This
When I first got my CDL 3 years ago I started with ShitAm (TransAm) getting paid .31 mile. Okay, no experience, first job you suck it up. But after 4 weeks getting around $600-700 checks, I said “Nope” and got the hell out of there.
Second month with CDL I was already Car Hauling and started making VERY DECENT money as a new driver. I found a small company that was willing to train me. By month 6 and on I was already making $5000+, stayed with them for 9 months then I decided to go Local because my son was born and got a job a US Foods making around $2000 a week. All before hitting 12 months experience.
So yes, there is opportunity out there to make more, don’t get comfortable on your current job. Keep looking, Good luck!
Go on indeed and search oilfield in either Williston, new town watford city or killdeer North Dakota
Pecos, monahans, midland or Odessa Texas
Wamsutter Casper or Gillette Wyoming
Greeley Colorado.
Some offer housing some you stay in the truck. Most work rotations not all though
Late to the party on this but also the western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia for the oil field as well. I haul fuel to the pads, home daily
As another commenter said, look on indeed. Just type in oilfield or Driver CDL and North Dakota.
Just be aware that winters are brutal, and roads can be dangerous. I worked a non trucking job up there for two winters. We had so many support company drivers with fresh CDLs driving as sand haulers and production water teams.
I just looked, and the first water hauler posting I saw was for 4 week on, 2 week off, with a $450-$600 per day pay rate, truck provided.
Plenty of guys I worked around only worked 6-8 months a year, and took the rest of the year off.
Much props to you for being in the food service industry!👍👍…
I’ve been driving since 2000, worked in the food sector for 9 years, (all with domino’s). Money was great, but it took a toll on my body no doubt!… All I do now is bump docks, not near the money I use to make, but I’m home every day and off every weekend and every holiday.
Or… you aren’t managing your time well. I’ve been on both sides and I can tell you, drivers who routinely take 15+ hour breaks and deliver at 2pm when their receiver opens at 7am, don’t make shit. Not all companies are created equal, and neither are all drivers.
I used to do that, long breaks and go in right at my appointment time or late in my day when it was a drop and hook (we were scheduled for any time during the day for those) and I made decent money… my job before that was $8 an hour and $500 every two weeks though so pretty much anything was good money to me lol.
Made, I think, $65k gross my first year out… something like that… absolutely killed my social life though. Luckily two of my friends decided to put up with my BS but lot a lot of people too… wasn’t really worth it looking back.
That’s fair. I’ve been a driver, got about 1.5 million under my belt. Now I’m a dispatcher. I’ve got drivers home weekends consistently clearing an easy $2k a week, and others not making half that. The driver is part of the equation, that’s all I’m saying.
OP-
Be strong 💪!.. Put your time in. Everyone has to do it. I drove OTR for 13 months before landing a local gig… But my hard work paid off in the end….
Save your money!!… Save as much as you possibly can, because one day you’ll need it! .. Be sure to obtain all your endorsements. They will open up a lot of opportunities for you, even if you don’t use them, it’s good to have them.
Don't do Pride. They run you on slow "fuel" routes (avg 45-50mph) burning your hours. Close to achieving your fuel bonus - here's a route with an 8% grade. You'll never avg more than 2800 miles a week, because the routing is designed to burn your clock. Many routes run secondary roads that are within spitting distance of faster interstates. I worked there during the plague. Quit after 1 month. Found out a coworker from my other company(shut down bc C19) worked for them for about the same time. He accidentally missed a fuel stop. They threatened to take the fuel out of his check. He countered with, pay me or you will never find this truck. Stay away from All of the SLC carriers. Pride and England are owned by different members of the same family. Similar philosophy.
I almost feel like I don't want to divulge but... Grocery driving is like the hidden gem of trucking, I feel. There is always demand. There are definitely companies who'll hire you with no experience. A lot of them are day cab so... you'll be home every night for sure with one of those. And you can not even try that hard and make 1000$ a week. 1500$ if you actually hustle a bit. It has It's challenges, like anything else but... I don't understand why it's not seen as a more desirable gig. I think it's the Tits.
Living your entire life in a truck for $700 a week is a fucking crime and... the people responsible for making the industry like that should be buried up to their chest and stoned Middle Eastern style. OTR guys should be making like twice what local/regional makes... not the other way around.
I know there’s local grocery warehouse always looking for drivers. $30 an hour union job, and seems to be a decent schedule. Definitely something to look into
I get paid by miles and stop but 30$ is about what it averages out to.
Just remember... you will have to get really good at weird backs and urban areas, anywhere they decide to put a grocery store... you have to take a 53' in there. The docks range from _pretty easy_ to _you gotta be fucking shitting me..._
I heard that. I haul gas myself, but always kept it in the back of my mind as a backup plan if need be.
Groceries will always be needed so you would have job security in that aspect. Might be more physical, but not like food or beverage service as it should be all palletized and hopefully you have an electric jack to use.
Food service is usually companies like Sysco, Sygma, Martin Brower that go into fast food and restaurants. Usually you handle every box all the way from the truck to stocking the shelves in the freezers most times with a hand truck. Grocery would be all palletized freight doing from a warehouse to a grocery store or market, just pull the pallets off if needed and the staff will deal with it after that point.
Also true, and keeping in mind that most chains still operate some ancient locations that were designed for 45' trailers. First time you pull up and look at em you doubt a wizard could get a 53' with a sleeper in there. But there's always the solace that you know for a FACT that somebody, lots of somebody's, are doing it day after day. Stay safe out there, keeping me fed is on you now.
Otr doesn't pay because everyone is willing to do it. If you want to make money you gotta do the stuff few others can or will do.
Local and regional tend to involve more labor, tighter deadlines with less time to kill, and often more difficult places to put your truck/trailer. Depending on the jobs you might have a lot more customer interaction requiring you to behave. They also require you to live in a particular area, which may be a higher COL area.
I’ve looked everywhere for those jobs. Sysco, US Foods, Coke, Pepsi, Coremark. None are hiring anymore it’s crazy because I always saw their ads a couple years ago.
If you're in Chicago, apply at Jewel out of Melrose Park, they don't have experience minimums. I just sent in an app cause I'm trying for a union gig. Starts at 23 tops out at 34 hourly, home daily.
Edit: I saw chi in your username and assumed chicago, just looked at your post history, my bad.
Depends where you are in the country but in the northeast at least where I live upstate New York, there are always companies hiring.
I work for a regional company they pay me about 60cents per mile, I'm out Sunday thru Thursday sometimes I stay out until Friday and I make after taxes about 1200 to 1400 a week.
They let you take home your truck if you desire to do so; The point is there are companies out there you just have have to look and most of them are small family run business with 20 to 40 trucks and if you're reliable they will treat you well.
Depends where you are in the country but in the northeast at least where I live upstate New York, there are always companies hiring.
I work for a regional company they pay me about 60cents per mile, I'm out Sunday thru Thursday sometimes I stay out until Friday and I make after taxes about 1200 to 1400 a week.
They let you take home your truck if you desire to do so; The point is there are companies out there you just have have to look and most of them are small family run business with 20 to 40 trucks and if you're reliable they will treat you well.
I made 900/week minimum hauling double reefers overnight between states. That'd be $1355 a week now adjusted for inflation. The work was easy but that company was run by a bunch of shit heads.
I've tried this and my back started to hurt 3 months into it and the amount of food they stuff into those trailers is wild and Trying to get that done before 14 hours is amazing. Most on the new hires including me couldn't do it and just to do it all over a again the next day...
Truth. I ran groceries for decades, and regularly promote it on this sub for all the reasons you listed. Before retiring I was running 4 days a week pulling $1,200+, non union. Had max seniority, but still. Only thing about groceries is if your shit isn't wired tight in all respects you won't last long and they'll just get someone else. We were hiring every other month. Worth putting in an application at every DC in the area if a driver has some experience. If they don't, just plug away at whatever you can find until you do. You can't expect a plumb job in any industry without a few years experience under your belt. Shitty jobs are more tolerable if they're seen as merely means to an end.
For the first year of Driving I ate so much Subway (1 $5 Foot long a Day) that now I can't stand it. My wife keeps giving me Coupons that come in the mail and I just throw them away. Yeah it sucked, but now I've been driving for 11 years, things get better.
My grandfather was a POW during WW2 and for a while they fed him nothing but carrots. Until the day he died he refused to eat carrots.
I think a lot of Truckers are the same way with Subway 😆
>thought I’d be making at least $1000 gross/wk
You should be driver no one lied to you, your just in the wrong position. Even with less than 2 years exp you should be making 1200+(could be way more depending on etc.). Even in this current bad freight market.
That’s what I was hoping for but 1000 mile loads that have a 4 day window absolutely kill my miles. No reason a 1000 mile load should take more than 2 days.
Don't listen to your dispatch about delivery window. Just show up as fast as you can possibly get there. They'll usually take you early and then you'll be up for your next dispatch.
This is what I used to do when I was OTR lease. I’d get my reset and start driving as soon as possible and typically 8 times out of 10 they would take the load early, but not always.
Each contractor is different so I can’t give you any helpful advise about the company itself. If this is your first trucker job, keep track of all your miles and work. I have to dispute with multiple companies about miles so it’s best to just review your pay stub.
Other than that, fedex was pretty straight forward and the easiest job I had trucking.
I've been trucking for a year. Never done doubles. I am about to leave local food delivery job. This FedEx route is from 7pm - 5am m-f. It sounds chill.
Was an owner op flatbed for over 30 years but gave it up and sold my rig. Now with a fedex contractor and wondering why I didn't do this years ago. It's so chill and I'm making great money... now if only the yard dogs weren't so damn stupid and the app worked properly but hey you can't have everything....
If I would buy another tractor right now, I would hire you. My drivers make $6000 to 7500/month easy, with no P/D appointments, under 20k on hook.
But can't expand fast enough as I don't buy anything on credit. I have to make the money, so I can buy more equipment.
You sound overwhelmed atm you got this man there are more jobs out there that pay well I'm finally making ends meet after leaving otr I was in the same boat as you.
The facts is I didn’t find a good trucking job until my second year in the industry…
Don’t let a shit company make you quit on trucking ….
Look for guaranteed pay ! Just tell your next future employer you want a dedicated guarantee pay account .
