Truck Driving Jobs

zz4guy · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Marion, IA

Is it possible to come out ahead working 1-2 days a week doing local jobs? I have a full time desk job which pays very good so there is no way I'll give that up for OTR, but I do love to drive truck.

I have barely any driving experience but have passed a CDL test and got my class a cdl a few years ago. I'm 26 and have a decent record (no accidents and 1 20 over 4 yrs ago).

It seems a lot of you guys run about 2000 miles a week, but that is your primary income. How many miles does it take to cover your expenses each week (roughly)?

Thanks guys

Rawlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 1160 Location: Central Maine

The first thing that you need to ask yourself is:
Am I doing this to make a profit?
Because you asked about covering expenses. Why would you want to work hard just to cover expenses and have nothing to show for it? The purpose behind investing in a business is to make PROFIT!

What it takes to cover your expenses depends entirely on what your expenses are. If you are going to be working locally we will assume for the moment that you will be paid by the hour. Working 80 days per year at 10 hours per day = 800 hours total.

There are fixed and variable costs. The following numbers are examples and may or may not apply to your situation. There is no substitute for getting your own numbers by experience.
Insurance: $15,000 per year = $18.75 per hour
Truck payment: $25,000 per year = $31.25 per hour
Registration: $2,000 per year = $2.50 per hour
Maintenance $10,000 per year = $12.50 per hour.
Fuel: 10 gallons per hour = $30 per hour
Tires: $2400 per year = $3.00 per hour
Oil changes: $800 per year = $1.00 per hour.
Misc fluids: $1.00 per hour

So at this point you are at a cost of $100 per hour BEFORE operator wage.

If you can find local work that pays better than $100 per hour on your schedule then go for it. Here in Maine a tractor trailer end dump hauling gravel brings $65 per hour, and wood chip haulers bring in $75 to $85 per hour.

mudpuddle · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 214

If you would like to drive part time there is no reason to buy a truck. If you go to some local small trucking companies I am sure you would be able to find a job driving casually. You need to look for a small operation with four or five trucks these guys will usually have a truck around without a permanent driver to be used for breakdowns and the owner would be happy to put you in it for a day or two a week.

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

I knew a guy about 15 years ago that was a draftsman during the day and at night drove a truck for Roadway making one delivery every night into Boston. I'm not sure how he got the job but he also loved trucks and went out and got his CDL and this part time job.

ecnalubma · Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Eastern Canada

zz4guy:

I work full-time as a Paramedic but had the same desire to drive a truck casually as you do. I went and got my CDL in January and have been driving about once/twice a week since then. I drive for two different companies on an as-needed basis. They are both small businesses (one has 7 trucks and the other has about 15 trucks) and they have been wonderful at helping me fulfill my desire to drive a truck. I find where a person in this situation runs into problems is finding a company that will hire a casual driver due to a lack of continuous experience... this tends to be a problem with larger carriers around here, anyway. But these small businesses have been great and I'm having a lot of fun and making a bit of cash also. Hope this information is helpful.

rank · Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 1291

I know a guy that pulls vans on 200 mile trips for $17/hr. Works when he wants.

Where are you? Think you can handle a 53' double drop (18" off the ground, 13'6", 80,000lbs)?

zz4guy · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Marion, IA

rank wrote: I know a guy that pulls vans on 200 mile trips for $17/hr. Works when he wants.

Where are you? Think you can handle a 53' double drop (18" off the ground, 13'6", 80,000lbs)?

I'm in east Iowa. Not too sure about a 53' van but I'd like to learn. 8)

So how does the insurance thing work? Do I get my own liability? Because it has to be pretty expensive to insure somebody inexperienced like me. Can't imagine a little mom and pop outfit paying for it. Or did you guys mean just lease from the mom and pop outfit?

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