Beginning Truck Driver Pay

I recently heard on the radio about National truck driving school. Their advertisement states that truck drivers can start out at $60,000.00 a year . If this is true what can an experienced driver of 5 or 6 years make? If this is not true what can a new driver expect to make in the first year .

I recently heard on the radio about National truck driving school. Their advertisement states that truck drivers can start out at $60,000.00 a year . If this is true what can an experienced driver of 5 or 6 years make? If this is not true what can a new driver expect to make in the first year .

$32,000-$42,000 gross seems to be low to high end in your first year. $60,000 is just a draw in to get the recruiters numbers up in the case of inexperienced drivers. Yes, as time goes by $60,000 is not impossible but don't expect this until you have some good experience behind you and a developed, good relationship with a good dispatcher.

I recently heard on the radio about National truck driving school. Their advertisement states that truck drivers can start out at $60,000.00 a year . If this is true what can an experienced driver of 5 or 6 years make? If this is not true what can a new driver expect to make in the first year .

Also depends on your area, I'm in Minnesota, and depending on the type of freight-dry van, reefer , dedicated, tanker, etc. The pay scale can vary a lot. I have been offers from several large companies ranging from low 40's to mid 60's ...... but the higher paid jobs are require a lot of stops and hands on unloading of freight.

I am looking at taking an offer of 48k average to start..... .35 CPM , plus a $5000 sign on bonus, and tuition reimbursement since I paid the $4000 myself for school, this is a dedicated route that puts me on the road 5 days out, and 2 days home. Keeps me in a 6 state area delivering to Walmart stores.

I am looking at taking an offer of 48k average to start..... .35 CPM , plus a $5000 sign on bonus, and tuition reimbursement since I paid the $4000 myself for school, this is a dedicated route that puts me on the road 5 days out, and 2 days home. Keeps me in a 6 state area delivering to Walmart stores.

Are you including the sign-on bonus in your $48k figure cuz I don't think you're making $48k on 35 cents per mile and getting home on weekends. You would have to run 137,000 miles per year at that rate to make 48k and I don't see that happening on a dedicated regional Walmart run. The numbers are mathematically possible, but not likely. That's a ton of miles.

One of the few exceptions to the 32 to 36k is if you can get into an LTL company driving linehaul. Normally you had to have experience to get into these jobs but some are now even hiring right out of school. Iv'e made over $30,000 in my first 6 months and that actually included almost 4 weeks of training since I had less than 1yr experience when I started. But our training pay is WAY out of the normal pay range. I was actually paid as if I were running the loads on my own, and was getting lots of miles since I was being trained by senior drivers on their runs.

Woody

Are you including the sign-on bonus in your $48k figure cuz I don't think you're making $48k on 35 cents per mile and getting home on weekends. You would have to run 137,000 miles per year at that rate to make 48k and I don't see that happening on a dedicated regional Walmart run. The numbers are mathematically possible, but not likely. That's a ton of miles.

The average first year pay for most people is normally around $32k-$36k because you'll spend the first month or two in training where you won't make as much.

Being a dedicated route he is likely also paid per stop and unloading of product.

I have dedicated route like that which pays 37 cpm , $10 a stop, and about $100 for all the unloading per trailer full. Adds up to about $54k a year.

I got this route after my first six months of driving.

I am looking at taking an offer of 48k average to start..... .35 CPM , plus a $5000 sign on bonus, and tuition reimbursement since I paid the $4000 myself for school, this is a dedicated route that puts me on the road 5 days out, and 2 days home. Keeps me in a 6 state area delivering to Walmart stores.

Are you including the sign-on bonus in your $48k figure cuz I don't think you're making $48k on 35 cents per mile and getting home on weekends. You would have to run 137,000 miles per year at that rate to make 48k and I don't see that happening on a dedicated regional Walmart run. The numbers are mathematically possible, but not likely. That's a ton of miles.

The average first year pay for most people is normally around $32k-$36k because you'll spend the first month or two in training where you won't make as much.

Guess I'll find out when I get to orientation, but according to the recruiter average 2400 miles per week, starting at .35 with raises at 3,6,9 & 12 months, plus fuel, safety & productivity bonus.....without raises and bonus still comes in at over 43,500 - but training is less for up to 275 hours

500 miles a day, 5 days a week isn't that tough is it? Its all drop & hook according to recruiters.....and your home time is a 34 hour re-start so you drive 10-11 hours per day.....I know the recruiters are trying to get new drivers, but if the pay is in writing, then it must be correct?

Like Woody said, LTL is an exception. I would not be surprised if I hit 70-80k my rookie year.

To clarify, I'm linehaul - not P&D.

Like Woody said, LTL is an exception. I would not be surprised if I hit 70-80k my rookie year.

Awesome!!!!