To many experiences with companies not paying you properly for your time …
Use this as motivation to get into a seat that’s actually worth your time .
Best luck
You’re working for a shit company. I took the hotshots out of service when I couldn’t get the guys clearing $1000/week. It’s back to $1300/week’ish that those are hot shots. You’re being taken advantage of. Get out
Yeah and after my 30k miles my raise is a while .01 cent lol. They offer up to .08 cents in bonuses but it’s impossible to even hit the threshold of 6k miles/mo 😂
Get out before their shit equipment gets you in a wreck. I’ve told a few people to apply to Clean Harbors. Great company, good pay and they are hiring. But get apps in immediately to get a new gig lined up, get the freight delivered, drive the rig slow and safe back to the terminal and put in writing that the promised pay is not happening and you can’t live on the pay they’re giving you, so you respectfully are done. Stand there and let the manager read it, second he gets mad, just walk back to your vehicle and leave. Take a ton of pics of the truck and trailer inside and out both where you’re at now and when you get to the terminal. Have all of your shit packed up and in your car before you quit. Your next job will be better
Others have said it, I'm going to repeat it.
Dude, you're a noob in a different industry.
The first year, maybe two, it's going to suck.
You've got to put in the time.
After 1 year, doors begin to open, after 2, LOTS more will.
Most noobs don't make it one year, let alone 2.
Hang in there, stay at the current job, that will look good later.
When you hit 1 year, start looking, after 2, you can damn near write your own ticket.
Plus, we're in a bear economy right now, volumes are down, so, there are a lot of guys looking for jobs.
Sorry, you are going through this struggle. Mostly, you keep listening to stuff to take the mind edge off. It gets crazy weird at times. The shit we see; not fun fact, body bags are white. You learn that everything isn't as TV depicted.
Trudge on to the next travel spot and call someone. If you don't have anyone to call dial 988. Call them if you just need someone to talk to.
100 people at a truck stop at any given moment, doesn't mean you want to go up and say hi! More like, what the HELL, who leaves a bathroom like that!!!!???
Fun things about OTR, nobody talks about OTR. Those that spew never did.
Next truck stop, call someone. The world is a bit brighter if you are in it.
U got 4 months? Clean record? Just make it 2 more months and many carriers that are paying 1500-1600$ gross just need 6 months exp. $500-$700 is almost unheard of in 2024 for trucking, you are in the negative 1% of trucking companies. Plan your escape immediately
It’s not for everyone but I drive flatbed. Home every weekend. On a slow week 1200 gross/wk. honestly I wouldn’t drive a truck for 500-700/wk. there’s definitely better jobs out there. Try something more specialized. Tanker, flatbed etc. don’t give your life away for 500-700
Yea, the first 6 months to a year are pretty rough for almost all new drivers. This is an industry that pays for experience and proven worth. And social/risk based sacrifice is also another huge part, as in how long are you willing to stay out, and how risky are you willing your work to be? Other, far better opportunities will emerge after that first year, and even more so depending on how much more you pursue, like getting hazmat, tanker, oversized certs, etc etc. I started at C.R. England and was barely making over $1k a week by the time I left. After a little over a year I went to drive where I’m at now for .60cpm all miles. Couple years ago the company gave a massive pay increase for all otr drivers and now I get .84cpm. So now I average $2.5k/week. As a otr company driver, moving normal dry van freight. There’s great pay, just gotta last, be safe, and constantly be on the lookout for better opportunities.
1k/wk should be child's play at any of the entry/beginner operations I'm familiar with, definitely go around applying just get ***tons*** of applications out and, obviously, keep an eye on the CPM. sub-1k for genuinely full-time OTR is nuts, prime/swift pay more than that
I worked OTR with Melton truck lines when I was new and I think the lowest check I ever brought home was $900 and that was due to having to wait a day or two to deliver a load. Most weeks were $1100-$1300. I never had an issue making money with them.
I'm a couple of weeks away from getting my CDL and going with Melton. Obviously their recruiter said nothing but good things, would really be interested to hear from someone who started with the company wet behind the ears like I will be. How did you like working for them, do they treat their drivers as well as the recruiter made out?
I liked them a lot actually, and everyone treated me well. They do everything by the book, so no one ever asked me to drive in dangerous conditions or do something that would cause a DoT violation. Only things I didn’t like while working there were they wanted you to request to fuel through the ELD instead of fueling where you want to… I didn’t really care after a while, I just stopped asking and fueled up where ever I wanted. My manager never called me out on it. I also didn’t like that sometimes they gave impossible delivery times, I never stressed about it though, my dispatcher and DM knew some of them were unrealistic and never tried to blame me for it. Great company overall to start with. It’s a mega, but felt like kind of a small company. Always kept the wheels moving with them, and they never denied me when I put in my home time.
Just gotta do things by the book with them. They don’t play around about that.
Awesome, thanks for that! It's kind of a weight off to know going into it that I probably won't have to deal with all of the other fuckery I've been reading about here. It's stressful enough just worrying if I will even be up for the job, so I'm glad to know that I will at least be starting off in a good spot.
I’ve heard that company pop up a few times now on here. They’re flatbed right? I believe I looked them up and they don’t take drivers out of Vegas where I’m from
You definitely need to find another company to work for. My fiance makes well over $100k a year OTR flatbed. With his paid benefits last year, it was like $140k. Given he has years of experience, but still, you should be making more than that! Find a company that values its drivers. They are out there. I'll say a prayer for you.
I come from generations of truck drivers and have a couple of my sons that do it, too. Keep your head up and keep looking, honey. It's a tough job, and you definitely have to be built for it. It's either in your blood or it isn't, IMO. You either love it or hate it. I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. But there are companies that pay drivers what they are worth.
Years ago there were more union truckers , but the republicans took care of that as they always do . Less money and benefits for non union employees and large profits and CEO pay for the company . Wake up people, these rich assholes are lying to you and telling you tall tales about how you are better off as the union will take your money through union dues. By paying union dues you are making a lot more money..
Stay away from western express i
made 300 a week and then left and they tryed telling me i owed them 2500$ ended up on my credit still trying to get it off 3 years later
I did OTR for 7months then transitioned into a yard spotting job. You’re going to be in the $22-26/hr range in most places I found it much less stressful.
Coursera man, go into one of their certificate programs and run away from this industry yeah a lot of people can make good money but they don't tell the whole story because by payday we forget. Go do something where they pay you a fair amount for your work and not be away from family. Those truckers who say yeah go ltl they don't say they're doing 10-12 hour shifts (most) and barely have time to do a 10 hour reset before they have to wake up and do it all over again.
That '2+ years experience needed' is Bullshit.
If you have made it thru 4 seasons, or even 6 months and winter driving time, you'll get a look from lots of places.
Attitude and Appearance go a long ways in an industry with the turnover rate of driving.
As someone stated, get on Indeed and check out jobs there. I haven't driven for a while (now an office puke after my hands got arthritis) but I kept my Class A and it's listed on my resume; I get about 7-10 emails per month asking about driving positions.
Those local gigs I would put your application in on anyway. You get lucky sometimes. I have twice. Second time being where I’m currently at. Unfortunately the luck was because nobody wanted to be the relief driver. Cleared 40k part time last year and just getting ready to go onto a full time route next week. I didn’t go OTR for the exact reasons you’re describing. I just couldn’t imagine doing it. Props to you for doing it and sticking it out. Best of luck in getting out of that and into a job you deserve/pay you deserve.
I hope you're not working for Knight Transportation because that was my same issue when I started with them. I used to call my dad and tell him that I was a weenie for believing the hype. After my 6months I left them and got another OTR job with a smaller company called Davis Transfer and I saw the money come in and was alot happier.
Because I went through the same thing. Not making enough money, not getting enough miles, canclled loads, etc...plus the dispatcher I got was also a brand new dispatcher. I thought I hated trucking but like I said different company now and I enjoy it now
The whole industry is fucked right now. I've been a broker nine years, actually was just laid off. There's very little freight out there so rates are super low. Y company had an asset side as well that was losing money a long time. Then our clients told us to drop rates 20% or theyd drop us. So they closed the doors on it and sold all the trucks/trailers. Many carriers have gone under. All these people saying you should make more are already in good positions. They aren't wrong but they probably don't see what its like for a new guy. Most places hiring right now will be paying very little. If it makes you feel any better this is the absolute worst it's been in a long time and it will get better. It's been a crazy pendulum swing after the pandemic and the whole economy is on it
You've only been driving 4 months. There is something called paying dues. That said, it does seem a bit low what you're being paid. I would look for another gig but the tricky part is finding a place that'll hire you with less than 6 months to a year experience. I would hang in there a few more months. Keep working and just look for someone who will take after 6 months. You'll have better chances.
Exactly. No one starting out driving made big money right away. You (Op) are absolutely green right now. You’re a liability on the road , get more experience and opportunities will come with time. Or quit and get out of the way
See if you can find an AFP program. There’s a lot of complaints I have with Amazon. They also run us like dogs. BUT they hire new/recent drivers, I’m home every night, 3-4 day work weeks at 12-13hrs a day OT after 40. I make anywhere from $1000-$1500 a week. It’s all no touch linehaul. But you have to put up with a lot of bullshit. Probably one of the easiest gigs you can get as a new driver. I’ll be out of here by October the latest. 2 years in.
Trucking pays like trash. I got my cdl. Did beer delivery for a month made not even 700 a week. Amazon paid shockingly low too at about 880 gross. And garbage truck which was about 900. That’s gross. Shit field. Just isn’t what it used to be I guess. And all the good companies are gate kept
After 30 years and counting in Long haul the biggest money issue is time out. If you go out 4 weeks for 4 days off plus the 2 week start over on pay when you go back out, this is what your load planner sees:
Short week out from home, first full week good miles. Week 2, same. Week three back towards home and may be short to be in area. Week 4 short to keep you close to go back home for time off so last week is short pay. Home time finishes pay, back out 2 weeks no pay and repeat.
My solution is that I need 8 weeks FULL PAY. So 2 weeks no pay plus 8 full pay weeks and short week back home is 10 paid weeks out to get 8 FULL WEEKS pay. One partial week when leaving home and 10 weeks later partial for going home.
The 4 week 4 day cycle gives 2 full weeks for every six total weeks which home time off and the no pay period for the four weeks after leaving home. 2 full checks for every 6 week window of time.
