Thinking of Driving

[letsparta69]

I am currently working in a warehouse and bored with my job and was wondering if i could afford things being out on the road. I currently dont have a CDL but want to get it but was wondering if it would be worth it. To get to the point I was just wondering what is usually the starting pay? I've visited all the trucking websites and of course they make it seem like you just make a killing driving. I've got to make atleast in the mid 30's for it to be worth my time. Because got kids, girlfriend and a dog to feed. LOL. Please just let me know what average pay i could be looking at.

[matcat]

I can give you the run down on what it is like going to Swift, which would be very similar to most mega carriers if you get your CDL via them.

3 to 6 weeks in their school, no pay, plus swift asks for $150 when you get there, only upfront cost, of course you ought to have atleast 6 weeks of money for your own expenses, with swift that was only food really, the motels have most of the personal amenities you need otherwise.

Assuming you can get with a mentor (driver trainer) right after graduating the school and getting your CDL (Is very possible if you are persistent), you will get paid your first paycheck within about a week of starting with the trainer. And get one every week after that. Once you go on your own, assuming you get a truck right away after finishing with a trainer, you will get a $500 cash bonus upon completion of your first solo load, and of course your weekly paycheck, which will depend heavily on the loads you get. First few months will be crappy, as they will give you crap loads to make sure you will be able to handle it, after that it gets better.

Obviously this is a run-down based on swift, but again very similar to most other mega carriers.

with swift particularly, I was grossing $500 to $1100 a week, not too bad, although I was bad about taking out the weekly loans, so I usually got take home anywhere from $200 to $800.

Not having a single bill other then my phone, I was able to be comfortable and buy all the toys I wanted while out on the road, and still be able to eat at the buffet every night for dinner, as well as the about monthly expensive trip to mexico :P.

[letsparta69]

So you telling me your not guaranteed a job when you graduate? I thought when you went to their own trucking school then you were pretty guaranteed a job when graduate. 6 weeks without a pay check would be pretty ruff. So starting off you made between 500 and 1100 a week? What kind of runs were you doing? To where?

[Syncrosonix]

annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddd....once you've completed your contracted time with swift. you'll then be tossed to the side, the bull**** stacks higher, and higher, and higher. when you're nearing the 2 year marker, more bull**** will be tossed at you.

basically, i've began to wake up that swift does not care for their experienced drivers. they want to rotate the drivers so the experienced ones are either laid off or quit, the newbies come in, and swift gets to keep the wages low. if you sign that contract with them. do the time, and get the hell outta there ASAP.

there, i've finally said just a tad bit of what's been bothering the fizzuck outta me. are the rest of you on lalaCADland satisfied?

[matcat]

No you are not guaranteed employment by any of the training companies. And as far as where I went, I had been to every state with the exception of the far north west within 5 months. Mostly though up and down the east coast, usually something like PA/NY/NJ, to TN, to the Carolinas, and back up to PA/NY/NJ. That triangle would be broken up here and there going to either Texas, Florida, Kansas, Colorado, and sometimes up into the new England states. Only ever made it out west once, had to go to LA Port, got my ***** lost too getting out of there, hehe.

But the reality of swift, where you go depends on where you live, and the terminal you belong to, and your DM.

[Syncrosonix]

Only ever made it out west once, had to go to LA Port, got my ***** lost too getting out of there, hehe.

long beach port? that one sucks. the port of seattle sucks even more.

as for freight, pre-plans are sent left & right whenever i was in the mid-west. the west coast, southwest, pacific northwest, and most of the east coast are too dense. i find myself sitting more often in those parts.

[ajritter04]

annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddd....once you've completed your contracted time with swift. you'll then be tossed to the side, the bull**** stacks higher, and higher, and higher. when you're nearing the 2 year marker, more bull**** will be tossed at you.

basically, i've began to wake up that swift does not care for their experienced drivers. they want to rotate the drivers so the experienced ones are either laid off or quit, the newbies come in, and swift gets to keep the wages low. if you sign that contract with them. do the time, and get the hell outta there ASAP.

there, i've finally said just a tad bit of what's been bothering the fizzuck outta me. are the rest of you on lalaCADland satisfied?

I went from Swift to a nice cushy local job. I'm not going to pull a CFM (Cold Frosty Mug) tirade or anything..just sayin'.

I get paid by the hour regardless of what I'm doing, hardest thing I do is drag a fuel hose maybe 6 - 10 feet away from my truck, and I get nights & weekends off.

I didn't have 2 years OTR experience either.....there are good local jobs that don't require 2 (or more), you just have to look for them and grab an opening if one becomes available.

Although, if you're still wanting an OTR position and don't mind a bit of a workout, you might want to think about going skateboarding. Generally, shippers and receivers alike are happy to see a flatbed show up as opposed to the disdain a lumper feels when yet another driver shows up at his dock at the grocery warehouse.

[letsparta69]

So just starting out what company do you suggest going with? I live in North Carolina. You think be best for me to get my CDL permit on my own and then go to a company? That pay you were talkning about, is that in the begining? Because I need to bring home atleast 700weekly.

