Quote:
Originally Posted by korekalido
Whats this truck drivers dont make any money. i'm getting ready to get my CDL because all i've heard was truck driving is were the money is. I'm 42 and never maid 30,000 a year, this is why i've decided to become a otr driver. Is all a lie?
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That is part of what drew me into trucking in the first place. The availability of jobs and the pay rate. However, most of the "good" jobs (higher paying, better benefits, etc.) all require 2 years or more of experience, usually OTR. There are also "local" jobs to be had, but the majority of those are beverage companies (Coke, Pepsi, beer) or food service (Sysco) which require a lot of manual labor and 12+ hour days for average pay.
Once in a while you may get the opportunity for something better, but the probability of that is relatively low (though it is highly area dependent). Keep in mind that just starting out, you will be relegated to the "bottom feeder" companies like Swift, Werner, US Express, and so on.
The
potential to make money is there, but it depends on how hard you are willing to run and how often you want to run. You'll usually make more money by running OTR than regional, but you'll be away from home more often. Conversely, the opposite is true with a regional run - more home time, less money. Then there are dedicated accounts which can vary widely depending on the company and the account.
Disclaimer:
I tried to make a career out of trucking and didn't like it, so I left. I figured if I were going to invest 2 years of my life into a career, it would be one with a higher income potential and one where I could stay at home. Ultimately though, it is up to you as to whether or not you want to get into the field. I'm not going to tell you that it'll ruin your life or anything..it could be the best thing to ever happen to you. I'm offering a different view than some others will give you - nothing more, nothing less.