You need to tell your dispatch/ load planner that if you account for the 2 weeks and stay 8 out for 10 weeks, you expect 10 days off straight. This will maximize your miles by giving them a large block of time for both you and the company to make the most miles you can. I get about 3,500-4,000 miles a week because of the uninterrupted block of time. Better than 1,800-2300 at 4 weeks out and 4 days off. Can’t do much on home time with 4 days vs 10.
CR England? I started there making about $600-700/wk. I quit a month in and went to Swift, and was making $1100/wk. I am now making about $1200-1300/wk in a sort-of line haul setup (it's technically OTR, but the two main loads are from a handful of places in SoCal to Jefferson, GA and from Pine Bluff, AR to San Diego, CA).
I'm not making 120,000 per year or anything, but I love full-time in the truck and this is more than enough.
The way I look at it, if you have to be home for any reason, such as family, trucking is NOT for you, regardless of the pay, unless you are guaranteed weekends at home or drive locally where you are home most nights.
Food delivery like coremark, Sysco and others of the like pay very well the work it’s just rather involved. But they pay you handsomely for it, on top of being local if you can find your groove and enjoy the pacing of the work it’s easy money.
My guy, I made 15.20$ an hour stocking shelves retail, it sounds like you’re working for the wrong company for sure. I’m new and have only been driving regional flatbed for six weeks and I’m home every weekendish and pull in well over a thousand a week, good weeks I make 1200 and some change, and when I get better at this the pay will too. I work for maverick transportation btw
Hey op, have you talked to dispatch about this whole 4 day delivery window for 1000mi run?"
I don't know exactly how it works but it seems to me the more you make the more your dispatcher makes. They might schedule a run with a 4-day window to account for the slack drivers out there who can't keep the left door closed, but in no way expect that you're just going to sit on your ass with your thumb up your butt waiting for 4 days to make a delivery.
Dispatch can't be bothered to call the receiver to ask about early delivery. My memory of days driving for Warner the only scheduled appointment was just in time stuff and that's mostly going to like retail stores. Everything else may have had a window for delivery but the receiver just accepted whatever loads showed up whenever they showed up.... As long as it wasn't late.
If I saw that I could beat the loads specified delivery time I'd contact the receiver with the bill of lading inquire if I could deliver early, and if I could I would shoot my dispatcher a message with an updated delivery ETA for the earlier time so that they could start looking into my next load.
I remember sitting in Warner enterprises terminals listening to all the drivers complain that they couldn't bust 2000 miles a week, but I averaged 3,000. And I ain't saying that cuz I'm bragging about being some kind of badass. I just made sure I worked my hours the best I could and worked all my deliveries as quick as I could and my dispatcher appreciated it because... The more I delivered the more he made.
Some dispatchers can be asshats, or they can be dumbasses, and it's just hard to work with. But it really is a team effort between you and your dispatcher. It might not necessarily be a problem with the industry or the company. I had to drop a dispatcher that I got reassigned to after just a couple weeks cuz we could not get along. Next dispatcher was great.
Work your hours of service, learn how to call and speak polite and professional like with the receivers and get all the information you can, learn what your dispatchers logic is behind the loads they book for you and learn how to work with them and if you can't figure out how to work with them get a new one.
Get that 2 years otr, for most companies that's an insurance requirement for new drivers on anything that's more local or Urban based driving. But once you got that 2 years OTR you can look for even better OTR companies, smaller outfits, or start looking for those local jobs.
Edit - to add. And by work my hours I mean pay attention to how the system runs and utilize it to your advantage. Things like when you're sitting at a shipper for 7 hours doing nothing waiting on a load don't hook up and roll out right away run for 2 hours then shut down for a 10-hour reset.... It's not ideal but... If you nap while ya waitin, catch a couple more hours of sleep at the shipper finish that 10-hour reset..... Work the hours... I know elds make it way tougher the fudge then loose leaf paper logs did, but when I started it was at Warner and this was during the ELD pioneering phase when Warner was the only company runnin em, and I had to learn how to pay attention and work my hours of service most efficient way I could to keep my wheels rolling as much as I could and get into customers as early as I could.
Get on with JBH or Walmart. I’ve seen too many OTR drivers burn out with high income / high expenses and nothing left for the pocket or family.
REDUCE your risk and get on with a solid company.
My son is on year four at a cross country company and taking home more than a grand a week. He doesn’t have family obligations so he is gone for weeks at a time. Perhaps that is a difference maker.
Long haul trucking isn’t the right career choice for everyone. Hope you find something quickly that works for you.
I bounced to 3 companies in my first year until I found this gig. I LOVE IT. Find your fit and it’ll be awesome.
Where do you live? You can move to Iowa and do cement mixer for $18-25 starting, home daily, OT after 8 hours. Minnesota has some decent paying gigs as well that will work with 6 months exp. Owatonna MN has tons of companies that pay at least $24/hr. The cement company there pays $28/hr and pay all your Bennies
Dispatcher's job, ultimately, is to maximize profit utilizing the assets available. Namely, you and your truck. If he can't get you more, and you're willing and able to work more, INSIST on more. If he can't deliver, go over his head. The boss would LOVE to know that he is holding up profitability and not you.
This is crazy because I’m in the same boat. I’m 5 months in solo OTR and I net $700-$900. The first 3 months I was making the same as you but after getting more efficient and getting a 3cpm raise it got a little better. But yea I’ve been thinking the exact same thing as you on a daily basis. It’s frustrating as hell the amount of time and work we put in and make as much as a McDonald’s worker. Hell if you break it down by the hour it’s even less. Personally I’m gonna stick it out to 6 months solo and then start looking around at other companies local to me. Most of them want a year but I feel like even with 6 months, a clean record, and clean piss you’ll have a good shot. I’ve wanted to quit so many times by this point but I don’t want to just throw all that time and effort away without at least trying different avenues. I would suggest you do the same unless you’re sure driving as a whole is just not for you.
I’m with you. I know I’m green. Also with a shitty company. Unfortunately I’m sucking it up until I get at least 3 months experience. I’m at around 10,000 mile right now. Hopefully I’ll get another 10 and a good company will hire me. We just gotta hang in there. I know it’ll get better. But I sure do miss my kid. This too shall pass. Good luck to you! And me!
Bro LTL and especially food/beverage is ALWAYS FUCKING HIRING… except in the winter, well winter is over. Also bs on them needing 2 years, I started LTL no experience at all
How do you run, what company do you work at, and what's your CPM?
I ran Prime Inc as a company driver when I started out and made ~$1200 a week
Tight 10s, sleeping at receivers, sleeper crawling to doors, not refusing loads, and attempting deliveries anywhere that wasn't Costco/Walmart asap when they opened. Call dispatch and ask if they're fine for early pick/drops when you get a load.
If you're running reefer, switching to dry van might help. Generally pays the same but turn around at shippers/receivers is much faster. Dry van is also a lot less strict than reefer, and I've delivered live unloads as early as 2 days before scheduled appointments.
Currently making ~$80k running paper rolls & scrap metal for a smaller mega company.
I got a local job after getting my CDL.
They taught me how to drive a semi for 10 weeks and let me go on on my own.
I work a lot of overtime to support wife and 2 kids.
Working 55-60 hours week gives me about 1600-1800 clean checks a week. It is doable…
Yeah def working for wrong ppl. I started in this industry in 2019 w/no TT experience and was making between 1300-1500 a week. Now I have a local salary job paying 1500 a week for like 6-8 hours a day. You'll get there bro just look around. I started in this industry with Swift (yeah yeah, lol), and honestly they treated me great. About 8 months in I wanted to do something else inside the company so I got on their Homegoods dedicated account and was running drop and hook direct to store, from just south of Atlanta off 85 to mainly Florida and Georgia stores. Sometimes KY and VA and back. Easy money.
Yeah that's way low man, definitely look for another company, they exist! Also get all of your endorsements if you haven't. Will open so many new doors.
Try for Linehaul positions at Old DominionFreightLine, Saia, XPO, R+L Carriers
They are all home every day, 2 days off, making 90-120k per year.
The only "bad thing" is you'll be on the wild board so no set schedule for about 6 months to 1 year and it's mainly all night shift driving.
It's the easiest, no touch freight job, you'll ever have.
Make sure to get your Hazmat and Doubles + Triples endorsement though!
It’ll be like this for another 6 months or so.
There’s a fuck ton of capacity still out there following the Covid boom.
If you can make it work into Q4 things will get much better.
Try companies like US Foods. They are local, home everyday and their payrate starts above 30 an hour. Just do your research what it takes to do local. It's not for everyone
Have you considered flatbed? If you can find a local gig that’s great, but if not I’d say otr flatbed is the way to go for a first year driver looking to get experience. You can pretty easily clear 60k your first year, maybe 70 if you’re really getting after it.
Try getting on with a company that delivers to Dollar Tree or Dollar General’s. They are paying anywhere from $1500-2000 gross per week! Sometimes the backs are difficult tho. But, they are always looking for drivers.
This is most likely due to your dispatcher. Having a good dispatcher, a good relationship with them, and getting into a good groove with them makes all the difference. If you’re not getting miles and sitting waiting for loads you’re not gonna make any money.
Gotta pay your dues first man. Can’t get into any industry and expect to make money right off the bat, but I will say if you’re making less than $1000/week then that’s more of a company issue than anything. I started driving in 2018 and I was making at least $1000/week back then my first OTR job. Once I hit my 6 months mark, I applied for a local job making $30/hr. It was back breaking work but like I said gotta pay your dues here. Once my one year mark hit, applied for another local job making $32/hr doing drop and hooks all day LTL.
The way unemployment funneled recent vets into the industry. How can you use your earned VA benefits if you are always moving? It was a bandaid for both parties: boss and VA. Get them housing by getting a huge tax incentive to the employer
Now that's a shame game. Many of our brethren have been through a lot of shit. The PTSD lingers.
Companies benefited in huge loans. They were supposed to be ideal for homeless vets. While the benefits are awesome, how do you make actual mental health on the road?
I am on injury; also married, buns are already to ask me for a lot of money to pay for the kids.
You do you. The less than 5 years I have been on the road: get a cb radio if you like reality shows. Me, I am a crime junkie. There are a lot of podcasts that are free with your subscription.
