Becoming A Truck Driver:
Help, Stories, Advice, and Opinions

Recently in our trucker’s forum here at TruckingTruth there was a discussion about how to handle finances as an OTR truck driver. I decided to write on my blog about it, as everybody getting into truck driving should know what they are about to face. Finances on the road can be tough when first getting started, but hopefully this will provide you with a little insight on how to stay out of trouble.

Truck Drivers In Training

When first starting out in truck driving, you’ll probably begin with a weekly base salary. This pay can vary greatly from company to company. Some companies pay upwards of $500 per week for training pay, while others pay as little as $200 or so. But after all, it is paid training. Many other industries will not pay for you to get your certifications / training. Generally, training will last from 4 to 6 weeks, but maybe longer. So, if possible, it’s good to have some money saved up in the bank to help cover your bills at home, as well as any expenses on the road that you may come across. Try to set up a budget for yourself too, so you know exactly how much you can spend each week. A few hundred dollars per week wont get you far, so it’s best to be very frugal when you first get started.

After Your Training Is Over

After training is over, the vast majority of people who drive OTR will be paid based on how many miles are driven in a given week. This also varies greatly by company, but can be anywhere from 25 to 35 cents per mile when you first start, with raises after a given period of time or miles driven. Generally you will receive 2500 miles per week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. A lot depends on the economy, the time of year, and if you are experiencing any problems with your truck, which will land you in the shop for repairs. An honest estimate on first year income will be in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, leaning more towards $30,000. The reason there is such a range is because each company is going to be different. Some flatbed companies pay more than dry van companies, for example. But earning less than $30,000 or more than $40,000 in your first year is very unlikely. That is, unless you decide to lease or become an owner operator your first year, which I highly advise against (I’ll leave that for a future blog).

Your Biggest Expense

So, what is your biggest expense on the road? That is a very easy question to answer. Without a doubt, your biggest expense is food. It is very easy to rack up $30 or more in a single day eating food on the road. That comes out to over $200 per week, and over $10,000 per year! WOW!

There aren’t many places truck drivers can eat other than truck stops or restaurants that have truck parking. It’s pretty difficult to make a large variety of meals in the truck, and most drivers don’t have much time to prepare meals either. Although, quite a few do use crock pots, mini electric ovens, lunch box cookers, and other devices to make some rather good meals. But the vast majority end up eating fast food and restaurant food. You can imagine how expensive this gets.

Truck stops are masters of marketing as well. One major truck stop chain frequently advertises all you can eat ribs for just $9.99. And the ribs are rather tasty! Yes, I’ve had them! But after taxes and a tip, that $9.99 has quickly turned into almost 15 bucks. The dinner buffets are usually around $10. Once again, after taxes and a tip, you’re looking at paying more than $10 for your meal. The worst part about the all you can eat menu and the buffets, is you can’t take any left over food with you for later.

Even fast food restaurants can get expensive. A meal from McDonald’s is going to be 6 or 7 bucks per meal. They have gourmet Angus burgers now that will run around $9. This all adds up during the course of a week, and seriously dwindles a paycheck.

Don’t forget about your drinks! Want a liter of Coke or a liter of bottled water? That’ll be $1.50 each. Want a snack for the road? Add on another few bucks. Everything is more expensive at a truck stop, and they find ways to nickle and dime drivers out of quite a bit of money. The trick is, the prices are more expensive on the cheaper items. So you don’t really realize how much extra you’re spending. But over time, it really adds up to a lot of money. continue to page 2 –>

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Last 5 posts by TruckerMike

• Truck Driving - Experience and Enjoyment of the Job - November 13th, 2009
• Truck Driver Appreciation Week - November 11th, 2009
• My Recent Trucking Adventures - Quite A Challenge - October 6th, 2009
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• Leaving Home - September 11th, 2009

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