HELP!

Hi everyone,

I've been tossing the trucking career back and forth for what seems like eternity. But based on my current income(commissioned sales and VERY SLOW), I'm getting to the point that I need to s**t or get off the pot.

I can search info on line all day long. For ten minutes I'm reading positive information, for the other ten I'm reading negative information. Obviously take what I read with a grain of salt but its tough for someone on the outside looking in to decipher whats real or not. One of my concerns is obviously the pay. I see YouTube videos of people saying they love the job and the pay, and I see YouTube videos of people saying the pay sucks and they hate the job. Now I know some are geared towards recruiting, etc. But I try to find a mix of information, from a variety of sources to help me get a real feel and make as educated decision as I can.

Can someone help me out here? I honestly am 75% there but I dont just jump into anything I do. I've made it to 53 fairly successfully doing things that way. Hopefully I get some replies.

Thanks,

Jimbo

Hi everyone,

I've been tossing the trucking career back and forth for what seems like eternity. But based on my current income(commissioned sales and VERY SLOW), I'm getting to the point that I need to s**t or get off the pot.

I can search info on line all day long. For ten minutes I'm reading positive information, for the other ten I'm reading negative information. Obviously take what I read with a grain of salt but its tough for someone on the outside looking in to decipher whats real or not. One of my concerns is obviously the pay. I see YouTube videos of people saying they love the job and the pay, and I see YouTube videos of people saying the pay sucks and they hate the job. Now I know some are geared towards recruiting, etc. But I try to find a mix of information, from a variety of sources to help me get a real feel and make as educated decision as I can.

Can someone help me out here? I honestly am 75% there but I dont just jump into anything I do. I've made it to 53 fairly successfully doing things that way. Hopefully I get some replies.

Thanks,

Jimbo

Jumbo,

More than most other careers trucking is a life-style and as such some are born to it, others are well suited to it, others have to work at it, and still others should just stay home. That being said, most, but not all of those who are readily complaining fall in the latter group. If you thrive on responsibility, like change, enjoy time to yourself, and can accept that you are responsible for results but do not control most of the variables then you have a fairly good chance at success. As for making a choice do your research and ask questions. But as you will quickly find-out - only you can answer certain questions. As in which school, which company, and what trailer to pull.

And remember, nothing ventured- nothing gained!

Jimbo, Daniel B did a great post of his fist year in trucking. Brett said someone else did the same a few years ago, but I think Daniels is most up to date. The pay stinks for the first year. But after that it gets better. You have to do that first year. For us, mmmm, middle aged guys? I hate to say older I sure dont feel older, its hard to go backwards in pay. The way I have been looking at it is 35 grand this year gets me 50 soon enough. You will never become rich doing this, but form what I have read the harder you work the more you will make. I like that. Let it be my fault I dont make money not someone elses.

Stay off the other sites, this is the only site you need. All the folks here are positive and helpful. You dont get all the complaining about how tough life is. You get facts. Daniel B and Old School both did a thread, diary, whatever, about a few weeks of work. Look those up or maybe Brett will jump in and give you a link to them, I'm not smart enough to know how to do that. :) Good luck!

These are definitely some helpful answers guys. I am in the same boat as Jimbo, so this thread has been helpful. Right now I am slaving away in retail and I am clearing about $700 - $800 every two weeks, so obviously anything would be an improvement. The school I have been talking to assures me that they can place me with one of their regional partners and I will be taking home ~$900 a week. My question is, is that realistic or are they blowing smoke up my arse and, is it realistic to think that any 1st year Trucking income would easily be an increase from the slave wages I'm earning now? Thank you all in advance, and thanks Jimbo for starting the thread.

Indeed, me and OS did do diaries. The differences between ours are that his was only for a week/10 days meanwhile mine was for months. He also gave a glimpse into how flatbedding his, whereas mine was on the reefer side.

OS Diary #1

OS Diary #2

Adventures of Daniel B.

Marcus, there's giving you bull****. 900$ per week as a rookie! Dream on.. That's pretty much what I make and I have experience and I'm at .435cpm, there's no way a rookie will make that much. Do the math, that's 43K net. Which is about 10grand more than what I made my first year trucking.

Here's what I made my first year

The thing about regional is that you're not getting those 2,000 mile loads so racking up those miles can be tougher in some cases. You deal with a lot more customers doing only 750 mile and below runs and customers slow you down more than you think.

Indeed, me and OS did do diaries. The differences between ours are that his was only for a week/10 days meanwhile mine was for months. He also gave a glimpse into how flatbedding his, whereas mine was on the reefer side.

OS Diary #1

OS Diary #2

Adventures of Daniel B.

Marcus, there's giving you bull****. 900$ per week as a rookie! Dream on.. That's pretty much what I make and I have experience and I'm at .435cpm, there's no way a rookie will make that much. Do the math, that's 43K net. Which is about 10grand more than what I made my first year trucking.

Here's what I made my first year

The thing about regional is that you're not getting those 2,000 mile loads so racking up those miles can be tougher in some cases. You deal with a lot more customers doing only 750 mile and below runs and customers slow you down more than you think.

Thanks everyone....and Daniel B....great thread....VERY interesting stuff