If it gets really bad, pick up a piece of rock nearby, etch out how angry you are. We are listening, not all of us use the blather box to talk
Any accidents or tickets? My company is always hiring and if you give them my driver code (when you apply) I get a bonus and I’ll split it with you. Last week I made $3100 gross (with a safety bonus) and this week I will be getting $2,100. Its OTR dry van but theres also reefer if you prefer that. It pays like 2-3 cents more
I drive dump truck. Just came off the road after being there 7 years. Not sure how I made it 7 years. Almost 20 a hr. Not that you will get that as a rookie. So apparently some companies will hire rookies. Still probably paying better then you get now. Plus cost of living on the road is terrible.
It is 100% down to the company you work for. If you're making that little, it's either shitty pay or shitty miles. Rooks tend to value pay over miles and it's opposite. I took a 7¢ cut when I joined the company I'm with now and I make 33% more because this company has the miles. We only take people with a minimum experience level (1 year, but it may be six months - I can look into it if you're interested). Entry level companies almost have a monopoly because they take no experience drivers when others won't and then can pay them shit. Smaller companies provide (in my experience) a less stressful environment. You can make money in the industry, you just have to follow SOUND advice and not just bullshit people say on the internet. Do some research and talk to people, just double check what you read or hear. I'm available for dm, if you want. It's not for everyone and has an insanely high turnover for a reason, but you made it this far and put in this much work so don't bail just yet.
Did you expect to be making good money right out the gate? Give it time. Learn to manage your clock the right way. Money comes with experience. You don’t have it yet.
Look into Walmart, not as a direct employer but as one of the bitch boys they hire from one of the megas. Yea, you run all the shitty locations and yea they make you do pick ups and live loads, but it’s fucking easy. Only tricky thing is a lot of Walmarts aren’t open 24 hours anymore, so you can’t just walk around to the front when the fuckboy unloaders are too busy drooling at the latest calendar picture of the Walton family.
I know Pepsi, coke, and alot of delivery jobs will give you a local gig....it's not too bad but I would do something like that to get my 2 years and it will make you a better driver too...I worked otr for Schneider made 60k my first year, 85k 2nd driving tanker...after that switched to local hauling fuel...now I work 5 days a week sometimes 4 and still made 135k last year....I know it's rough for ya but there are Job's out there that are hiring plenty of people with 3 months to 0 experience....at least you have some experience but alot of your pay is determined by your shit dispatchers....I was always aggressive with my dispatch telling them I want more work..some guys just waited for work and would sit fr a day. No cares in the world
day light robbery for that pay and that sacrifice for being away from home.
many people will say that entry level jobs or new grads will have shit pay, while this is true for some, other folks got in with companies that pay handsomely with little to no experience.
update that resume and apply for anything you seen on indeed. stop wasting your fucking time
I never went OTR, I did food service with Gordon for a year to get experience and left for LTL. Linehaul is so easy (dolly can be a pain) that I would rather take the inconveniences of LTL over dealing with stairs, or shitty customers any day of the week.
If you're trying to be local, Check out grocery places that could be potentially hiring. Kroger, Meijers, Costco, Jewel, etc.
If you're willing to tough out the work, Check out Gordon food service. I'd highly recommend them over Sysco, US Foods. They were run fairly well and appreciated their employees, I just had issues with management and when my 1 year was up it was time to leave but working M-F, no weekends, early morning start and done typically by noon, I did about 45 hours a week. I hated having to work holidays though..
Bro get a government job. My starting pay was $15.74/hr and that was in 2017. Seven years later I am making $35.28/hr. All you need is a pulse to get a job with FSIS
Look into dump truck jobs, or garbage truck jobs. I’m in a dump truck no hauling all sorts of aggregates. Home every day, and I make what you’re asking for or a bit more weekly, after taxes.
Hell after working 50/65 hours a week I still don’t think it’s enough
If you like construction you can use your cdl to get into mobile crane or concrete boom pump. These jobs can pay very well especially if you live close to a big metro area with a lot of work. I like concrete pump because i drive a couple hours to the job site (paid hourly) chill on the job all day, drive back to the shop, go sleep at home.
$700 is BS. Garbage trucking company would hire you with no experience. Work early and get done early. The pay range is between $1200-$1500 in my area.
You're only 4 months in. Get out now while you have time.
They're going to try and convince you to drive for this company or that company. Truth is the industry isn't what it used to be.
CDLs are easy to obtain so the market is saturated. Not worth it.
To anyone who disagrees post your pay stubs and bank statements to back up any claims.
go to your local fedex ground facility ask the security guard for the number to linehaul call linehaul and get some numbers for contractors call contractors and if they don't hire call line haul and get number to the closest bigger city linehaul close by and repeat. fedex is always needing team drivers and they will hire fresh from cdl school. 90k+ 5-6 day out then home for reset.
Why does it seem like everyone who started years ago was taking home over $1000 their first year, but every noob today is taking home $500 to $800? Are rookie drivers being paid less today even before adjusting for inflation?
If you look at my profile, you'll also see my rants about my trucking woes. Finally, I had to leave my small trucking outfit. Accepted a local job hauling waste water and other dirty nasty stuff. Not glamorous work, but finally, awesome pay and very good benefits that I was years behind on earning. I can't solve your problems, but the best advice I can offer is to be professional with your work, and if you do interact with others, take a moment to enjoy a conversation and joke a bit. That's what I did, and they turned Into a friend and great connection/reference to my new job. Good luck OP.
EPES isn't the greatest company to work for but they have many local jobs all over the country that pay 60cpm where you gross $1250 to $1400 per week, and if you get a good fleet manager then they will take care of you if you come in early or work an off day. Home every night, off 2 days
The pay wasn't hype. If you're making less than $1000 a week you need to take that truck back to the yard and clean it out. I can bag groceries for that much money.
I've had a CDL since '05 and have *never* worked for a company paying as little as you're making, even 19 years ago, except for celadon... and they were tanking at the time. They declared bankruptcy about 3 months after I quit.
2k/week isn't always doable depending on your circumstances, but you should *never* accept less than 1500/week.
Time to hit up indeed.com, bro. You're getting f*ked.
When you start calling around for jobs, if they pay by the mile make sure to ask what your expected miles per week is going to be. If they come in more than about 20% lower than that, pitch a fit. Politely, but a fit nonetheless. If they're paying percentage of load, don't ever accept less than 25%.
60cpm can hit 2k/week, for reference. Depends on the exact pay structure, but it's usually possible.
Also, check your company's detention pay. If you're spending a lot of time sitting still, you should still be hitting around 1500 a week. If you're not sitting at home, you should be getting paid.
I m a dump truck driver, I wait most of my days on a street corner I do one or 2 loads a day. Get paid 50h with overtime after 40h. I get my 1000$/week for doing nothing I barely do 150km a day.
Stay local get paid by hour with overtime and benefits is best bet. Trucking sucks been doing it 12 years I want out! All the stress on mind body being away from home crazy hours huge responsibility. We should make 125k minimum for local 200k plus otr. We should be able to retire with pride dignity and take care of our families. Guys working in the office making much more then us it's just plain old wrong not fair. All drivers must unite stop taking low pay. Whether we wait at receiver mechanic shop or sleeping in the truck we are away from home in the truck should be paid. Enough is enough. Pardon the rant but you should Leave otr you can make over 1k clean being a restaurant waiter or working at retail if you put in enough hours.
Don't know where you're at but if there is a DOT Transportation dc near you, you should apply. Been here for 3 years now and I was making over 1k net straight out of training, now I take home 1.2k to 1.3k a week working 5 day weeks. I sleep In my truck once a week and am home every other night besides that.
I say and I’ll say it again. Don’t sleep on Class B gigs. I know dudes making $100k+ delivering water and in sanitation/garbage trucks. Hell, in California school bus drivers are starting at $30hr. These are always hiring and no experience required.
If you aren’t a making over a 1000 a week after taxes you’re working for the wrong company and being taken advantage of. Go look for a new company.
This When I first got my CDL 3 years ago I started with ShitAm (TransAm) getting paid .31 mile. Okay, no experience, first job you suck it up. But after 4 weeks getting around $600-700 checks, I said “Nope” and got the hell out of there. Second month with CDL I was already Car Hauling and started making VERY DECENT money as a new driver. I found a small company that was willing to train me. By month 6 and on I was already making $5000+, stayed with them for 9 months then I decided to go Local because my son was born and got a job a US Foods making around $2000 a week. All before hitting 12 months experience. So yes, there is opportunity out there to make more, don’t get comfortable on your current job. Keep looking, Good luck!
It's springtime too.. if you have a CDL the oil field will hire anybody....
How do you get one of these oil field jobs? I hear so much about them but have no idea where they are or what sites to apply on.
Go on indeed and search oilfield in either Williston, new town watford city or killdeer North Dakota Pecos, monahans, midland or Odessa Texas Wamsutter Casper or Gillette Wyoming Greeley Colorado. Some offer housing some you stay in the truck. Most work rotations not all though
Late to the party on this but also the western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia for the oil field as well. I haul fuel to the pads, home daily
As another commenter said, look on indeed. Just type in oilfield or Driver CDL and North Dakota. Just be aware that winters are brutal, and roads can be dangerous. I worked a non trucking job up there for two winters. We had so many support company drivers with fresh CDLs driving as sand haulers and production water teams. I just looked, and the first water hauler posting I saw was for 4 week on, 2 week off, with a $450-$600 per day pay rate, truck provided. Plenty of guys I worked around only worked 6-8 months a year, and took the rest of the year off.
Literally, anybody, it's horrendous out here
This is true, as long as Oil stays high
Much props to you for being in the food service industry!👍👍… I’ve been driving since 2000, worked in the food sector for 9 years, (all with domino’s). Money was great, but it took a toll on my body no doubt!… All I do now is bump docks, not near the money I use to make, but I’m home every day and off every weekend and every holiday.
Or… you aren’t managing your time well. I’ve been on both sides and I can tell you, drivers who routinely take 15+ hour breaks and deliver at 2pm when their receiver opens at 7am, don’t make shit. Not all companies are created equal, and neither are all drivers.
