Driver Salary

When companies say that their drivers make $40,000 50,000 or even 65,000 are they usually referring to gross pay ( before taxes) or net pay (Take home). I also see that some companies say that "our drivers average $900 - $1000 a week. So was just wondering if someone could clear this up for me. Also what is the ball park figure for take home pay that some of you new drivers are seeing? Is it like $500-$900 a week or something of that nature?

My average gross is something like 1.05k a week and my average take home is something like 800-850.

Thanks for that info

When companies say that their drivers make $40,000 50,000 or even 65,000 are they usually referring to gross pay ( before taxes) or net pay (Take home). I also see that some companies say that "our drivers average $900 - $1000 a week. So was just wondering if someone could clear this up for me. Also what is the ball park figure for take home pay that some of you new drivers are seeing? Is it like $500-$900 a week or something of that nature?

When companies are giving those numbers, they are gross. That's because we all choose different deductions. I.e. some will take family health insurance, some individual, some none, and some will take max amount of 401(k) deduction and many companies allow for "flexible spending" accounts and the amount you have deducted can be very different from one driver to the next.

In case you haven't seen my previous posts, I'm dry van OTR , hired Dec. 31, 2014 and started driving Jan. 22, 2015. I grossed just over $40,000 last year. That includes performance bonus of $.02/mile for three quarters and sign-on bonus of $600 (the remainder will be paid this month).

The questions to ask the recruiters are; 1. What is the pay per mile? 2. What is the average miles per week I can expect for the position I'm applying for? 3. Are there other pay considerations (e.g. layover, detention, breakdown)?

Don't waste a lot of time with the pay "drivers average." That could include 20 year drivers as well as newbies. Also keep in mind you can only drive so many miles in a week. Although it is technically possible to drive 3,500 miles per week, you probably aren't going to do that very often.

Also, many people get caught up on making the most $. Remember; you've got to go to work for a company you can be satisfied with.

If you're all about the almighty dollar, you will NEVER have enough.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

When companies say that their drivers make $40,000 50,000 or even 65,000 are they usually referring to gross pay ( before taxes) or net pay (Take home). I also see that some companies say that "our drivers average $900 - $1000 a week. So was just wondering if someone could clear this up for me. Also what is the ball park figure for take home pay that some of you new drivers are seeing? Is it like $500-$900 a week or something of that nature?

When companies are giving those numbers, they are gross. That's because we all choose different deductions. I.e. some will take family health insurance, some individual, some none, and some will take max amount of 401(k) deduction and many companies allow for "flexible spending" accounts and the amount you have deducted can be very different from one driver to the next.

In case you haven't seen my previous posts, I'm dry van OTR , hired Dec. 31, 2014 and started driving Jan. 22, 2015. I grossed just over $40,000 last year. That includes performance bonus of $.02/mile for three quarters and sign-on bonus of $600 (the remainder will be paid this month).

The questions to ask the recruiters are; 1. What is the pay per mile? 2. What is the average miles per week I can expect for the position I'm applying for? 3. Are there other pay considerations (e.g. layover, detention, breakdown)?

Don't waste a lot of time with the pay "drivers average." That could include 20 year drivers as well as newbies. Also keep in mind you can only drive so many miles in a week. Although it is technically possible to drive 3,500 miles per week, you probably aren't going to do that very often.

Also, many people get caught up on making the most $. Remember; you've got to go to work for a company you can be satisfied with.

If you're all about the almighty dollar, you will NEVER have enough.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

That info does help me out a lot! & thanks for that

As an estimate for tax withdrawal, you can assume 25% off your gross and that usually will give you a pretty close net or take-home pay. Then, you'd have to assume a certain figure for healthcare, which will cost more if you have a family or any dependents.

$1,000 a week would be $4000.00 monthly gross.

$1,000 x .75 = $750.00 weekly.

$400 is a safe average for family benefits, so $2600 monthly net would be a good estimate for a $1,000 weekly gross pay. That's also not accounting for any 401k deductions or short / long term disability.

That 25% is usually pretty spot on for determining your net.

Theron sees money:

When companies say that their drivers make $40,000 - $50,000 or even 65,000 are they usually referring to gross pay ( before taxes) or net pay (Take home).

Yes, it's gross pay. Watch out for a "fine print" on the big numbers: You'll see "Our new drivers make up to $65,000!" In tiny print you'll see (top 10% of all drivers), meaning the other 90% don't take down nearly as much.

My goal is to make between 35 and 40 my first year. I am not in it for the first years income but the years after. I know pay is going to be low the first year, but if you folks knew some of the crap I went through this year receiving 32-35 would be an improvement. My biggest fear is not getting enough miles. Having traveled hundreds of thousands of miles over the last 2 decades in construction, usually in a one ton with a 30' trailer driving isn't a problem. Through my research I know about what the cpm is for most of the companies that will train me it now becomes a question of miles.

In training I'm making $700 gross... clearing $500 because they are taking out some money they advanced me for food allowances while I was driving with my permit but not technically an employee so not receiving a pay-- and a sleep study test they insisted I take. When upgrading as a company driver there are two different figures they use... one is for lightweight drivers, and one is for "condo" drivers. The lightweights make more per mile as incentive for living in a smaller cab but also because the loads are heavier, so the company is making more money. I think the numbers are .36 cpm for condos and .43 cpm for lightweights. Most of the ppl i know who upgraded to solo were only driving 1500 - 2000 miles per week for the first few weeks --- which i think is GOOD of Prime to easy newbies into it and let them transition into it. It seems most of them are avg 2500 - 3000 miles per week now. so figure 2500 miles times .43 cpm = $1075 or 2500 miles times .36 = $900.

Keep in mind that many of the OTR drivers who are single give up their apartments. I'm going to. Why pay $1100 per month for an apartment when I'll only see it 3-4 days per month? So that is $1100 per month i can afford NOT to make. plus the electric, cable, insurance, etc