[letsparta69]

How long were you at swift? So how does this contract work? How many years have to drive with them? Yeah i'd love to have a local job but i figured would have to put my time on the open road before get something like that.

[Syncrosonix]

currently with them and my time here is coming to an end. i can feel it. i hear the ltl thang shouting at me. january 31st, 2009 will be my 2 year anniversary.

if you go to their academy, they'll make you sign a 13 month contract with them. during that time, deductions will be made from your pay to pay off your school loan. if you leave before the loan is paid off, be prepared to get hit hard with payments with insane interest rates.

as many have and will say, get your experience with swift, cr england, central refrigerated (sister company to swift), crst (strictly team operation), prime, pride, stevens transport, schnieder (ugly orange pumpkin trucks), covenant (a "christian" company), and simply move on to better opportunities.

[letsparta69]

LOL I hear yah Sync. So what kind of pay would i be looking at?

[ajritter04]

LOL I hear yah Sync. So what kind of pay would i be looking at?

IIRC...

Training Weeks 1 & 2 - $350
Training Weeks 3 & 4 - $400
Training Weeks 5 & 6 - $500

26 cpm (Cents Per Mile) when you're solo.

Of course, there's detention pay, layover pay, multiple stop pay, etc that can be added in, but 26cpm is the base you're looking at. Swift also pays HHG (Household Guide) miles, which means from zip code to zip code as opposed to "practical" mileage.

Basically, if you drove 500 miles, but HHG guide says it's only 475, you'll only be paid for 475 miles. A difference of something like $7, but over the course of a month, and eventually a year, it adds up to a pretty good chunk of change.

For what they are, a "starter" company, Swift isn't all bad. You could do worse. England and their "fleece purchase" program comes to mind.

[Syncrosonix]

maybe only a few times have i ever received breakdown, detention, extra stop, and unloading pay. the most recent detention pay i received was a week and a half ago when i was at the norfolk southern rail yard in ****cago, il waiting on an empty trailer to come in on track 3. i waited allllllllll through saturday night and finally got hooked up to it 12hrs later. i hardly got any sleep because the rail yard is in the hood. for 5hrs straight, i heard non-stop sirens from mostly police cars and ambulances.

you'll have to constantly run your ass off to break $700 a week in take home pay. i no longer really see the point in doing so because of those hhg miles. in the midwest, zip codes are pretty huge, so you'll be cheated out of quite a bit of miles. like mentioned before, all those shafted miles will come back at you in the long run. it'll leave you feeling cheated, used, and abused.

[letsparta69]

So your telling me it would be hard to make $700 a week? That doesnt sound good. Those sites make it seem like i'd be makin close to 41g a year starting out. How about a friend and me going in there as a team? Better pay or is everything just split?

[Syncrosonix]

the first few months, $700 weekly is hard to come by as a solo driver. team driving, the pay starts out at ~$.36 a mile, or something like that, but it's split. so you're only getting ~$.15 1/2 per mile. you'll basically have to drive twice as many miles compared to a solo driver just to make ends meet. team driving should only be done with a person you can trust with your life. even then, being confined to a truck will become a bit iffy. it'll probably drive the both of you crazy. i prefer sleeping in a stationary vehicle, too.

if you want your cdl and don't have the money to put forth with an outside school. go for a training company with their own school. do your contracted time, get that school loan paid off, and then check out other gigs.

[dle]

Did I miss something, can you afford to pay for your own training? There are a number of companies that will re-imburse you for your training that you get from a 3rd party (community college eg).

As a brand new solo, you would be very hard pressed to make $700 net a week. Just keep in mind that the majority of truck drivers get paid by the mile - if the wheels don't turn ----- you don't get paid.

What company should you pick ---- pick one that has a terminal close to your home that you like the smell of.

[letsparta69]

I would rather have a company pay for my schooling if possible but i dont know it would be hard doing just for 700 weekly. I currently make 500 a week which would be a plus to make 700 but also have to figure in putting the youngins in daycare while the wifey is at work which i dont have do now. I think i would enjoy the job its just have to make more to be worth it u know?

[dle]

Things to keep in mind:

You will be GONE from HOME for 3 or more weeks at a time.
You will have to fix problems over the phone, you can't say ok i'll be home in a few minutes.
You will not have a "normal" work day.
You will not get paid if the truck does not move with freight.
You will drive in all kinds of weather and road conditions day and night.
You will be 3/4th tired 98% of the time.
You will miss important family events.

Is this worth it for you?

Has anyone explained to you what the training / hiring process is like for a truck driver?

[letsparta69]

Yeah i've heard different things here and there. I havent called anybody to get info just going by whats on websites and what people have to say here. I just want a change in my life and thought the money might be decent and enjoy traveling the country and getting away from home some.(Well alot ) I mean does the money get nice or does it stay below a g a week?

[Colts Fan]

I'm in my first year and I average over 1K/wk gross. But I got very lucky and found a local gig that has me home often. But make no mistake, I work LONG hours to make that money. Where are you from? If you live in the sticks a good local job is hard to come by. But after you gain some experience (1 or 2 years) more opportunities will open and you can make some good cheese local or OTR.

My father-in-law grosses $1600-1800/wk OTR as a company driver for a window manufacturer. There are many opportunities out there.