First off I ask because I don't know instead of assuming or thinking I have the answer

Does truck driving really pay well enough to allow you to pay month to month bills at home and your expenses while on the road (as a company man at first) to allow you to save you the $$ for a rig with no loan? How many years did it take you guys to get your own rig with cash?

I'm really not gettin into trucking for the $$ I just want to travel and see more of this wonderful country of ours and if I happen to make a few bucks along the way all the more the better. But I would love to own my own rig in a few years so I can travel in my style not the companies

Thanks.

Of course you can earn enough to pay monthly bills. Otherwise, there would not be anyone who would work in this industry. I have done fairly well in this business. Many others have, as well. You are not likely to get rich driving a truck, but you can earn an above income. If you discipline yourself to save money out of every paycheck and avoid the temptation to play the video games and blow your money, you can have enough in a few years to pay cash for a truck. As to how long it will take, it depend on how disciplined you are and how much you set aside. We all are different. The more you pay for your truck, the longer you need to save.

gman,

just curious......completely understand that everyone is different and has different needs or obligations.....but what would you say is a reasonable average % of pay that should be set aside?

I basically have the necessity bills (rent, power, food, gas, cable) at home and being in western maryland that totals like $600/mo. So saving shouldn't be that hard if i can resist the urge to splurge lol. My last several jobs have been low paying so i/we (family) have learned to cope with no extras.

But like devil dice asked. is there a ballpark % or any recommended ways to save 20-25k over the next 5-6 years (sooner if I can afford to) so i can get a nice used truck. Don't want a new one (would love one lol but not gonna cough up that much when there's alot of nice used rigs out there).

Thanks

If 600.00 a month worth of bills is all you have at home then you will be able to get a truck of your own in no time.
Somehow I think you are selling yourself short with 600 a month. Rent, power,gas, food, cable,entertainment, phone, has to be more then 600. I somehow think your household bills are more than 600.
If I could live that cheap I would be a millionaire by now.
Figure this for road expense, 30.00 a day for food at say 5 days a week is 150.00. I always spend at least 200.00 a week. Eating out of a truck can get old real quick. this keeps you in the truck to much and hinders your digestive system, because you don't get the exercise. You have to get out of the truck at sometime during every day to stay healthy. You may think I'm young and I can handle it, then look at many drivers weight and health. You will pay for it when you get older, believe ME on this.I have tried it all in the last 30yrs you will get burned out! Its hard to save money when you pay household bills and road bills also. Lets say you make 1000.00 a week, after taxes you bring home maybe 750.00. Take 200.00 for road bills that's 550.00 left for household bills and savings. and gives you no money for entertainment like a little bar money every now and then. If you smoke you know the average smoker spends 120.00 a month. Just remember all the little things add up. If you saved 300.00 a week x 52 weeks this is 15600.00 a year savings. I really doubt you will really be able to save this much. Now I don't know if you have a family but my family could never live on 600.00 a month. If you don't have a family, I would just live on the road for a couple of years and your bank account would be LARGE...lol

I do have a family... long story there lol another time. G/f, her 4y/o and our 6mo. (my only child and my baby boy). Our rent is $350/mo so that helps it be low. We're on foodstamps/wic now cause of the baby and my last job didn't pay for nothing, but I'm sure thats gonna end once I start makin money so that will up household expenses. Also yes we both smoke and I forgot to figure that into everything.

But if I can manage to put away $100/week then 100x52 = 5,200/yr x 4 yrs = 20+k = my own used rig I'd rather learn to drive in someone elses rig neways

But if things turn sour at home then I'll lose all expenses sides smoking and food for me (and pickup child support probably depending on how bad it gets) and that'd allow me to save more each week

Thanks for the responses everyone

Try to make things work at home, the childsupport thing will kick your butt. Your child needs a father and you need the child.

Yeah I guess what I said could've been taken badly. I'm not going on the road so I can lose my son. I love him to death, and he's the only thing keepin me goin day to day lately.

I wanna be a driver because I've wanted to do it for several years now and finally grew the b@ll$ to tell everyone that doesn't want me to do it to kiss my taillights.

I hope things do work out at home for me, but just keepin the possibility there because it is.