IM SURE THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED A 1000 TIMES

Hey all, I'm new to the site and hopefully in a few months I will be new to trucking. I plan on getting my cdl within the next two months. I currently have a great job...I work for the local water authority, so as you can imagine, I have great benefits, lots of time off, and I know every two weeks I will receive a check for the same amount as the previous two. All sounds great, right? Well the problem I have is the pay. I make around $32000 per year, not to bad, but being in my current situation, it's no where near enough. I see around 1/3 of that amount, after taxes, insurance, retirement, and child support. So my question is, how much could I expect to make my first year driving? I know, I know, it depends on my work ethic......let's just say this, I have absolutely no problem with being on the road 3 or 4 weeks at a time, so I guess I'm trying to say figure rookie pay on experienced miles, if that makes sense. Looking forward to all of y'alls comments and suggestions, and thank you in advanced for them.

This is a very popular question and we totally understand why.

For your first year you can expect to make 28-34K in my opinion. A lot of companies are bumping their pay recently so that helps. This is a 100% performance based job, you slack off - you don't make any money.

Daniel B.'s First Year Income Week By Week

Take a look at that link. I actually took the time to document all my paychecks for my first year! Notice how the checks fluctuate up and down? That's a performance based job for you, some weeks are busy, some weeks are slow. You also have so many obstacles everyday that can slow you down.

Also, take into consideration the Hometime. You don't make any money at home so the more you're not racking up those miles the less you'll make. I made 32K my first year and I went home every 3-4 weeks.

I started at .28cpm and ended my year at .31cpm.

This year I'm at .445cpm not counting a fuel bonus, plus I can run laps around my rookie self so I am running more miles than I used to. This year I'm on pace to net in the upper 40's and maybe lower 50's if I'm lucky and the winter won't be bad.

I think I'm probably looking at 26K to 32K if I pass Swift's schooling and mentorship period. Like any career, you have to put in your dues and prove your worth. After one year, the money will probably be good.

I was hoping Daniel B. would answer this question for you because his documentation is really honest and helpful.

I think what he means to say when he says,

"I started at .28cpm and ended my year at .31cpm.

This year I'm at .445cpm"

is that he started as 28cpm, ended his year at 31cpm, and started this year at 44.5cpm ...or $0.28/mile, $0.31/mile and $0.445/mile.

-mountain girl

Thanks for the responses Daniel, Matt and Mountain Girl, it's useful information and scary at the same time. I left a job 2 years ago because the pay was way too inconsistent, I hope Daniel's 1st year pay isn't the normal ( no offense Daniel) I'm talking about the fluctuation of your pay, not the total amount. I would be happy with that amount my first year, I just couldn't do the inconsistency, with my current situation. Does anyone have experience with flatbed and percentage pay? If so, how do you or don't you like it? Why is one better than the other? I do have an overall plan in mind should I go forth with getting my cdl. Again, thanks in advance for all of your responses.

Daniel. . Could you please explain detention and tiered pay. And can this be expected from most companies? Or at least USA Truck :)

Keith, that is just a part of trucking. miles are never the same week to week. plus the really low payed weeks are usually hometime and or a broken down truck.

Also i am doing flatbed. i get CPM but almost went with TMC that does percentage. IDK about other companies that do percentage but i know at TMC the avg takehome for a rookie is about 800-1000. the only reason i didnt know with them and went with melton is my fiencee and i are in a pickle and cant afford two months of training pay at TMC where as we only have to deal with training pay for 1 month at melton.

Also i am doing flatbed. i get CPM but almost went with TMC that does percentage. IDK about other companies that do percentage but i know at TMC the avg takehome for a rookie is about 800-1000. the only reason i didnt know with them and went with melton is my fiencee and i are in a pickle and cant afford two months of training pay at TMC where as we only have to deal with training pay for 1 month at melton.

TMC is actually at the top of my list for the companies I would want to start with. I will look into Melton. How do you like it so far there?

Not on the road yet but its not to bad so far. as soon as i go solo i am thinking of doing video logging on youtube.