others have suggested, get your CDL with no strings attached.

Make sure it has a Hazmat endorsement. Then look around where you live, if there are any railroad tracks around, get a job hauling pigs (piggyback) Containers from the railhead. Mostly drop & hook, it will most likely pay better and you would be if you were on the road. You will most certainly smell better because more than likely you will be home everyday. Lotsa luck.

 

[mscher]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

Tell me where I can go and make $300 per day net pay and I am there, and legally I dont' think you are supposed to be working 17 hrs per day. Unless 3 of those hours are not followed by driving.

The $300 pay is gross pay and legal is the only way I work.

Provided one only drives 11 hours, one can continue to work, "on duty - not driving", past the 14 hour HOS mark. They just cannot legally drive again, until they take a 10 hour break, either off duty, or in sleeper berth.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

I run 680 miles last night. Drop and hook load.
I had 3 minutes to spare on the 11 hour rule when i pulled in the yard.

The company trucks have a system called Cadec,It does your logs for you and has a display with your hours available on the dash.
Just punch in the driver ID and push the "drive" button.....No paper logs are great!

I had the first automatic trans i have ever driven in the truck i used last night....HATED that dang thing...They shift way too slow!
This was a new KW....I am asking for an old truck next time..

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

The $300 pay is gross pay and legal is the only way I work.

Provided one only drives 11 hours, one can continue to work, "on duty - not driving", past the 14 hour HOS mark. They just cannot legally drive again, until they take a 10 hour break, either off duty, or in sleeper berth.

I was just messing with ya MSCher I know the rule they can work ya all they want you just have to have a 10 hr break before driving again.

Gary I have heard that about the auto trans trucks most drivers prefer the good ol fashioned way. Auto = no place in a truck more to go wrong leaving you stuck. I always had an Eaton 13speed.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: what is a good starting pay for a new trucker?

I drive everyday, average 2700 mi/week. sometimes more. usually 5 days a week, home every night. I get paid by the load, or what averages out to $.36/mile basically. November and December we work 6-7 days a week. Its not the greatest job out there, but then again your not digging ditches either. We do have to (or, I guess choose to), run a little off the books sometimes to make some more money or get an extra load in. Our company runs loose leaf log books, also. But then again within 1 year they will be on electronic logs like most big companies now. no more driving over your hours. u stuck where u run out.

But like some others said, trucking is about to take a MAJOR turn when the CSA goes into full effect. even a taillight out will be the drivers ticket, and points on the CSA record system. Too many points in 1 year= you out of a job. More and more is being put on the drivers, and less on the company.

$.25-28 cpm seems to be the norm out there from what i have seen. I know we require at least 1 yr over the road experience where i work, but most of the better jobs want 2-3 years experience at one of the big companies. You can make $35000-$40,000 fairly easily. that works for us while the better half is finishing up her college then i wont be driving as much, thats for sure.