Gonna Be A OTR Driver.....Soon.....I Hope

Ok Please allow me to appear stupid and ask stupid questions. Over fifty years in the same industry and now am making a late in life change to do something I've wanted to do for years. I begin school mid May for my CDL

My previous employment had me away from home , driving, over 300 days a year. So, away from home for long periods not a bother. However, my travel was in an automobile, motel rooms every night and overall pretty comfortable. Reasonably good food, hot showers, no real hardships at all. Traveled the entire U.S. Of A and Ontario extensively.

I dont want to appear as dumb as I am but I'm trying to learn .

My first year as an OTR company driver: What is a reasonable expectation of income? I know what I've been told however I'd like to reach out some. I have no issue with miles and away from home. I've been given to believe that two weeks on the road, home for a few days, then out again. I guess I can hope for the mileage to earn $$$ but is it reasonable to expect I'll get the miles needed?

Now, I've warned you, I'll ask stupid questions, so I ask your patience

More questions to follow

Thanks......................

Welcome aboard Mike!

We don't consider any legitimate questions as stupid. You don't have to try and sound like you know what you're talking about here, and you don't have to dodge for cover when you are curious about something. We are glad to help you if we can, and we won't treat you like an idiot. You've already started off with some great questions...

My first year as an OTR company driver: What is a reasonable expectation of income? I know what I've been told however I'd like to reach out some. I have no issue with miles and away from home. I've been given to believe that two weeks on the road, home for a few days, then out again. I guess I can hope for the mileage to earn $$$ but is it reasonable to expect I'll get the miles needed?

Your first year will mostly be a huge learning curve. You want to focus on improving your results and making every effort at being more productive. Typically a rookie driver will end up somewhere in the 40,000 - 45,000 dollar pay range. Some do a little better, and some manage to do worse, but if you're getting a grip on the career you should make somewhere between 40 to 50 thousand dollars.

As far as how much time you spend on the road goes, you will dictate how that works. You may prefer to stay out 4 or 5 weeks, and your dispatcher will be glad to let you. The job is flexible, and productive drivers can set their own schedules. There are some driving jobs that have you home every weekend. You can do some research and decide what works best for you.

It is reasonable to expect to get the miles you need as long as you are making things happen on your end of the bargain. When you read the online crybabies whining about starving to death as truck drivers you must realize you are only hearing their convoluted side of the story. If their dispatcher were able to share the problems they are having with that driver the picture of their circumstances would be crystal clear.

Here's why you can expect to get the miles you need. Trucking is what we call an asset based business. Trucking companies have assets (trucks) that are used to produce those all important revenues. Those assets are not going to be left idle when they are needed for productivity. They need those trucks moving. The drivers who prove they can manage their time, their appointments, and their duties responsibly and profitably will always be kept busy. That's the way this business works.

Trucking is actually very competitive. That's something the online wannabes and whiners often don't understand. They complain about not getting enough miles, but they don't realize they don't perform at a level that is worthwhile. You've got to strive to be the best you can be out here, and that's where that first year learning curve comes into play. Spend your rookie year focused on learning the business over focusing on hometime. That will set you up to Run With The Big Dogs.

Here's some links to some really helpful and informative materials. Read and enjoy! You feel free to ask all the stupid questions you like. We will be glad to answer them - that's what we do here.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Hey Mike, I just thought of something that may be helpful to you as you consider this career. You asked a great question about first year income. It's important to realize that your rookie year will be the toughest and leanest year as a professional driver.

About three months ago we had a conversation where drivers shared their income statements from 2019. Most of these drivers have three or four years under their belt now, but it is helpful to see how quickly your income will increase if you are getting the job done. There are very few careers that experience an increasing level of pay as quickly as that of a class A truck driver. It peaks for the most part in about five years, but it will typically at least double during that five year period.

Here's a link to that conversation...

Payroll Numbers For 2019

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The information is very much appreciated.

On to more dumb questions:

As I mentioned in my opening comments , travel and away from home for long periods is not a problem and my wife since 19 and 60 and 4 and I are accustomed to it for a long time.

I notice when I began it shows I've been a member of this forum for several years which does' bear witness to the fact that I've been interested in this for a long time but now have the perfect opportunity to actually do it...which is my intent.

More dumb stuff, Ok:

Travel for me for long periods has been my way of life........BUT.......a pretty comfortable travel as in motels, hot showers, nice big beds, etc. The company that it appears is hiring me after graduation shows real nice equipment........here's another "BUT"........it aint' a Comfort Inn. So I continue with stupid questions: Basics, like taking a shower?

You'll take a shower at the truck stop where you park. Each of the major truck stop companies have a card that you use when you purchase fuel with your company's fuel card. You'll scan your truck stops card also and that will provide you with "shower credits" based on your fuel purchases.

Most of the major truck stop chains have really nice shower rooms, and they are cleaned after each use. You'll learn about all this stuff from your trainer. They will use their credits and get a "team shower." That means each of you gets his own separate shower room.

While you're with your trainer, anytime you go to a new truck stop chain, go inside to the counter and tell them you need a "rewards" card. They will set you up, and when you have your own truck you will use that card in conjunction with your company fuel card to get shower credits and points toward purchases in the store.

Thank You Again

How much time is generally spent with a trainer?

How much time is generally spent with a trainer?

Hey Mike that varies, but with most operations it will be about four weeks. Schneider probably does the shortest version of training and Prime's is probably the lengthiest. Most places it's going to be about a month.

Here's an article about What You Can Expect From Your Truck Driver Training.

The time frames I refer to are for after you've obtained your CDL. It's generally about 160 hours combination of classroom, driving, and observation to obtain the CDL.

Remember that truck driving schools really are only teaching you enough to get your license. After that your OJT helps you get started as a rookie driver. It's not easy jumping right in here and being efficient. It's a commitment for at least a full year.

We highly recommend the Paid CDL Training Programs as one of the best ways to get started. Here's a link to an article explaining the benefits.

Why I Prefer Paid CDL Training

I am enrolled in a school to begin mid May I do my physical 22 April

As is obvious I began reading the forum close enough to four years ago but this is my first attempt at participating. For over fifty years I earned a living involved with one thing only and pretty knowledgeable on that subject. Not an expert by any stretch but perhaps an experianced opinion on some matters that would come up. I actually was a "Go To" guy on forums having to do with my job and learned beginning about 07 or so the value of a good forum. A place to learn by talking to those that know. Thus, I'll be here for a while til I wear you guys out with my ignorance of the subject

So, if I'm with a trainer for say a month or so then I guess one sleeps while one drives?

Oh, BTW, I might have posted a question/comment twice due to my lacking a working handle on navigating the system. I'll catch on

So, if I'm with a trainer for say a month or so then I guess one sleeps while one drives?

Here again, this will vary by company. Some companies want the trainer riding shotgun while the trainee is driving. Some companies divide it up. So maybe you'll do most of the driving the first two weeks, and then you and the trainer will operate as a team with one person driving while one person sleeps. This may also vary by your trainer's confidence in you. I started team driving immediately in training. That was simply because my trainer could make the most money that way.

You'll find a lot of variations on this training issue. Feel free to ask us about specific company's protocols. There is usually somebody here who has been through a specific program that can give you some company specific guidelines.

What school are you enrolled in?