Paths To Making GOOD Money As A Truck Driver?

My big take away from this particular thread as it progresses is that there’s plenty of ways to make the high dollar income in trucking. The key component seems to be that it lies with those companies outside of what many consider mega carriers or training companies.

Yes and no. Driving OTR for any major company pretty much is not going to get you 6 figures. But you never know what opportunities a company may have. I think it’s all about keeping your eyes open because drivers talk and you’ll find out who’s making the big bucks pretty quick. There are trainers at my company (a large 1500 truck flatbed company) making 6 figures because the company just pays trainers well. I won’t make anywhere close to that here even running my ass off because I’m not a trainer. But I agree that most of those 6 figures opportunities lie elsewhere.

I’m going to be close to the 6 figure mark and may not quite make it but I have had to take some unforeseen time off at different points during the year and this summer i took a lot of the easier routes. Had I worked to my full potential I would def be well over. If I kick into overdrive I may still make it.

A driver starting out won’t make 100k because they have to wait and bid for a run with higher mileage.

This is correct, but we still do OK. I made just a bit over $40k in my first six months as a truck driver. That's at rookie pay scale, mostly doing the lousy run no one else wants (fewer miles, more time working the dock), and includes my first three weeks devoted to training, at a straight hourly rate. I have no problem believing my colleagues with more seniority are well past $100k/year. Actually I'd be stunned if they aren't.

I wish I had more time to respond to you Bird-One but I'm a little busy at the moment. However, I'll take the time for this little bit. First, Google reports an average of 87.5k. Anyone with minimal education knows an average can have wild swings in either direction. Some drivers can make 60k, others can make over 100 to maintain that average.

Second, not that I have anything to prove you, because I simply don't care what you think. But I'll still post my latest paycheck, last year's final paycheck, last year's YTD numbers, as well as this year's. You can do your own math from there, if you're capable.

Current paycheck. (Less than normal due to two unpaid days)

Last year's final net paycheck

Last year's final paycheck, showing gross pay for the year

Latest paycheck showing current YTD gross with still 3 months to go in the year.

Thanks folks. I suppose i deserved all that.

Thanks for all the pics, ill have to look at it when i have time.

Here's a screen shot of one of my brokers that i has ytd data. This is second most broker that i run for, the first doesn't track ytd data.

My apologies to Bird-One, whom I indicated in my response when I meant to reply to Syd. I don't know why I got the names confused.

"When I was young I was poor. After decades of hard work, I'm no longer young."

Thank you for sharing that. It's funny and sad all at the same time for many, myself included. Got any more pearls like that?

2. I don't want to be micromanaged. WMPF drivers are micromanaged.

Bud A., I respect your right to form your own opinions on any company, but I just want to take a second to respond to one of your points. Can you define what you mean by micromanaged? Cuz after 2 years with walmart, I don't feel like we're managed at all, and never did. They give me a load going from point a to point b, and I take it there. Sometimes I'll go straight back to the DC empty, and sometimes I'll return with a backhaul. By the time I return to the DC I already have another load planned and ready to go.

That's. Literally. It.

Other than my dispatches, I never hear a word from anybody. They leave me alone to do my job as I see fit.

I often see the same "micromanaged" comment from other people when I'm browsing different forums, and I just don't understand it. That has not been my experience.

I'm not here to recruit anybody for walmart, that's why I seldom even use my company name in my posts. Your observation just made me wonder why. That's all.

This is my last 5 pay checks, the one for this week has a $500 bonus for Covid shot on it.

After our September pay raise at the start of the month I am now at .7358 cpm my current bid run is 2620 miles, my terminal has runs from about 1,900 miles all the way up to 3,100 miles new drivers are stuck at the bottom with Fort Wayne for generally at least a year until they can move onto something better.