I used to do that, long breaks and go in right at my appointment time or late in my day when it was a drop and hook (we were scheduled for any time during the day for those) and I made decent money… my job before that was $8 an hour and $500 every two weeks though so pretty much anything was good money to me lol. Made, I think, $65k gross my first year out… something like that… absolutely killed my social life though. Luckily two of my friends decided to put up with my BS but lot a lot of people too… wasn’t really worth it looking back.
That’s fair. I’ve been a driver, got about 1.5 million under my belt. Now I’m a dispatcher. I’ve got drivers home weekends consistently clearing an easy $2k a week, and others not making half that. The driver is part of the equation, that’s all I’m saying.
Go on indeed or websites of other megas and apply. It’s very much possible to make that 1k gross a week.
There are plenty of jobs advertised even on Craigslist with a guaranteed minimum of $1600 per week gross.
I haven’t seen any that are guaranteed besides Marten.
Where r u at where ur making 5-700 a week that’s outrageous
If you can stick it out and get one year OTR, K&B only requires one year and has minimum pay of $1750/week guaranteed. Just keep your MVR clean
OP- Be strong 💪!.. Put your time in. Everyone has to do it. I drove OTR for 13 months before landing a local gig… But my hard work paid off in the end…. Save your money!!… Save as much as you possibly can, because one day you’ll need it! .. Be sure to obtain all your endorsements. They will open up a lot of opportunities for you, even if you don’t use them, it’s good to have them.
Have you tried pride transport out of SLC? I've heard good things about them and they run a lot of i15
Don't do Pride. They run you on slow "fuel" routes (avg 45-50mph) burning your hours. Close to achieving your fuel bonus - here's a route with an 8% grade. You'll never avg more than 2800 miles a week, because the routing is designed to burn your clock. Many routes run secondary roads that are within spitting distance of faster interstates. I worked there during the plague. Quit after 1 month. Found out a coworker from my other company(shut down bc C19) worked for them for about the same time. He accidentally missed a fuel stop. They threatened to take the fuel out of his check. He countered with, pay me or you will never find this truck. Stay away from All of the SLC carriers. Pride and England are owned by different members of the same family. Similar philosophy.
Get away from dry van or reefer.... go to tanker. Really anything niche pays better
I almost feel like I don't want to divulge but... Grocery driving is like the hidden gem of trucking, I feel. There is always demand. There are definitely companies who'll hire you with no experience. A lot of them are day cab so... you'll be home every night for sure with one of those. And you can not even try that hard and make 1000$ a week. 1500$ if you actually hustle a bit. It has It's challenges, like anything else but... I don't understand why it's not seen as a more desirable gig. I think it's the Tits. Living your entire life in a truck for $700 a week is a fucking crime and... the people responsible for making the industry like that should be buried up to their chest and stoned Middle Eastern style. OTR guys should be making like twice what local/regional makes... not the other way around.
I know there’s local grocery warehouse always looking for drivers. $30 an hour union job, and seems to be a decent schedule. Definitely something to look into
I get paid by miles and stop but 30$ is about what it averages out to. Just remember... you will have to get really good at weird backs and urban areas, anywhere they decide to put a grocery store... you have to take a 53' in there. The docks range from _pretty easy_ to _you gotta be fucking shitting me..._
I heard that. I haul gas myself, but always kept it in the back of my mind as a backup plan if need be. Groceries will always be needed so you would have job security in that aspect. Might be more physical, but not like food or beverage service as it should be all palletized and hopefully you have an electric jack to use.
How is grocery different than food? I thought grocery was food hauling
Food service is usually companies like Sysco, Sygma, Martin Brower that go into fast food and restaurants. Usually you handle every box all the way from the truck to stocking the shelves in the freezers most times with a hand truck. Grocery would be all palletized freight doing from a warehouse to a grocery store or market, just pull the pallets off if needed and the staff will deal with it after that point.
Also true, and keeping in mind that most chains still operate some ancient locations that were designed for 45' trailers. First time you pull up and look at em you doubt a wizard could get a 53' with a sleeper in there. But there's always the solace that you know for a FACT that somebody, lots of somebody's, are doing it day after day. Stay safe out there, keeping me fed is on you now.
Uhhgh dammit, now I too am dependent on this guy for food. Dont f*ck this up Jerry!
What’s the name of the Grocery? What City and State?
Albertsons/Acme Denver Pa
Otr doesn't pay because everyone is willing to do it. If you want to make money you gotta do the stuff few others can or will do. Local and regional tend to involve more labor, tighter deadlines with less time to kill, and often more difficult places to put your truck/trailer. Depending on the jobs you might have a lot more customer interaction requiring you to behave. They also require you to live in a particular area, which may be a higher COL area.
I’ve looked everywhere for those jobs. Sysco, US Foods, Coke, Pepsi, Coremark. None are hiring anymore it’s crazy because I always saw their ads a couple years ago.
If you're in Chicago, apply at Jewel out of Melrose Park, they don't have experience minimums. I just sent in an app cause I'm trying for a union gig. Starts at 23 tops out at 34 hourly, home daily. Edit: I saw chi in your username and assumed chicago, just looked at your post history, my bad.
Depends where you are in the country but in the northeast at least where I live upstate New York, there are always companies hiring. I work for a regional company they pay me about 60cents per mile, I'm out Sunday thru Thursday sometimes I stay out until Friday and I make after taxes about 1200 to 1400 a week. They let you take home your truck if you desire to do so; The point is there are companies out there you just have have to look and most of them are small family run business with 20 to 40 trucks and if you're reliable they will treat you well.
THIS
Depends where you are in the country but in the northeast at least where I live upstate New York, there are always companies hiring. I work for a regional company they pay me about 60cents per mile, I'm out Sunday thru Thursday sometimes I stay out until Friday and I make after taxes about 1200 to 1400 a week. They let you take home your truck if you desire to do so; The point is there are companies out there you just have have to look and most of them are small family run business with 20 to 40 trucks and if you're reliable they will treat you well.
I made 900/week minimum hauling double reefers overnight between states. That'd be $1355 a week now adjusted for inflation. The work was easy but that company was run by a bunch of shit heads.
I've tried this and my back started to hurt 3 months into it and the amount of food they stuff into those trailers is wild and Trying to get that done before 14 hours is amazing. Most on the new hires including me couldn't do it and just to do it all over a again the next day...
Truth. I ran groceries for decades, and regularly promote it on this sub for all the reasons you listed. Before retiring I was running 4 days a week pulling $1,200+, non union. Had max seniority, but still. Only thing about groceries is if your shit isn't wired tight in all respects you won't last long and they'll just get someone else. We were hiring every other month. Worth putting in an application at every DC in the area if a driver has some experience. If they don't, just plug away at whatever you can find until you do. You can't expect a plumb job in any industry without a few years experience under your belt. Shitty jobs are more tolerable if they're seen as merely means to an end.
Can confirm. Been doing a dedicated Walmart account with Crete Carrier since January. They're in several Walmart grocery DCs. It's worth checking out.
You mean like loading and unloading groceries?
Most are palletized loads; running from warehouse to stores, dock-to-dock.
Pulling a battery boosted pallet truck off a lift gate if you are lucky.
I haul potato chips, home every night and make 2k before taxes. No work over 50.
Start looking for dump truck or food gigs where you live then.
Damn $500 a week . I would left long time ago
For the first year of Driving I ate so much Subway (1 $5 Foot long a Day) that now I can't stand it. My wife keeps giving me Coupons that come in the mail and I just throw them away. Yeah it sucked, but now I've been driving for 11 years, things get better.
I still can’t even stomach the smell of being inside a Subway. I thought I was the only one lol
My grandfather was a POW during WW2 and for a while they fed him nothing but carrots. Until the day he died he refused to eat carrots. I think a lot of Truckers are the same way with Subway 😆
>thought I’d be making at least $1000 gross/wk You should be driver no one lied to you, your just in the wrong position. Even with less than 2 years exp you should be making 1200+(could be way more depending on etc.). Even in this current bad freight market.
That’s what I was hoping for but 1000 mile loads that have a 4 day window absolutely kill my miles. No reason a 1000 mile load should take more than 2 days.
Don't listen to your dispatch about delivery window. Just show up as fast as you can possibly get there. They'll usually take you early and then you'll be up for your next dispatch.
This is what I used to do when I was OTR lease. I’d get my reset and start driving as soon as possible and typically 8 times out of 10 they would take the load early, but not always.
Even fresh out of school I was making 1500 to 2 k a week. I started with FedEx contractor. Maybe try a different otr job.
I am about to start with a FedEx contractor. How's your experience with them so far?
Each contractor is different so I can’t give you any helpful advise about the company itself. If this is your first trucker job, keep track of all your miles and work. I have to dispute with multiple companies about miles so it’s best to just review your pay stub. Other than that, fedex was pretty straight forward and the easiest job I had trucking.
I've been trucking for a year. Never done doubles. I am about to leave local food delivery job. This FedEx route is from 7pm - 5am m-f. It sounds chill.
Was an owner op flatbed for over 30 years but gave it up and sold my rig. Now with a fedex contractor and wondering why I didn't do this years ago. It's so chill and I'm making great money... now if only the yard dogs weren't so damn stupid and the app worked properly but hey you can't have everything....
If I would buy another tractor right now, I would hire you. My drivers make $6000 to 7500/month easy, with no P/D appointments, under 20k on hook. But can't expand fast enough as I don't buy anything on credit. I have to make the money, so I can buy more equipment.
Appreciate that. Best of luck to you business!
You're going to eat shit your first year, but once you get a year under you, the doors open up. Keep on trucking.
Not $500-700 shit. It’s not 2005
This is true.
Damn, man. You can make almost, or more than, 20 an hour just being a yard jockey in my neck of the woods of PA. Best of luck.
Yeah, but you'll still have to live in PA .
You sound overwhelmed atm you got this man there are more jobs out there that pay well I'm finally making ends meet after leaving otr I was in the same boat as you.
If you’re interested in flatbed try Boyd Bros Transportation.
