TMC CDL (in-house) Training Day 1

I can't even BEGIN to express the amount of hate I've received with regards to the amount of money I'm making as a rookie driver, or just a company driver in general, but honestly...it's literally what keeps me going (The hate that is. The money is just cream on the top).

Could you elaborate on this comment for us? Who is it that's expressing all this hate?

Nobody here is hating on you for making so much your rookie year. In fact we are all excited for you. We were skeptical at first but you've proven that's what you're at. We are also here to help ensure those considering a career understand that freight rates have been very high and have since come down a bit. I'd feel terrible if somebody went to TMC strictly due to seeing what you've made this year while not understanding freight rates aren't the same as they had been when you thrived as well as you have.

My current load of John Deere will gross my truck $3k on Monday and I'll still have the rest of the week to run.

Last week I did $5.4k to the truck off 3 loads.

Okay, let's talk numbers. You grossed 5.4k to the truck last week. That's good, it means you made $1,782 plus accessory pay. That's a typical week for most Top Tier Drivers.

Here's a recent pay check of mine as seen on our company app.

(That number in purple represents what went into my investment account - there were no reimbursements)

You're burnt out by your own admission. Trucking is a demanding mistress. You're doing a great job - you just need to figure out how to manage the job without stressing yourself so heavily. You'll know you're "getting it" when you can make that great money and not be beating yourself down. It's possible. I'm loving life out here on the road, and making great money. I'm not stressed out.

There's more to this than killing yourself just to beat some other top rookie's record. I hope the best for ya Solo, but your comments keep me concerned about you. Slow down a little and try to pace yourself. If you don't you're gonna hate this job and maybe even hurt yourself or someone else.

I post on 3 other sites where new drivers ask daily where they should start what people are making, etc.

Nobody else on either of these 3 sites will show numbers (ie their pay stubs), they'll just say they make $300,000+ year. I'll post my stubs and will then receive short sentences to disterations via pvt messages from non-drivers, drivers from other companies, and even drivers from within TMC expressing their displeasure in the money I make...that I must be either a recruiter, owner/operator, or "liar" and just as recently as a few days ago "you're just lucky".

I understand what it takes to turn those kind of numbers. There's no luck involved.

I just don't want to see you burn yourself out.

I understand what it takes to turn those kinds of numbers. There's no luck involved.

I just don't want to see you burn yourself out.

Thank you.

I forgot to post over the weekend, but I hit my 9-months this past Friday and subsequently hit 100k miles (10k in my trainers truck + 90k in my truck) as I was rolling into Beloit for my 34. Not sure if that is avg, but I've been avg 3k miles PER YEAR for the better part of the last 10-12 years prior to driving, and now I do that in a week +/-. Almost 2k gallons of fuel for the month of October which is the highest for me as well. Christ, I'm glad I'm a Co. Driver.

As somebody who currently runs 4+ miles every morning and goes to the gym every day, Flatbed was my only option/hope to be able to maintain any type of activity level.

Have you been able to keep up a fitness routine while OTR?

How did your year end up turning out Solo?

As somebody who currently runs 4+ miles every morning and goes to the gym every day, Flatbed was my only option/hope to be able to maintain any type of activity level.

Have you been able to keep up a fitness routine while OTR?

Not even once.

I ran all through orientation, but the moment I was issued my truck, that was the last time.

Put on 25lbs this year in the truck, and I can count on one hand how many times I ate at a truck stop.

That changes ~Feb 6th once I start my new local milk hauling gig. Can't wait.

How did your year end up turning out Solo?

Right at 125,000 miles and $76k gross for the year. I guess in the big picture, it went better than could have been expected. Made a crap ton of money, but the truck gets turned in tomorrow. Can't wait!

Heading down to the Carribean for a week+ vacation, then starting a local hourly gig ~Feb 6th.

No more frozen tarps/straps, parking wars, not being paid detention for this guy!