Advice Needed

Just wanted to thank everyone for your replies...

I've talked to several different companies. They all basically seem to offer the same things for the most part.

I guess my primary concern now is the pay. Unless I'm figuring the numbers incorrectly, My first year, I will only be making $350.00 to $600.00 (take home) per week... Can this be correct???

If so, I think that would help explain the "driver shortage" I keep reading/hearing about...

I guess my primary concern now is the pay. Unless I'm figuring the numbers incorrectly, My first year, I will only be making $350.00 to $600.00 (take home) per week... Can this be correct???

Typically its said a rookie driver can expect to make about $35,000 their first year. We have members here who made over $50,000 their first year. These amounts are GROSS pay. Unfortunately we cant help you with NET pay because there are too many variables such as tax bracket your in or any benefits you'd have (after your eligible). Ultimately it comes down to you for how much you'll make. Dont necesarily look at highest pay to start. We have members here who started at i believe 33 CPM and got raises as they proved themselves. You need to also consider hometime policy, rider or pet policy. One of the best things about this forum is we have so many people who LOVE driving for their company, you really cant go wrong with any of them.

Just wanted to thank everyone for your replies...

I've talked to several different companies. They all basically seem to offer the same things for the most part.

I guess my primary concern now is the pay. Unless I'm figuring the numbers incorrectly, My first year, I will only be making $350.00 to $600.00 (take home) per week... Can this be correct???

If so, I think that would help explain the "driver shortage" I keep reading/hearing about...

The first year you are not going to get rich. You have a lot to learn. I started at 32cpm. I was making 33 after 6 months and 34 from months 9-12. I still grossed just over 50k. The harder you work and the quicker you "get it" the more money you will make. Think of your first year as more of a paid internship. Everybody knows even paid internships make peanuts. Your career really starts during your second year. The bulk of your learning takes place that first year. It is what your rookie year is about: Learning!!!

I earned over 60 my first year and over 80 my second. The work is there if you want/need it...but it takes long hours, limiting time off, and the right company, of which there are many to choose from. From what you've said, it might be just what you need right now. I was in a similar boat when I started...except I'd also lost my retirement savings....so now my interest is in fixing that.

Just wanted to thank everyone for your replies...

I've talked to several different companies. They all basically seem to offer the same things for the most part.

I guess my primary concern now is the pay. Unless I'm figuring the numbers incorrectly, My first year, I will only be making $350.00 to $600.00 (take home) per week... Can this be correct???

If so, I think that would help explain the "driver shortage" I keep reading/hearing about...

Truck Driver's Career GuideRJC-Thanks for your service to your community. Remember when you first went to be a cop, you were new to that, put in the same effort as you did when you were a cop and you will do fine. OS is correct that you can't put companies under the same microscope as you did when you were a cop. Different type of industry. If you want it bad enough, you have to take the bull by the horns. Your single now and your kids are off to college or to jobs of their own.

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
• Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"

Paid CDL Training Programs.

Some of these should also help. I'm coming off of disability after eight years. I was in a motorcycle accident. Got pretty tore up, but my dream is to go back to the kind of work I loved for 11 years and that was to drive and make money. So as you probably got told when you were a rookie cop, Sh*t or get off the pot.

You'll do fine, you are over analyzing it.

good luck,

Robert D. (Raptor)

I've been teaching new rookies for years now that these companies have nothing to prove to you. The burden of proof is always on the driver, or on the rookie who is wanting to become a professional driver. These really large trucking companies that you see slandered online all the time are the best of the best at this business and they have been silently enduring the never ending nonsense that spews out of the mouths of the wannabes who couldn't cut it when they tried to pursue this career. All the trash talk you hear about trucking and trucking companies is total garbage. The folks who produce all this drivel about trucking are the very folks who didn't make the cut, and brother there are hordes of them!

I 150% agree with oldshool! I’m not a driver but I have been in the industry for 11 years and have seen hundreds and hundreds of drivers come and go. Heard a lot of trash talk that did not add up to what I heard from veteran drivers. I would be very careful from where you get your opinions from, because people that failed at this industry will be the first to cloud your judgement. I would be worried about vetting where you get your info than vetting theses companies. Your definitely on the right website to get great info as long as you talk to the right people particularly people like old school that have been in trucking for a long time.

Retired Jersey Cop the following link is for you to read in support of exercising care where and how you get your information on this industry...

Internet of Lies and Misinformation

Retired Jersey Cop, I’ve attached my year to date numbers at Prime Inc only to further help you get an idea of how you can’t go by what you find out here as so-called helpful information. I got my CDL at the end of March & that was my last settlement for this week.