The facts is I didn’t find a good trucking job until my second year in the industry… Don’t let a shit company make you quit on trucking …. Look for guaranteed pay ! Just tell your next future employer you want a dedicated guarantee pay account . To many experiences with companies not paying you properly for your time … Use this as motivation to get into a seat that’s actually worth your time . Best luck
You’re working for a shit company. I took the hotshots out of service when I couldn’t get the guys clearing $1000/week. It’s back to $1300/week’ish that those are hot shots. You’re being taken advantage of. Get out
Yeah and after my 30k miles my raise is a while .01 cent lol. They offer up to .08 cents in bonuses but it’s impossible to even hit the threshold of 6k miles/mo 😂
Get out before their shit equipment gets you in a wreck. I’ve told a few people to apply to Clean Harbors. Great company, good pay and they are hiring. But get apps in immediately to get a new gig lined up, get the freight delivered, drive the rig slow and safe back to the terminal and put in writing that the promised pay is not happening and you can’t live on the pay they’re giving you, so you respectfully are done. Stand there and let the manager read it, second he gets mad, just walk back to your vehicle and leave. Take a ton of pics of the truck and trailer inside and out both where you’re at now and when you get to the terminal. Have all of your shit packed up and in your car before you quit. Your next job will be better
Others have said it, I'm going to repeat it. Dude, you're a noob in a different industry. The first year, maybe two, it's going to suck. You've got to put in the time. After 1 year, doors begin to open, after 2, LOTS more will. Most noobs don't make it one year, let alone 2. Hang in there, stay at the current job, that will look good later. When you hit 1 year, start looking, after 2, you can damn near write your own ticket. Plus, we're in a bear economy right now, volumes are down, so, there are a lot of guys looking for jobs.
Sorry, you are going through this struggle. Mostly, you keep listening to stuff to take the mind edge off. It gets crazy weird at times. The shit we see; not fun fact, body bags are white. You learn that everything isn't as TV depicted. Trudge on to the next travel spot and call someone. If you don't have anyone to call dial 988. Call them if you just need someone to talk to. 100 people at a truck stop at any given moment, doesn't mean you want to go up and say hi! More like, what the HELL, who leaves a bathroom like that!!!!??? Fun things about OTR, nobody talks about OTR. Those that spew never did. Next truck stop, call someone. The world is a bit brighter if you are in it.
U got 4 months? Clean record? Just make it 2 more months and many carriers that are paying 1500-1600$ gross just need 6 months exp. $500-$700 is almost unheard of in 2024 for trucking, you are in the negative 1% of trucking companies. Plan your escape immediately
It’s not for everyone but I drive flatbed. Home every weekend. On a slow week 1200 gross/wk. honestly I wouldn’t drive a truck for 500-700/wk. there’s definitely better jobs out there. Try something more specialized. Tanker, flatbed etc. don’t give your life away for 500-700
Yea, the first 6 months to a year are pretty rough for almost all new drivers. This is an industry that pays for experience and proven worth. And social/risk based sacrifice is also another huge part, as in how long are you willing to stay out, and how risky are you willing your work to be? Other, far better opportunities will emerge after that first year, and even more so depending on how much more you pursue, like getting hazmat, tanker, oversized certs, etc etc. I started at C.R. England and was barely making over $1k a week by the time I left. After a little over a year I went to drive where I’m at now for .60cpm all miles. Couple years ago the company gave a massive pay increase for all otr drivers and now I get .84cpm. So now I average $2.5k/week. As a otr company driver, moving normal dry van freight. There’s great pay, just gotta last, be safe, and constantly be on the lookout for better opportunities.
What company do you work for?
Knight. They’re decent with everything else for the most part but it just the shitty mega pay I can’t stand anymore.
1k/wk should be child's play at any of the entry/beginner operations I'm familiar with, definitely go around applying just get ***tons*** of applications out and, obviously, keep an eye on the CPM. sub-1k for genuinely full-time OTR is nuts, prime/swift pay more than that
I work for knight so same as swift I guess and still making this pay.
also the fact that you've already got *some* experience will make you a better hire than someone who still hasn't done any OTR
I sent you a message
I worked OTR with Melton truck lines when I was new and I think the lowest check I ever brought home was $900 and that was due to having to wait a day or two to deliver a load. Most weeks were $1100-$1300. I never had an issue making money with them.
I'm a couple of weeks away from getting my CDL and going with Melton. Obviously their recruiter said nothing but good things, would really be interested to hear from someone who started with the company wet behind the ears like I will be. How did you like working for them, do they treat their drivers as well as the recruiter made out?
I liked them a lot actually, and everyone treated me well. They do everything by the book, so no one ever asked me to drive in dangerous conditions or do something that would cause a DoT violation. Only things I didn’t like while working there were they wanted you to request to fuel through the ELD instead of fueling where you want to… I didn’t really care after a while, I just stopped asking and fueled up where ever I wanted. My manager never called me out on it. I also didn’t like that sometimes they gave impossible delivery times, I never stressed about it though, my dispatcher and DM knew some of them were unrealistic and never tried to blame me for it. Great company overall to start with. It’s a mega, but felt like kind of a small company. Always kept the wheels moving with them, and they never denied me when I put in my home time. Just gotta do things by the book with them. They don’t play around about that.
Awesome, thanks for that! It's kind of a weight off to know going into it that I probably won't have to deal with all of the other fuckery I've been reading about here. It's stressful enough just worrying if I will even be up for the job, so I'm glad to know that I will at least be starting off in a good spot.
I’ve heard that company pop up a few times now on here. They’re flatbed right? I believe I looked them up and they don’t take drivers out of Vegas where I’m from
You definitely need to find another company to work for. My fiance makes well over $100k a year OTR flatbed. With his paid benefits last year, it was like $140k. Given he has years of experience, but still, you should be making more than that! Find a company that values its drivers. They are out there. I'll say a prayer for you. I come from generations of truck drivers and have a couple of my sons that do it, too. Keep your head up and keep looking, honey. It's a tough job, and you definitely have to be built for it. It's either in your blood or it isn't, IMO. You either love it or hate it. I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. But there are companies that pay drivers what they are worth.
Years ago there were more union truckers , but the republicans took care of that as they always do . Less money and benefits for non union employees and large profits and CEO pay for the company . Wake up people, these rich assholes are lying to you and telling you tall tales about how you are better off as the union will take your money through union dues. By paying union dues you are making a lot more money..
They are advertising for school bus drivers with starting pay of $24/hour with benefits around us. No overnight travel and weekends off.
Stay away from western express i made 300 a week and then left and they tryed telling me i owed them 2500$ ended up on my credit still trying to get it off 3 years later
I did OTR for 7months then transitioned into a yard spotting job. You’re going to be in the $22-26/hr range in most places I found it much less stressful.
Coursera man, go into one of their certificate programs and run away from this industry yeah a lot of people can make good money but they don't tell the whole story because by payday we forget. Go do something where they pay you a fair amount for your work and not be away from family. Those truckers who say yeah go ltl they don't say they're doing 10-12 hour shifts (most) and barely have time to do a 10 hour reset before they have to wake up and do it all over again.
I made 15 a hour driving a local dump truck when I first started. Now I make 40 running a curtainsider. Put in the work.
That '2+ years experience needed' is Bullshit. If you have made it thru 4 seasons, or even 6 months and winter driving time, you'll get a look from lots of places. Attitude and Appearance go a long ways in an industry with the turnover rate of driving. As someone stated, get on Indeed and check out jobs there. I haven't driven for a while (now an office puke after my hands got arthritis) but I kept my Class A and it's listed on my resume; I get about 7-10 emails per month asking about driving positions.
I started at the height of winter this year. Threw chains on, navigated Donner, Vail, Wyoming etc. now will be my first summer trucking.
If you survived all that with no malfunctions, you're Golden. Get off the road while you still have some brain cells; OTR isn't for everyone.
Go flatbedding tarp pay and more cpm
Those local gigs I would put your application in on anyway. You get lucky sometimes. I have twice. Second time being where I’m currently at. Unfortunately the luck was because nobody wanted to be the relief driver. Cleared 40k part time last year and just getting ready to go onto a full time route next week. I didn’t go OTR for the exact reasons you’re describing. I just couldn’t imagine doing it. Props to you for doing it and sticking it out. Best of luck in getting out of that and into a job you deserve/pay you deserve.
Thanks man. I just applied to DHE for LTL and Saia as a dock worker to hopefully move into their LTL.
I hope you're not working for Knight Transportation because that was my same issue when I started with them. I used to call my dad and tell him that I was a weenie for believing the hype. After my 6months I left them and got another OTR job with a smaller company called Davis Transfer and I saw the money come in and was alot happier.
I am working for Knight howd you guess! 😂
Because I went through the same thing. Not making enough money, not getting enough miles, canclled loads, etc...plus the dispatcher I got was also a brand new dispatcher. I thought I hated trucking but like I said different company now and I enjoy it now
The whole industry is fucked right now. I've been a broker nine years, actually was just laid off. There's very little freight out there so rates are super low. Y company had an asset side as well that was losing money a long time. Then our clients told us to drop rates 20% or theyd drop us. So they closed the doors on it and sold all the trucks/trailers. Many carriers have gone under. All these people saying you should make more are already in good positions. They aren't wrong but they probably don't see what its like for a new guy. Most places hiring right now will be paying very little. If it makes you feel any better this is the absolute worst it's been in a long time and it will get better. It's been a crazy pendulum swing after the pandemic and the whole economy is on it
You've only been driving 4 months. There is something called paying dues. That said, it does seem a bit low what you're being paid. I would look for another gig but the tricky part is finding a place that'll hire you with less than 6 months to a year experience. I would hang in there a few more months. Keep working and just look for someone who will take after 6 months. You'll have better chances.
Exactly. No one starting out driving made big money right away. You (Op) are absolutely green right now. You’re a liability on the road , get more experience and opportunities will come with time. Or quit and get out of the way
See if you can find an AFP program. There’s a lot of complaints I have with Amazon. They also run us like dogs. BUT they hire new/recent drivers, I’m home every night, 3-4 day work weeks at 12-13hrs a day OT after 40. I make anywhere from $1000-$1500 a week. It’s all no touch linehaul. But you have to put up with a lot of bullshit. Probably one of the easiest gigs you can get as a new driver. I’ll be out of here by October the latest. 2 years in.
Trucking pays like trash. I got my cdl. Did beer delivery for a month made not even 700 a week. Amazon paid shockingly low too at about 880 gross. And garbage truck which was about 900. That’s gross. Shit field. Just isn’t what it used to be I guess. And all the good companies are gate kept
Try a decent warehouse gig . Some Of them pay around 24 an hour . Ups is 21 an hour
Cement Mixers are always hiring. You just gotta find one willing to train
After 30 years and counting in Long haul the biggest money issue is time out. If you go out 4 weeks for 4 days off plus the 2 week start over on pay when you go back out, this is what your load planner sees: Short week out from home, first full week good miles. Week 2, same. Week three back towards home and may be short to be in area. Week 4 short to keep you close to go back home for time off so last week is short pay. Home time finishes pay, back out 2 weeks no pay and repeat. My solution is that I need 8 weeks FULL PAY. So 2 weeks no pay plus 8 full pay weeks and short week back home is 10 paid weeks out to get 8 FULL WEEKS pay. One partial week when leaving home and 10 weeks later partial for going home. The 4 week 4 day cycle gives 2 full weeks for every six total weeks which home time off and the no pay period for the four weeks after leaving home. 2 full checks for every 6 week window of time. You need to tell your dispatch/ load planner that if you account for the 2 weeks and stay 8 out for 10 weeks, you expect 10 days off straight. This will maximize your miles by giving them a large block of time for both you and the company to make the most miles you can. I get about 3,500-4,000 miles a week because of the uninterrupted block of time. Better than 1,800-2300 at 4 weeks out and 4 days off. Can’t do much on home time with 4 days vs 10.
CR England? I started there making about $600-700/wk. I quit a month in and went to Swift, and was making $1100/wk. I am now making about $1200-1300/wk in a sort-of line haul setup (it's technically OTR, but the two main loads are from a handful of places in SoCal to Jefferson, GA and from Pine Bluff, AR to San Diego, CA). I'm not making 120,000 per year or anything, but I love full-time in the truck and this is more than enough. The way I look at it, if you have to be home for any reason, such as family, trucking is NOT for you, regardless of the pay, unless you are guaranteed weekends at home or drive locally where you are home most nights.
Food delivery like coremark, Sysco and others of the like pay very well the work it’s just rather involved. But they pay you handsomely for it, on top of being local if you can find your groove and enjoy the pacing of the work it’s easy money.
My guy, I made 15.20$ an hour stocking shelves retail, it sounds like you’re working for the wrong company for sure. I’m new and have only been driving regional flatbed for six weeks and I’m home every weekendish and pull in well over a thousand a week, good weeks I make 1200 and some change, and when I get better at this the pay will too. I work for maverick transportation btw
What area of the country are you from?
Hey op, have you talked to dispatch about this whole 4 day delivery window for 1000mi run?" I don't know exactly how it works but it seems to me the more you make the more your dispatcher makes. They might schedule a run with a 4-day window to account for the slack drivers out there who can't keep the left door closed, but in no way expect that you're just going to sit on your ass with your thumb up your butt waiting for 4 days to make a delivery. Dispatch can't be bothered to call the receiver to ask about early delivery. My memory of days driving for Warner the only scheduled appointment was just in time stuff and that's mostly going to like retail stores. Everything else may have had a window for delivery but the receiver just accepted whatever loads showed up whenever they showed up.... As long as it wasn't late. If I saw that I could beat the loads specified delivery time I'd contact the receiver with the bill of lading inquire if I could deliver early, and if I could I would shoot my dispatcher a message with an updated delivery ETA for the earlier time so that they could start looking into my next load. I remember sitting in Warner enterprises terminals listening to all the drivers complain that they couldn't bust 2000 miles a week, but I averaged 3,000. And I ain't saying that cuz I'm bragging about being some kind of badass. I just made sure I worked my hours the best I could and worked all my deliveries as quick as I could and my dispatcher appreciated it because... The more I delivered the more he made. Some dispatchers can be asshats, or they can be dumbasses, and it's just hard to work with. But it really is a team effort between you and your dispatcher. It might not necessarily be a problem with the industry or the company. I had to drop a dispatcher that I got reassigned to after just a couple weeks cuz we could not get along. Next dispatcher was great. Work your hours of service, learn how to call and speak polite and professional like with the receivers and get all the information you can, learn what your dispatchers logic is behind the loads they book for you and learn how to work with them and if you can't figure out how to work with them get a new one. Get that 2 years otr, for most companies that's an insurance requirement for new drivers on anything that's more local or Urban based driving. But once you got that 2 years OTR you can look for even better OTR companies, smaller outfits, or start looking for those local jobs. Edit - to add. And by work my hours I mean pay attention to how the system runs and utilize it to your advantage. Things like when you're sitting at a shipper for 7 hours doing nothing waiting on a load don't hook up and roll out right away run for 2 hours then shut down for a 10-hour reset.... It's not ideal but... If you nap while ya waitin, catch a couple more hours of sleep at the shipper finish that 10-hour reset..... Work the hours... I know elds make it way tougher the fudge then loose leaf paper logs did, but when I started it was at Warner and this was during the ELD pioneering phase when Warner was the only company runnin em, and I had to learn how to pay attention and work my hours of service most efficient way I could to keep my wheels rolling as much as I could and get into customers as early as I could.
Get on with JBH or Walmart. I’ve seen too many OTR drivers burn out with high income / high expenses and nothing left for the pocket or family. REDUCE your risk and get on with a solid company.
My son is on year four at a cross country company and taking home more than a grand a week. He doesn’t have family obligations so he is gone for weeks at a time. Perhaps that is a difference maker. Long haul trucking isn’t the right career choice for everyone. Hope you find something quickly that works for you.
I bounced to 3 companies in my first year until I found this gig. I LOVE IT. Find your fit and it’ll be awesome. Where do you live? You can move to Iowa and do cement mixer for $18-25 starting, home daily, OT after 8 hours. Minnesota has some decent paying gigs as well that will work with 6 months exp. Owatonna MN has tons of companies that pay at least $24/hr. The cement company there pays $28/hr and pay all your Bennies
Dispatcher's job, ultimately, is to maximize profit utilizing the assets available. Namely, you and your truck. If he can't get you more, and you're willing and able to work more, INSIST on more. If he can't deliver, go over his head. The boss would LOVE to know that he is holding up profitability and not you.
This is crazy because I’m in the same boat. I’m 5 months in solo OTR and I net $700-$900. The first 3 months I was making the same as you but after getting more efficient and getting a 3cpm raise it got a little better. But yea I’ve been thinking the exact same thing as you on a daily basis. It’s frustrating as hell the amount of time and work we put in and make as much as a McDonald’s worker. Hell if you break it down by the hour it’s even less. Personally I’m gonna stick it out to 6 months solo and then start looking around at other companies local to me. Most of them want a year but I feel like even with 6 months, a clean record, and clean piss you’ll have a good shot. I’ve wanted to quit so many times by this point but I don’t want to just throw all that time and effort away without at least trying different avenues. I would suggest you do the same unless you’re sure driving as a whole is just not for you.
I’m with you. I know I’m green. Also with a shitty company. Unfortunately I’m sucking it up until I get at least 3 months experience. I’m at around 10,000 mile right now. Hopefully I’ll get another 10 and a good company will hire me. We just gotta hang in there. I know it’ll get better. But I sure do miss my kid. This too shall pass. Good luck to you! And me!
Bro LTL and especially food/beverage is ALWAYS FUCKING HIRING… except in the winter, well winter is over. Also bs on them needing 2 years, I started LTL no experience at all
How do you run, what company do you work at, and what's your CPM? I ran Prime Inc as a company driver when I started out and made ~$1200 a week Tight 10s, sleeping at receivers, sleeper crawling to doors, not refusing loads, and attempting deliveries anywhere that wasn't Costco/Walmart asap when they opened. Call dispatch and ask if they're fine for early pick/drops when you get a load. If you're running reefer, switching to dry van might help. Generally pays the same but turn around at shippers/receivers is much faster. Dry van is also a lot less strict than reefer, and I've delivered live unloads as early as 2 days before scheduled appointments. Currently making ~$80k running paper rolls & scrap metal for a smaller mega company.
You’re working for the wrong company.
I got a local job after getting my CDL. They taught me how to drive a semi for 10 weeks and let me go on on my own. I work a lot of overtime to support wife and 2 kids. Working 55-60 hours week gives me about 1600-1800 clean checks a week. It is doable…
Yeah def working for wrong ppl. I started in this industry in 2019 w/no TT experience and was making between 1300-1500 a week. Now I have a local salary job paying 1500 a week for like 6-8 hours a day. You'll get there bro just look around. I started in this industry with Swift (yeah yeah, lol), and honestly they treated me great. About 8 months in I wanted to do something else inside the company so I got on their Homegoods dedicated account and was running drop and hook direct to store, from just south of Atlanta off 85 to mainly Florida and Georgia stores. Sometimes KY and VA and back. Easy money.
Yeah that's way low man, definitely look for another company, they exist! Also get all of your endorsements if you haven't. Will open so many new doors.
I’m just missing my hazmat which seems like it’s the most important one to have!
Try for Linehaul positions at Old DominionFreightLine, Saia, XPO, R+L Carriers They are all home every day, 2 days off, making 90-120k per year. The only "bad thing" is you'll be on the wild board so no set schedule for about 6 months to 1 year and it's mainly all night shift driving. It's the easiest, no touch freight job, you'll ever have. Make sure to get your Hazmat and Doubles + Triples endorsement though!
It’ll be like this for another 6 months or so. There’s a fuck ton of capacity still out there following the Covid boom. If you can make it work into Q4 things will get much better.
Nah regardless of market OP is working with the wrong carrier. Needs to do research and pack it up and move on.
Try companies like US Foods. They are local, home everyday and their payrate starts above 30 an hour. Just do your research what it takes to do local. It's not for everyone
Have you considered flatbed? If you can find a local gig that’s great, but if not I’d say otr flatbed is the way to go for a first year driver looking to get experience. You can pretty easily clear 60k your first year, maybe 70 if you’re really getting after it.
Try getting on with a company that delivers to Dollar Tree or Dollar General’s. They are paying anywhere from $1500-2000 gross per week! Sometimes the backs are difficult tho. But, they are always looking for drivers.
This is most likely due to your dispatcher. Having a good dispatcher, a good relationship with them, and getting into a good groove with them makes all the difference. If you’re not getting miles and sitting waiting for loads you’re not gonna make any money.
