Embarking On A Trucking Career; Question On Earning Potential

Hello to everyone.

First of all, allow me to compliment the creators and contributors here on this forum. TT is a great resource. I've gotten a lot of very valuable information here, and I appreciate it.

A little bit about me: At age 45, I'm in the process to start a career as a driver. I can move forward with this process and commit, or pull out at this early stage. I was a cop working for a small department in Chicago for the past ten years, and I'll miss it tremendously, but I walked away a few months ago because I do not agree with the political influence exerted on the department. For years, I had been trying to leave to go another department, but finally, I simply walked away abruptly when I encountered the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I have very thick skin. I understand that the whole world is subject to political corruptness in varying degrees and I can live with that without losing sleep, but what the good guys and go-getters encounter at my former department is outrageous and unacceptable. Principle means a lot to me, and that's why I left; I couldn't be a part of it anymore. That's all another, long story. What's relevant here is that I have a great resume (I was a very valuable member of the department with a great professional reputation, and they invested in me and relied on me heavily. Also, I have a legal doctoral degree as well as a colorful background prior to serving in law enforcement.) Because of this, I am very employable in other fields.

So my question: If a guy demonstrates a great aptitude for all aspects of driving, works hard, and puts in as many miles as his employer will give him, how long will it take him to get to the point at which he's making a six figure salary? I ask this because I have a few different avenues I can pursue for employment, but none of them are going to pay me six figures any time within the next 5 years or so if ever. I had been making well into this range prior to resigning, and I see trucking as a way to get back into this kind of money. I want to provide for my family to the best of my ability, and I'd hate to take a huge let down in pay for too many years.

Now please don't get me wrong, I fully understand that driving a truck will be a gigantic challenge, and I have a mountain of information to learn. Furthermore, there's no guarantee that I will be good at it or even pass the CDL training, so please don't read this and think that I'm over confident, or too ****y or acting as if I have this thing mastered even before starting. I'm a very humble person, but by the same token, I've learned that in life you must set goals, and then work extremely hard to achieve them, while having the fortitude to stay on course through adversity.

If I work hard and long, play my cards right, and have a little bit of luck on my side, can I find an employer within five years or so that will pay me 100 grand or more if I do my part? And if so, will I have absolutely no family life? I'm fully prepared to sacrifice for a couple years by making $40 grand my first year and going from there, but am I out of bounds for hoping to make $100 grand any time within my first 5 years of driving? Are there specialties (tankers, oversize loads, etc.) that will allow this range of income? If so, does it take decades to earn the experience and seniority to land these types of jobs? I ask because I really don't know, but you guys do. I've been told things by people here and there, but they weren't career truck drivers and I think they were just perpetuating hearsay. Please advise. Any relevant, first-hand info is appreciated.

First off all, thank you for your service. And welcome to TT. I'll be the first to say that you might have your sights set a tad too high, especially for your first year. Typical OTR gig, you're looking at 30-35K for your rookie year, maybe less. I don't know of any company driver that is going to make 100K or more, save for perhaps a UPSF linehaul driver that has reached top pay scale. Truckload companies? Forget about it. High scale perhaps in the 60K range. That's including if you get a tanker job. I'm not saying that higher paying specialty gigs don't exist, they're just not the norm. To get those high-paying truckload gigs you're going to have to be in the right location at the right time, with the right qualifications, and the right amount of experience.

You want to make bigger bucks? Look into the LTL world, especially linehaul. I actually turned down a linehaul job offered to me - a rarity for a student driver - because I realized that it would be a major grind. I would have made 70-80K in 2-3 years once I reached top pay scale, and that's just not me buying into company propaganda. During my 4 weeks training I would have been paid over $20 an hour. 12-14 hour days, usually night shift for linehaul, 5 days a week. LTL will pay better than truckload, but you gotta look for those linehaul jobs. City drivers will make what OTR guys make, perhaps a little less, but they work very hard to get that privilege of sleeping in their own bed every night. Linehaul drivers will average between 60K-80K, no problem, but you get paid more for a reason. Very long hours, usually all night driving, bumping up against your 14 hour HOS more frequently than not. UPSF drivers can get to 100K, but they have reached top pay scale - not the average driver. Problem w/ the LTL linehaul gigs, is that most companies require you to not only have experience, but to gain seniority and pay your dues. Very little opportunity exists to hire onto a LTL company and get a linehaul job right away. Some require you to work the dock in addition to drive. OD, Estes, Conway, UPSF, ABF - check these companies out to see if they are in your area.

Have to agree here. And most, not all, are Union jobs and something most will not just walk into.

OK I can't resist.... Sure you can make a 6 figure income if you consider and spot. In this case $60,000.01. Yea that is a 7 figure salary.

I'm interested in this discussion as well. I'm planning on going into flatbed because i don't mind the heavy tarping and weather in theory, and will be on the road nonstop. What can i expect to see in terms of earnings? The feeling i've gotten from research is starting at 35k first year and over 50k second year.

First year income for me was around 32K.

Here's my thread: Daniel B.'s First Year Income

Truckermike did a thread on his second year. You can find it here: Second year income

I'm still at my second year and I'm expecting about 40K. The only way you'll see 6 figures is by doing Ice Road Truckers.

James, I ran at a medium pace on my first year. But if you run out of your mind I'm sure you can get 35K. But you won't be home often at all.

I don't think you'll see 50K your second year unless you become a trainer. I'm at .435 cpm all miles and I won't even reach that much!

So don't obsess over money that first year. Obsess over learning all you can, being safe at all times, and establishing a solid reputation for yourself as a true professional. If you'll do that your first year you'll have the perfect foundation to go after higher paying jobs and different types of freight if you'd like. But the turnover in the trucking industry is around 100% nationwide. A lot of people never get to that one year point. Many of them went in thinking they were going to light the world on fire with some serious driving skills and never even made it out of training. Never drove a truck solo on the highway one single time. Don't go after the big money that first year. Remember, you'll do this for awhile if you enjoy it, so why burn yourself out after just a year?

Thanks for the accurate numbers. Those two articles details are really great. I'm not concerned so much about the pay as i am being able to prepare to do this for the long run, and maintain the most important part to me which is not having to pay rent while doing it. That potential feature alone makes the 40k far more valuable than an equivalent local job.

Thanks for the accurate numbers. Those two articles details are really great. I'm not concerned so much about the pay as i am being able to prepare to do this for the long run, and maintain the most important part to me which is not having to pay rent while doing it. That potential feature alone makes the 40k far more valuable than an equivalent local job.

Yep, you'll have a lot of money. But don't forget about the loneliness.

Before you start school make sure you do the High Road Training Program

But don't forget about the loneliness.

That's one of my favorite things about this job. I'm about as much of an introverted loner as you would never meet(because i never go anywhere for you to meet me) and being on the road solo is very attractive to me. Also i've been working with the highroad for a while and when i'm done with a section on it i take practice tests that the school were cool enough to give me already to make sure my understanding is good enough. I intend to get the permit this friday or next week before starting so i can have more time in the truck.

Unless you drive the ice roads or drive for the oil fields it may be hard to reach 100k a year. That being said there are more "traditional" trucking jobs out there that will pay you more (100k may be a stretch.) All of these jobs like any other industry requires that you pay your "dues" though. Even with the oil fields the big money out there is hauling crude oil and they require a minimum of 2 years before they even touch you.