What is a decent starting hourly wage for truck driving?

[ohiomohawk]

I would like to here your input. 8) What is an unacceptable hourly wage?

[Roadhog]

$17.00 maybe

this is light delivery in Columbus;

Truck drivers, light or delivery services (Occupation [OCC] code: 53-3033) in Columbus, OH (BLS Area code: 18140 ) earned an average wage of $14.33 per hour and an average annual salary of $29,810

[Mackman]

around where i live is about 17-18 hr.

[mattocs]

You are referring to local?

It really depends. Location, company, etc.

Could be as low as $9/hr for a small company doing basic stuff, but could be upwards of $20+/hr if you get with a nice union company.

What are you looking for? Be more specific.

[Mr. Ford95]

Totally depends on the company/location. I'm making $17.50 but a concrete mixing company 10 minutes from my house is starting drivers at $13. Other companies hauling sand/rock are paying the same to more than what I am seeing. I started at $15 an hour moving equipment and sometimes getting a load of rock. OTR companies advertising in my local paper are showing a starting rate equivalent to about $15 an hour.

[Blind Driver]

I would like to here your input. 8) What is an unacceptable hourly wage?

minimum wage :wink:

I had a company localy offered me $11/hr
But I could work Saturdays for piece work :sad:

[Jimbpard]

Unacceptable to me is $12/hr or less. I actually just turned down a job yesterday for that. They were offering $12/hr, 9 hours per day, 6 days a week. Really when you figure it out, it aint too bad..Union job swaping trailers back and forth from production facility to storage facility...I just aint into 6 days a week and $12/hr to start sucks....In a way..
$12 x 40hrs/wk = $480.00
$18(ot) x 14hrs OT = $252.00
Total for week would be $732.00

Personally, I look to get around $15/hr or more, considering I have no accidents or tickets. Though most of the time, I dont get to offer my input..

[mountaindog]

In San Diego, which is primarily a 'local' market because of the closeness of the LA/Long Beach ports, 17-21 an hour is the range for someone with one year of OTR and one year local P&D under their belt. The entry level here is not quite as good. I'm in the middle of the year of local work, and only doing 13.50 an hour through a temp agency. I have begun to look elsewhere, as that 'magic' 2 year mark comes closer. I was told it has to do more with insurance than anything else, as to the reason why 2 years seems to be the 'benchmark' to break into this market. Phoenix seemed the same way. Don't know about the rest of the country.

[GTR SILVER]

in my area...........for roll offs or dump trailers if they take you with no exp....is 19 p/hr........to start............to.......22.50p/hr....to start...

i've heard union guys can top out at 28--34 p/hr :shock: :shock:

try the union outfits.....BOL 2 ya!!!!! 8) 8) 8)

[line_transporter]

anything less than 17 is unacceptable. The people who drive forklifts get 15/hr, and it wouldnt seeem right getting the same pay as them driving an 18 wheeler. :shock:

LT

[Cluggy619]

I beleive that the amount is considerable to the cost of living where you live. If you live in an area where the cost are low, you could start out lower amount.

But I believe that anything lower than $650 per week is the bottom line, and only if you are in a area that the cost of living is low. And this is for local work only.

Every driver that is OTR should be paid at least $1000+ per week, no matter where they live.

[Orangetxguy]

55 mile per hour X .27cents per mile = $14.85 per hour.

55 MPH X 8 hrs = 440 miles X .27= $118.80 per day.

55 mph X 10 hrs = 550 m X .27= $148.50 per day

55 mph X .30 cpm = $16.50 ph X 8 hrs(440miles) = $132.00 pd

550 X .30 = $165.00 pd.

55 mph X.35 cpm = $19.25 ph X 8 hrs(440 m)= $154.00

550 mX .35 = $192.50 (10 hrs)

How much do you value your work hour at?

[Cluggy619]

55 mile per hour X .27cents per mile = $14.85 per hour.

55 MPH X 8 hrs = 440 miles X .27= $118.80 per day.

55 mph X 10 hrs = 550 m X .27= $148.50 per day

55 mph X .30 cpm = $16.50 ph X 8 hrs(440miles) = $132.00 pd

550 X .30 = $165.00 pd.

55 mph X.35 cpm = $19.25 ph X 8 hrs(440 m)= $154.00

550 mX .35 = $192.50 (10 hrs)

How much do you value your work hour at?