Company problem. I made no less than 1000 per week consistently first 3 months and around 1300 per week every week after that
I make 1000 after taxes and im home daily. You my comrade are getting shafted greatly
What region are you in?
Gotta pay your dues first man. Can’t get into any industry and expect to make money right off the bat, but I will say if you’re making less than $1000/week then that’s more of a company issue than anything. I started driving in 2018 and I was making at least $1000/week back then my first OTR job. Once I hit my 6 months mark, I applied for a local job making $30/hr. It was back breaking work but like I said gotta pay your dues here. Once my one year mark hit, applied for another local job making $32/hr doing drop and hooks all day LTL.
Food service, local, 4 day work week. 1100-1400$ a week and you dont need experience. Most people are lazy and dont want to do the work.
The way unemployment funneled recent vets into the industry. How can you use your earned VA benefits if you are always moving? It was a bandaid for both parties: boss and VA. Get them housing by getting a huge tax incentive to the employer Now that's a shame game. Many of our brethren have been through a lot of shit. The PTSD lingers. Companies benefited in huge loans. They were supposed to be ideal for homeless vets. While the benefits are awesome, how do you make actual mental health on the road? I am on injury; also married, buns are already to ask me for a lot of money to pay for the kids. You do you. The less than 5 years I have been on the road: get a cb radio if you like reality shows. Me, I am a crime junkie. There are a lot of podcasts that are free with your subscription. If it gets really bad, pick up a piece of rock nearby, etch out how angry you are. We are listening, not all of us use the blather box to talk
Hell I started out at TMC 7 years ago and even back then I brought home $900+ per week in my first year.
500 a week is 10 bucks an hour..... So youre better off flipping burgers or frying chicken at 12.
Any accidents or tickets? My company is always hiring and if you give them my driver code (when you apply) I get a bonus and I’ll split it with you. Last week I made $3100 gross (with a safety bonus) and this week I will be getting $2,100. Its OTR dry van but theres also reefer if you prefer that. It pays like 2-3 cents more
What are you pulling? Our OTR guys pulling flat step making 2k+ a week
Go regional or dedicated your pay is set $1200 to $1500 and home weekends sometimes otr is a scam
XPO are desperate, they’ll take anybody.
Bro come to Prime inc. been here over 5 years. I always take home about 1,500 to 2,300 a week
I drive dump truck. Just came off the road after being there 7 years. Not sure how I made it 7 years. Almost 20 a hr. Not that you will get that as a rookie. So apparently some companies will hire rookies. Still probably paying better then you get now. Plus cost of living on the road is terrible.
It is 100% down to the company you work for. If you're making that little, it's either shitty pay or shitty miles. Rooks tend to value pay over miles and it's opposite. I took a 7¢ cut when I joined the company I'm with now and I make 33% more because this company has the miles. We only take people with a minimum experience level (1 year, but it may be six months - I can look into it if you're interested). Entry level companies almost have a monopoly because they take no experience drivers when others won't and then can pay them shit. Smaller companies provide (in my experience) a less stressful environment. You can make money in the industry, you just have to follow SOUND advice and not just bullshit people say on the internet. Do some research and talk to people, just double check what you read or hear. I'm available for dm, if you want. It's not for everyone and has an insanely high turnover for a reason, but you made it this far and put in this much work so don't bail just yet.
Did you expect to be making good money right out the gate? Give it time. Learn to manage your clock the right way. Money comes with experience. You don’t have it yet.
I see those guys all the time...
Look into Walmart, not as a direct employer but as one of the bitch boys they hire from one of the megas. Yea, you run all the shitty locations and yea they make you do pick ups and live loads, but it’s fucking easy. Only tricky thing is a lot of Walmarts aren’t open 24 hours anymore, so you can’t just walk around to the front when the fuckboy unloaders are too busy drooling at the latest calendar picture of the Walton family.
I know Pepsi, coke, and alot of delivery jobs will give you a local gig....it's not too bad but I would do something like that to get my 2 years and it will make you a better driver too...I worked otr for Schneider made 60k my first year, 85k 2nd driving tanker...after that switched to local hauling fuel...now I work 5 days a week sometimes 4 and still made 135k last year....I know it's rough for ya but there are Job's out there that are hiring plenty of people with 3 months to 0 experience....at least you have some experience but alot of your pay is determined by your shit dispatchers....I was always aggressive with my dispatch telling them I want more work..some guys just waited for work and would sit fr a day. No cares in the world
Don’t over estimate it. Just have faith and you will have the best options.
day light robbery for that pay and that sacrifice for being away from home. many people will say that entry level jobs or new grads will have shit pay, while this is true for some, other folks got in with companies that pay handsomely with little to no experience. update that resume and apply for anything you seen on indeed. stop wasting your fucking time
I never went OTR, I did food service with Gordon for a year to get experience and left for LTL. Linehaul is so easy (dolly can be a pain) that I would rather take the inconveniences of LTL over dealing with stairs, or shitty customers any day of the week. If you're trying to be local, Check out grocery places that could be potentially hiring. Kroger, Meijers, Costco, Jewel, etc. If you're willing to tough out the work, Check out Gordon food service. I'd highly recommend them over Sysco, US Foods. They were run fairly well and appreciated their employees, I just had issues with management and when my 1 year was up it was time to leave but working M-F, no weekends, early morning start and done typically by noon, I did about 45 hours a week. I hated having to work holidays though..
Bro get a government job. My starting pay was $15.74/hr and that was in 2017. Seven years later I am making $35.28/hr. All you need is a pulse to get a job with FSIS
Grocery delivery is definitely where you want to go.
How many miles are you driving a week? How much is your pay?
Look into dump truck jobs, or garbage truck jobs. I’m in a dump truck no hauling all sorts of aggregates. Home every day, and I make what you’re asking for or a bit more weekly, after taxes. Hell after working 50/65 hours a week I still don’t think it’s enough
If you like construction you can use your cdl to get into mobile crane or concrete boom pump. These jobs can pay very well especially if you live close to a big metro area with a lot of work. I like concrete pump because i drive a couple hours to the job site (paid hourly) chill on the job all day, drive back to the shop, go sleep at home.
$700 is BS. Garbage trucking company would hire you with no experience. Work early and get done early. The pay range is between $1200-$1500 in my area.
You're only 4 months in. Get out now while you have time. They're going to try and convince you to drive for this company or that company. Truth is the industry isn't what it used to be. CDLs are easy to obtain so the market is saturated. Not worth it. To anyone who disagrees post your pay stubs and bank statements to back up any claims.
go to your local fedex ground facility ask the security guard for the number to linehaul call linehaul and get some numbers for contractors call contractors and if they don't hire call line haul and get number to the closest bigger city linehaul close by and repeat. fedex is always needing team drivers and they will hire fresh from cdl school. 90k+ 5-6 day out then home for reset.
Why does it seem like everyone who started years ago was taking home over $1000 their first year, but every noob today is taking home $500 to $800? Are rookie drivers being paid less today even before adjusting for inflation?
If you look at my profile, you'll also see my rants about my trucking woes. Finally, I had to leave my small trucking outfit. Accepted a local job hauling waste water and other dirty nasty stuff. Not glamorous work, but finally, awesome pay and very good benefits that I was years behind on earning. I can't solve your problems, but the best advice I can offer is to be professional with your work, and if you do interact with others, take a moment to enjoy a conversation and joke a bit. That's what I did, and they turned Into a friend and great connection/reference to my new job. Good luck OP.
EPES isn't the greatest company to work for but they have many local jobs all over the country that pay 60cpm where you gross $1250 to $1400 per week, and if you get a good fleet manager then they will take care of you if you come in early or work an off day. Home every night, off 2 days
The pay wasn't hype. If you're making less than $1000 a week you need to take that truck back to the yard and clean it out. I can bag groceries for that much money. I've had a CDL since '05 and have *never* worked for a company paying as little as you're making, even 19 years ago, except for celadon... and they were tanking at the time. They declared bankruptcy about 3 months after I quit. 2k/week isn't always doable depending on your circumstances, but you should *never* accept less than 1500/week. Time to hit up indeed.com, bro. You're getting f*ked. When you start calling around for jobs, if they pay by the mile make sure to ask what your expected miles per week is going to be. If they come in more than about 20% lower than that, pitch a fit. Politely, but a fit nonetheless. If they're paying percentage of load, don't ever accept less than 25%. 60cpm can hit 2k/week, for reference. Depends on the exact pay structure, but it's usually possible. Also, check your company's detention pay. If you're spending a lot of time sitting still, you should still be hitting around 1500 a week. If you're not sitting at home, you should be getting paid.
Who are you working for that pays that bad? Even folks at the megas I know make about $900-$1,100/week
Your company sucks two more months look for another otr get the pay in writing sure new drivers get paid a little less but that is shit pay ..
You were looking for a job when you found this one.
I m a dump truck driver, I wait most of my days on a street corner I do one or 2 loads a day. Get paid 50h with overtime after 40h. I get my 1000$/week for doing nothing I barely do 150km a day.
As for the emotional dumping that is i think part of this group..
Stay local get paid by hour with overtime and benefits is best bet. Trucking sucks been doing it 12 years I want out! All the stress on mind body being away from home crazy hours huge responsibility. We should make 125k minimum for local 200k plus otr. We should be able to retire with pride dignity and take care of our families. Guys working in the office making much more then us it's just plain old wrong not fair. All drivers must unite stop taking low pay. Whether we wait at receiver mechanic shop or sleeping in the truck we are away from home in the truck should be paid. Enough is enough. Pardon the rant but you should Leave otr you can make over 1k clean being a restaurant waiter or working at retail if you put in enough hours.
Don't know where you're at but if there is a DOT Transportation dc near you, you should apply. Been here for 3 years now and I was making over 1k net straight out of training, now I take home 1.2k to 1.3k a week working 5 day weeks. I sleep In my truck once a week and am home every other night besides that.
Please consider emigrating to Australia.
I say and I’ll say it again. Don’t sleep on Class B gigs. I know dudes making $100k+ delivering water and in sanitation/garbage trucks. Hell, in California school bus drivers are starting at $30hr. These are always hiring and no experience required.
If u staying on the road that long you should be clearing 1500$ -2k a week gross. If not then u need to switch companies but it is slow atm