I've (almost) Got It All, What Now?

I'm starting with TMC Transportation in Des Moines, IA in about a week to get my Class A and get a year of experience under my belt. I don't necessarily need to stay with TMC/Flatbed forever though.

So, I'm about 4 weeks away from having my Class A. From my Class B experience, I've already got tanker and hazmat , and about get my TWIC this week.

So, the question is, after I get my year of experience in, what could I do to make the most money possible? I'm not afraid to try anything. I'm just not sure what to work toward as a next step after flatbed.

Haul fuel? Go into oversized/specialized? Reefer? Where's that big $$ at?

The only endorsement I won't have is doubles/triples, but if I recall that's just a computer test and I'm good to go.

Welcome, and congrats on getting picked up by TMC.

You have gotten a foot in the door. That is the beginning of what will be an intensive time period as you learn the industry and your craft. Flatbed is a very big curve because of all the different types of freight and added regulations. DOT also scrutinzes our securement for the safety of the roads.

Don’t worry about 1 yr or even 1 month in the future. You need to take this one day/week at a time. Learn all you can each day. You are going to face many challenges. Handle them well and you will progress toward a great career. Handle even 1 badly enough and your career will be stunted or over and you will never make it to that future.

I have pulled alot of different types of freight. I have enjoyed it, but I treat each load as it’s own mission and give it my undivided attention.

Once you have gained experience you can start to think about what you want to move onto at that time. Those oppourtunties are always out there, but they tend to change over time with contract changes and buyouts.

Master each day and you will do great!!

Your mind is way too far into the future, BigGuy. Getting started in driving requires total dedication, concentration and attention to details.

You will have plenty of time during your first year to figure things out. Make it your goal to be the best new driver out there and the money opportunities will come your way. If you screw up during your first year, you might not have any options available to you anymore.

Most gigs that pay a lot require years of experience and a perfect record. Walmart requires a minimum of 30 months experience and a very clean record. So your first year is critical from a safety standpoint. That is what you should be focused on at this point, not thinking about other gigs. You might do so well at TMC that you will want to stay there.

Good luck to you at training. Keep us posted!

As the other 2 guys mentioned keep focused on the task at hand. Do everything you can to keep a clean record and you'll have many opportunities after a year. We've had many new drivers pop in here and have their entire career planned out then can't make it through school for various reasons.

With that being said money isn't everything if you're not happy with what you're doing. After you get experience you'll have a better idea of the type of job you want. I see you listed Ankeny IA in your profile as your location. You have a lot of LTL carriers to the south like Old Dominion, FedEx, and a few others. We have drivers active on this forum that drive for them (different terminals) and are happy there. Personally I don't think I'd enjoy it due to running the same route every day/night.

I drive for PDI (Hy-vee) in Ankeny and enjoy the job enough that I commute 45 minutes each way. We don't have the turnover problem many companies in this industry face. To some drivers they wouldn't enjoy it because most routes start between midnight and 2am but it works great for me and juggling family life.

You also have Casey's and Kwik Star frequently looking for drivers. Kwik Star is advertising $105k a year for fuel haulers your first year with them. The opportunities I discussed are only a small fraction of what's available that gets you home daily in this area. If you're looking to stay OTR there's far more. Let's get through school, keeping a clean record then focus on what's next after you get a year of safe driving 🙂

Hello Big Guy, and welcome to trucking!

Don't get too far ahead of yourself. This will be a journey that is full of valuable lessons. I have well over a million miles experience and I'm still learning things daily.

Just about anybody can get a CDL and become a truck driver, but very few manage to be content and successful at it. You are wanting to know how to make the most money at this, but you've barely gotten started yet. There's nothing wrong with that. I actually like to see people having ambition.

The problem with most drivers is they hold a misconception about how to maximize their income. Almost everyone thinks they have to be working for some special company or be hauling specific types of freight.

What is most important for your income is how you measure up as a truck driver. This business is very much performance based. Think about how most drivers are paid. Most of us get paid by the mile. In other words, we get paid for our productivity.

While it's true that Wal-Mart drivers are among the highest paid drivers, you will still find some of their drivers not earning their potential income. There are some who just aren't as productive as others. Top producers earn top pay. That's true in most trucking jobs.

That's where you want to focus all your efforts. Always strive to be the most productive member of your team. That's the path to success in trucking.

Here's an article you might benefit from reading. It's about how you keep yourself at the top of the food chain in trucking.

Show Me The Money!

I used a sponsored training program to get my CDL and one year of experience as well. I had a similar mindset. I didn’t think I would care for the OVR lifestyle but I knew I could do it for a year, more as an investment in my future. After my year I moved on to a local job with much higher pay and all sorts of home time and PTO. Just focus on the task at hand and when things get tough just remember your end goal and that it will all be worth it. Good luck!