There's a turnpike doubles run that opened up at my terminal. It's hauling two 48' trailers terminal-to-terminal on the pike. The guy who's retiring made $110,000 last year. 4 weeks paid vacation and holidays, Teamster pension & 401k, health bennies with $0 co-pays, and no truck payment.

But if you want to live in a truck for $50k or less and work round the clock then go for it. Tons of such jobs available.

You can't say definitively that local pays more than otr, nor can you say that otr always pays more than local. It depends on where you run, what you haul and the company. At least one poster mentioned that he isn't making nearly as much working local as he did otr. He is currently thinking about buying his own truck and going otr. Some claim they are getting rich running local. Some of us do pretty well doing OTR. I have looked at local, but everything that I have looked at would require me to take a pay cut from otr. There are others on this board who would probably also have to take a pay cut to come off the road and run local. If you have limited experience you may do as well or possibly a little better local than otr. A good otr driver has the potential to earn more than a local driver. I have known of a few otr drivers who earn more than $100,000/year. These are NOT the norm and not likely pulling a box around. I don't know of ANY local drivers who will top $100,000/year. If you want to earn the bigger paychecks, you will need to find a niche' or get into more specialized hauling, such as car hauling, heavy haul, over-sized or some other area of hauling. You will not start out earning this much money no matter who you work for or what you haul. It takes time to learn your profession and to hone your skills.

NAME that LTL Company. Provide a valid manger's name, provide a valid telephone number and a valid City, State and street address!


Otherwise...crawl into a hole and drag dirt in behind you.

Should I waste my time getting TDG transportation of dangerous good certification and H2S awarness? to possibly increase my pay? or is it not worth it? what other type of certifications or tickets or training can I get to help me increase my pay besides experience

The general rule is the bigger and uglier the freight is, the more it pays.

Just to play devil's advocate our road drivers average 60-75k working 50-60 hrs. Our top driver has to be doing 95k plus. Its not hard to figure out. I know our payscale and I know the mileage on his run. But its all seniority (hes been there 18 years) so unless we add another long run no one else would make that. Top pay is .57 cpm and $22/hr, his run is 2780 miles a week and about 15 hrs on the clock. And yes he gets 4 weeks paid vacation and home every day working probably 60-65 hrs a week. But it takes 3 years to get to top pay, starts at .39 cpm. I dont know the premium for turnpike doubles but I do know where Lebron works (no I wont name it thats his business) and it is a teamster shop so they would be paid the same as us. I would think that turnpike doubles would be very desireable and would go to a senior man, but if not, the new guy still would not start out at top pay anyway. Even so considering the bennies and pay raises it would be a great job. I know some of our triples drivers at other terminals make $100,000. I know some UPS Parcel guys hit 100,000. They get about $29/hr, time and a half after 8 and double time after twelve. If the guy has a long run doing 65-70 hours a week, do the math. Thats why they all run the speed limit even if its 55. Why hurry? I still have another year to get to top pay. I'm at .51 cpm and $20.20/hr. I have a set run that takes me about 10 hours mon thru fri and I'll gross about 1250 a week. I'm not saying what or who's better I'm just answering the question. I've seen your numbers Orange and they are impressive. If you ask me an OTR O/O should make more money. You have alot more responsibility and a much bigger commitment. I looked at buying a truck but I'm not willing to commit that kind of money and time. I dont want to be wrenching, doing paperwork, finding loads etc, etc on weekends and off time. Anyone who is willing deserves to be well compensated. Again, its not a grudge match just answering questions.

There are no short cuts to earning top pay in this industry. Experience is usually the best way to increase your pay. Learn all that you can from each task assigned to you. Getting a hazmat endorsement might help you get on with some carriers, but won't necessarily mean more money in your pocket. It may get you the job, but not additional pay. Most carriers will pay experienced drivers more than new ones. As you hone your skills you will increase your value to a carrier. If you want to pull tankers around, you might make more money than pulling a van. You will need a tanker endorsement on your license. If I were starting out I would probably get all the endorsements so that I had more options. You could also pull flats. Although more physically demanding, you would probably have an opportunity to earn more money. Car hauling usually requires a couple of years driving experience, although there are some who may be more flexible. There are few reputable carriers who will allow an inexperienced driver to haul cars around. Another way to help you get the better jobs and pay is to stick with your employer for at least a year or two.

Snowman......I am simply fed-up with that mouth-piece belittling men and women who do the best they can, with what is available to them.


Union jobs may pay well. But he never acknowledges that one pitfall you did acknowledge...which is "Low-man on the totem-pole sits". The junior driver's at an LTL company starve, due to the union work rules.



My numbers are too low. Part of that is the economy. Part of that is truck repairs. If I weren't waiting on mechanics to do the work (I'm not a mechanic, and pulling the stuff I do, I'm not gonna play mechanic) that the truck needs, I would be closer to what Mike3 makes.
This turn through the shop, I had to get the front A/C fan in the dash replaced, some other electrical issues dealt with, as well as the overhead run, along with jakeheads adjusted..
After having 3 alignments done in the last few months, 3 tires are cupping bad on my drivers. Finding the cause was on my list of repairs. Just before they gave the truck back to me, they got a suggestion from Volvo in VA, and jacked the truck up to test the bearings in the drive axles. Found two that are bad. So I sit and wait some more. The mechanics all evacuated from the storm that didn't come here.


All total, I have 3 months of down time, due to no loads and truck repairs. I also took a 3 week vacation..but that I look at as "By choice" down time. So when you look at my numbers...you have to take into consideration the no work days. That is one reason I have remained leased where I am...I took a look at the "Repair" time, and cooled my jets on the $$$ issues. If the truck was up and running, and I was still sitting..then I would have a valid "Get out" reason.


When LBJ/CFM spouts off about how great the money is doing LTL, he never mentions the fact that low man makes far less $$$ than even the mid level people.

It's just the nature of LTL. Its not specific to union or non union. When I was at Conway (non union) I was starving some weeks and working 60 other weeks. Then they laid me off. This current job has been steady since day one. It takes alot of luck and timing to make it in LTL. The first couple years may go smooth or it could suck. The way the economy is right now very few companies are even hiring, some are laying off. I wont say LTL works for everyone. A single income family would have a hard time in the beginning. If you have a second income or low monthly bills its alot safer bet. Down the road the pay is well worth it.

I called Old Dominon here in Fontana once and they said I would be low man on the pole but might be able to work loading trailers while waiting for a route to open.

I turned them down, at my age it wasnt what I wanted to do in life.