Andy, welcome to the forum! You've posed some great questions, and it sounds like you've got a great wife which will be very helpful for you if you do get into trucking.
I think your first year salary in trucking would be more close to around $32,000.00 with your second year coming in around $40,000.00. Nobody gets rich doing this, but if you like the lifestyle you'll learn to excel at it and make a decent living while enjoying the freedoms that few jobs afford you. You can't really believe all the hype you hear about making a lot of money at this, and you certainly can't take those advertisements on the back doors of the trailers you see out on the highways. They conveniently leave out the important details like overhead and taxes (just the little nuisances that take out about 75% of that nice gross pay of $125,000.00)
Schneider is a great company, but there are a lot of great companies out there. We're not real big on claiming this company is better than that company, because, to be quite honest with you, they are all doing the same thing with the same equipment, and all have the same purpose of moving their customer's freight in the most efficient way possible. If you've got a great work ethic and know what you want out of the job, you can get out there and prove yourself a very effective employee at just about any trucking company.
The internet is a terribly misinforming place to research trucking companies, and most trucking forums have degenerated into useless places that a bunch of disgruntled people, who never should have tried to be truck drivers in the first place, sit around competing to see who can come up with the most outlandish truck company bashing story. They have time for this kind of foolishness because not only do they not have a job, but they can't even seem to get a job in an industry that is practically begging for drivers.
Andy, I told you that I was a business owner for thirty years because I wanted you to understand that I know how to make money. I can tell you that jumping into one of these truck leasing programs is a very hard pill to swallow. Think about it this way - Why would a trucking company encourage you to own a truck to deliver their freight? That's the way they make their money isn't it? Why would they want you to be both their employee and their competitor at the same time? The truth is that owning a truck is a very risky and expensive necessity to be able to move freight. So, if you can dupe your competitor into taking on all the risk and then working for you to move your freight you just eliminated a huge portion of the risk from your business model so that you can consistently turn a profit while the folks leasing the trucks are taking all the hits. It is a wonderful plan for the trucking companies, and unfortunately the truck driver's egos usually help them get sucked right into this trap. Don't do it Andy!
If you're gonna get into truck driving, just make a good solid plan to be a company driver for about five years. It will take you that long to begin to be efficient at this anyway. Once you've done that, you will have a much better understanding of the major freight lanes in the country, where the good loads come from and go to, and you will have experienced the ups and downs of truck breakdowns, uncontrollable delays and difficulties, and all the manifold things that make this business so tricky. If you'll follow that advice you will come out on top. I guarantee that.
I really appreciate the insight Old School. Good info!!!
The fact that income is around $40k may be a bit tough for the long term. I looked at some other threads for good companies and Roehl was suggested. Just checked out their site and they advertise 7-4 and 7-3 plans for my region AND they have a terminal just an hour from where I am in BFE. They also advertise $1000 a week avg pay for regional flatbed. Guess I will have to see if anyone can validate that earnings potential. As much as I want to pursue this, It also need to be a good fit financially. Know the first year or 2 will be leaner as a beginner, but would hope to hit the low $50k's after a couple years.
Again thank you for your insight, my dream of owning a used Peterbilt 587 is shattered BUT for good reason. Had a gut feeling the O/O programs were a bit too risky.
Have a great week and stay safe 


A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Andy, I'm a flatbedder, and yes it's true that if you are a hard worker you can make that kind of money. Roehl has some great home time programs going and the drivers that have come through here and gone to Roehl all have given some great feedback to us about their experiences there.
Andy, I'm a flatbedder, and yes it's true that if you are a hard worker you can make that kind of money. Roehl has some great home time programs going and the drivers that have come through here and gone to Roehl all have given some great feedback to us about their experiences there.
Good to hear. Thanks again Sir!!
Yes you can make a gross of $1000 dollars a week but you are not seeing the reality of it. That's 51 weeks at $1000 BEFORE taxes and then you through in 7 on 7 off and you cut that money in half cause you are now only working two weeks a month. 6 months out of 12. Its a great home time plan. One of the best out there but remember in trucking you only get paid if your in the truck and the wheels are moving. You don't get paid to stay at home for 7 days.
Yes you can make a gross of $1000 dollars a week but you are not seeing the reality of it. That's 51 weeks at $1000 BEFORE taxes and then you through in 7 on 7 off and you cut that money in half cause you are now only working two weeks a month. 6 months out of 12. Its a great home time plan. One of the best out there but remember in trucking you only get paid if your in the truck and the wheels are moving. You don't get paid to stay at home for 7 days.
I hear ya guy. And i've done the math. The 7-7 is way too conservative for the household income needs. Been in contact with Roehl and may have found a good balancing point. They said as long as their is work in the area, that a driver can alternate (at reasonable invterals) between 2 structures: AS AN EXAMPLE: 4 months on 7-3 & 7/4 and 8 months national fleet which is 11-14 out and 3 in. A mixture of the 2 might just work for my family and I. Looking to make $42-45k after I have a year or so of experience. Still need to do more homework.
Thank you, Andy
$42 to $45 will be more like the 3 to 5 year range. First year is around $31k to $35k depending on a lot of stuff. Just remember that these top numbers we are speaking about is Gross and not Net.
Yep understood.
In doing some additional homework, I may just be staying put in my job for the foreseeable future. The amount of time away I would need to make the target income would be a bit of a strain on the family. For now the dream will need to wait until my kids are a bit older and the wife goes back to work so the earnings and home time are a bit more balanced.
Thank you everyone who responded, this forum is a very valuable resource and has been very helpful.
Am sure I will lurk in here once in a while just to stay up to snuff on the industry but for now I will be carrying on. For sure OTR will be my back up if God forbid I ever lose my job.
Everyone take care and thank you again for the sound advice, info, and reasonable expectations from the industry. 
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
For now the dream will need to wait until my kids are a bit older and the wife goes back to work so the earnings and home time are a bit more balanced
Amen to that! Family first, always. Trucking is a great career for the right person in the right circumstances but it doesn't sound like your circumstances are ideal so I think you're making the right choice by staying put.
Glad we could help!
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Hello Everyone,
First off a major thank you to creator of this site as the info I have obtained has helped me know that now is NOT the right time for me to get into trucking, BUT 5 years or so from now it may be.
Here is my situation. I work at home for a company and earn $48k a year and I do not have the opportunity to advance and I do not have access to affordable health care. It has been a life long dream to drive truck. I realize becoming an OTR driver will be the polar opposite extreme of my current employment situation. But the opportunity to earn a better income combined with moving to a more affordable living arrangement would allow us to afford possibly having more children as well. It would be my goal to eventually become an O/O and be out 6 days and in for 1.5-2 day cycles after 6-12 months of company driving. I have run a business in the past and would love the chance to do it again as well as having the freedom to build my own schedule each month.
In 2002 I actually did try to enter the industry but had a very negative experience in trying the beginner program at CRST. Class instructors were good, but the range instructor was a forceful teacher to the point where I just left and went home as I could not imagine how a company treats an employee when they allow an instructor to yell and grab a student's hand and force shifts because the student can't learn a Super 10 in less than 2 tries. With that being said, 11 years later I still burn to get on the road. I have a 1 year old daughter and my wife and I decided after reviewing the info on the TT site that with very young children it may not be best right now. But in 2018 or a little later my (very supportive) wife has stated vehemently to follow my dream in the future.
I have some questions that I would greatly appreciate some constructive insight on. I know of course that 5+ years from now the industry can change but I am asking these questions hypothetically based on the present time to make sure my head isn't in the clouds. I'm 37 and live in Northern WI., and I am not afraid to work and realize OTR trucking will be tough on my entire family. I have been away for 4-5 days a week several times a year in my present job. Realize that is a spit in the bucket compared to 2-3 weeks on the road but that is an expected adjustment we will need to make. I feel I will be pursuing a VERY CHALLENGING but fulfilling dream and have the opportunity to better support my family.
Here are my questions please:
1) What is a good company to start at fresh out of School? Schneider? 2) Assuming all goes well, would a 12 month Smart Lease at Schneider be a wise decision at 6 months? 3) I know it varies by company, but what is the norm for time out? 3 weeks out 5 days in? 4) Is it reasonable to assume I would earn $48-55k the 12 months following my probie period if a company driver?
Again this website has already been invaluable to me and my family. I ask these questions now to make sure I am not building an air castle for 5+ years from now.
Thank you for reading my post and take care!
Andy
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated