How Much First Year

I have seen this answered before, but I am sure this changes from year to year. I'd like to offer a couple of variations on the topic though.

How much can you expect to make the first year if you pay for your own training? 1) If you only drive local 2) Regional 3) OTR

Looks to me like local and regional jobs are a lot harder to come by for first year folks, but maybe it is possible.

I would assume if the training is paid, you make less and have to do OTR. How much would be made this way?

I got a local foodservice job and my first year (2019) and made $81,000 while making $7 an hour less than I am right now. It was only possible because they were severely understaffed and would hire any warm body they could; as of right now things are quite different.

The only other driving job I tried was Schneider in summer 2018 for about a month, and that didn't go so well - so I was basically still brand brand new.

I paid for my own training so I wasn't bound by any contract.

My first year at FedEx freight I make about 50K. I took a beating from February to June due to COVID.

The numbers vary greatly even among similar types. I started local foodservice and made about 85k my first year but my body took a beating. We have members here that made 55k or more doing OTR their first year. There are so many different types of local jobs, different hours etc that cause it to fluctuate. You may end up doing linehaul driving overnights pushing close to your 70 every week, or only working 8 hours a day making $22 /hr. For your first year I personally think that if you're paid hourly you'll make more than CPM if you work the same hours. The big reason being that all time, including loading/unloading is compensated. However, it's highly unlikely to find a hourly gig unless its local or possibly regional. Grumpy Old Man is hourly as a regional driver in the NE. As a local (300ish mile radius) hourly driver I'm paid from the minute I show up until I leave. I may only drive 200 miles and have 3 stops but due to a delay I put in 14 hours. A driver paid CPM is only compensated when the wheels are turning. This is a completely new thing and takes time to learn the ins and outs. As you get more experienced the difference in pay becomes less. We have drivers here that know how to work the clock and are earning a larger paycheck than I am.

We always recommend you get a year of OTR or regional experience to help set you to for success. Despite myself and a couple others doing it I highly encourage you to NOT start local even if the job postings sound enticing. If you plan to make about 35k your first year I'd say that's a safe bet.

I have seen this answered before, but I am sure this changes from year to year. I'd like to offer a couple of variations on the topic though.

How much can you expect to make the first year if you pay for your own training? 1) If you only drive local 2) Regional 3) OTR

Looks to me like local and regional jobs are a lot harder to come by for first year folks, but maybe it is possible.

I would assume if the training is paid, you make less and have to do OTR. How much would be made this way?

Here is a newsflash for you.... My company Prime actually pays those who go through their training more than those who pay for their CDL. Plus those who come with the CDL have to be in training longer. That is right... Get the school for free and make more in training and get out of training faster than someone who paid for a local school. My last couple of students made $60k to $65k last year as their first year OTR.

Regional at my company pays more in the Northeast per mile... But regional also gets less miles usually.

Local IMHO is hard for newbies. I would have quit my first month. My backing sicked that badly. Many food service places pay by the case you unload. Be aware they are often based on seniority so you may wind up on unfavorable routes or time slots. Covid screwed some.local companies badly and they are still reorganizing. So jobs are still limited. Good luck