2000 miles X .27 cpm = $540.00 per week

2000 miles X .30 cpm = $600.00 per week

2000 miles X .35 cpm = $700.00 per week

2250 miles X .27 cpm = $607.05 per week

2250 miles X .30 cpm = $675.00 per week

2250 miles X .35 cpm = $787.50 per week

2500 miles X .27 cpm = $675.00 per week

2500 miles X .30 cpm = $750.00 per week

2500 miles X .35 cpm = $875.00 per week

I'll stop there, because going over 2500 miles per week is rare in the OTR world today, even though some drivers do, most do not.

The amount of miles shown is that provided over a 7 day week. Now, most drivers are paid more per mile, I think the average starting pay is around .40 cpm. So why are some/many drivers dead set against being OTR? Simple. We weren't getting those miles above. Let me put one more set of numbers up:

• 2500 miles X .34 cpm = $ 850.00 per week.
  [list:a3d432b618]I would have been a happy camper at JB Hunt if I have gotten these miles I was promised by the recruiter.

2250 miles X .34 cpm = $ 765.00 per week.

• I would have been not so happy with the company, but would have stayed at JB Hunt, and not complained if I have gotten these mile as promised at orientation.

[/list:u:a3d432b618]

In my book, what I was paid was not worth me being away from my home.

There is nothing wrong with being paid cpm, as long as you receive the miles. :wink:

[Orange Andy]

Just curious Josborn, how many miles did you actually end up with at JB Hunt?

[Orangetxguy]

55 mile per hour X .27cents per mile = $14.85 per hour.

55 MPH X 8 hrs = 440 miles X .27= $118.80 per day.

55 mph X 10 hrs = 550 m X .27= $148.50 per day

55 mph X .30 cpm = $16.50 ph X 8 hrs(440miles) = $132.00 pd

550 X .30 = $165.00 pd.

55 mph X.35 cpm = $19.25 ph X 8 hrs(440 m)= $154.00

550 mX .35 = $192.50 (10 hrs)

How much do you value your work hour at?

2000 miles X .27 cpm = $540.00 per week

2000 miles X .30 cpm = $600.00 per week

2000 miles X .35 cpm = $700.00 per week

2250 miles X .27 cpm = $607.05 per week

2250 miles X .30 cpm = $675.00 per week

2250 miles X .35 cpm = $787.50 per week

2500 miles X .27 cpm = $675.00 per week

2500 miles X .30 cpm = $750.00 per week

2500 miles X .35 cpm = $875.00 per week

I'll stop there, because going over 2500 miles per week is rare in the OTR world today, even though some drivers do, most do not.

The amount of miles shown is that provided over a 7 day week. Now, most drivers are paid more per mile, I think the average starting pay is around .40 cpm. So why are some/many drivers dead set against being OTR? Simple. We weren't getting those miles above. Let me put one more set of numbers up:

• 2500 miles X .34 cpm = $ 850.00 per week.
  [list:44784af9aa]I would have been a happy camper at JB Hunt if I have gotten these miles I was promised by the recruiter.

2250 miles X .34 cpm = $ 765.00 per week.

• I would have been not so happy with the company, but would have stayed at JB Hunt, and not complained if I have gotten these mile as promised at orientation.

[/list:u:44784af9aa]

In my book, what I was paid was not worth me being away from my home.

There is nothing wrong with being paid cpm, as long as you receive the miles. :wink:

LOL...Now C-meister..you did not catch my drift.
By doing the math, using 55 miles per hour as a baseling, I was simply trying to point out, what a decent hourly wage could be figured on.

If you wanted to use 45 miles per hour as the base line, the numbers change drastically.

45 mph X .27cpm = $12.15 an hour X 8 hrs = $97.20 per day.

Many trucking companies derive their "driver hourly wage", using a mph baseline.

Again I ask.....What is "YOUR" time worth to you? That is what each man & woman choosing to drive, needs to figure out.

A "local driver" doing P&D, getting paid cpm for driving, $$ per hour for labor, needs to be capable of figuring out how many miles they can average daily, as well as how many hours labor they can produce, doing the job, there by deriving a daily wage.

If an OTR driver is only getting 350 miles a day, with pick & drop pay adding an addition $15.00 to the day's earnings, that OTR driver needs to figure what their driving time is worth, then campaign to receive those wages. Also..by "campaign" I do not mean addressing their wage concerns to a dispatcher or "driver manager". Those people do not set driver wage. That is done by the "recruitment & detention" manager's. That is where a driver needs to address wage concerns.

Myself...If I averaged 550 miles per day, as a company driver, I would expect a cpm rate of 43.5 cents per mile. That would cover a 10 hour work day.

[Cluggy619]

LOL...Now C-meister..you did not catch my drift.
By doing the math, using 55 miles per hour as a baseling, I was simply trying to point out, what a decent hourly wage could be figured on.

If you wanted to use 45 miles per hour as the base line, the numbers change drastically.

45 mph X .27cpm = $12.15 an hour X 8 hrs = $97.20 per day.

Many trucking companies derive their "driver hourly wage", using a mph baseline.

Again I ask.....What is "YOUR" time worth to you? That is what each man & woman choosing to drive, needs to figure out.

A "local driver" doing P&D, getting paid cpm for driving, $$ per hour for labor, needs to be capable of figuring out how many miles they can average daily, as well as how many hours labor they can produce, doing the job, there by deriving a daily wage.

If an OTR driver is only getting 350 miles a day, with pick & drop pay adding an addition $15.00 to the day's earnings, that OTR driver needs to figure what their driving time is worth, then campaign to receive those wages. Also..by "campaign" I do not mean addressing their wage concerns to a dispatcher or "driver manager". Those people do not set driver wage. That is done by the "recruitment & detention" manager's. That is where a driver needs to address wage concerns.

Myself...If I averaged 550 miles per day, as a company driver, I would expect a cpm rate of 43.5 cents per mile. That would cover a 10 hour work day.

Ohhh....ok.

Thanks for the info. :wink:

[Cluggy619]

Just curious Josborn, how many miles did you actually end up with at JB Hunt?

I received during the 3 months I was with them 1500 - 2000 miles per week, with the last week at 2300 miles only because I was done at that point, and heading to Texas. I took every run they had to give, and on the last day, I gave up. My fuel tanks was full, and I didn't leave them much choice. Find me a run going home, or I'll drive it back empty. Either way, I was heading back. They decided to have a load from Iowa to Dallas.

Now, the question is would I ever go back to OTR? Maybe, but my wage would have to be guarantee $1000 per week. And that would be in writing before I go to orientation. Otherwise, why bother? :wink:

[Cluggy619]

Now, working for Southwest Petroleum Transport, I'm guarantee $1500 per payday. That's about 3 loads per day (paid by the load), 5 days per week. I do local fuel transport. And I get paid twice a month.

I figured that the reason that I'm guarantee my paycheck is because they always have more work. I have never been paid the guarantee because I have always made more. :wink:

[kc0iv]

Now, working for Southwest Petroleum Transport, I'm guarantee $1500 per payday. That's about 3 loads per day (paid by the load), 5 days per week. I do local fuel transport. And I get paid twice a month.

I figured that the reason that I'm guarantee my paycheck is because they always have more work. I have never been paid the guarantee because I have always made more. :wink:

So are you saying you have a signed contract that says you will receive $1500 per payday?

kc0iv

[Cluggy619]

Now, working for Southwest Petroleum Transport, I'm guarantee $1500 per payday. That's about 3 loads per day (paid by the load), 5 days per week. I do local fuel transport. And I get paid twice a month.

I figured that the reason that I'm guarantee my paycheck is because they always have more work. I have never been paid the guarantee because I have always made more. :wink:

So are you saying you have a signed contract that says you will receive $1500 per payday?

kc0iv

No, I got something better. I have their word. Now to someone like yourself whom have decided to go around and ask stupid questions in order to bring discredit to everyone else, I don't think that will have much meaning.

I know the owners of this privately own company. And they have never gone back on their word before. And I really doubt that they will.

That's the different between a small family own company, and most of the mcmega carriers. My company doesn't need recruiters to bring drivers to them. When you got something good, people come to you.

However, for everyone else going into a different company, maybe a written contract is not a bad ideal. I know it will take one before I ever believe a recruiter's word on what other companies pay.

So maybe your right in asking. Not knowing my company, maybe you have doubts. I guess that's ok in that sense. But I don't believe that is the reason you ask that question.

I could be wrong. :wink: