$40,000

[Trucker574]

Thanks to all of you for the great guidance. I have decide to join the family of truckers. One question. Many companies are shooting at me approx. $40,000 as my first year earnings .

I know that the $40,000 is an average, some make a lot more while others may make a lot less. For my area that's great. The cost of living is low.

But at any rate, if my math is correct, in order to make that at the factory that I'm at :( they would have to pay me $20/hr, no OT. $20 X 40/hrs X 52 weeks/yr = $41600.

My question is, how many hours per week does an average driver put in? After all, if they send me OTR for 80 hours/wk then I'll be making more like $10/hr ??

[JLKKLJ777]

You will be allowed to drive up to 11 hours. Those 11 hours of driving must be completed within a 14 hour "work window." After you have reached either the 11 hour mark or the 14 hour mark you must stop for a mandatory 10 hour break.

The key to making money as an otr driver is to maximize your earnings through driving. Normally you will not be paid for your "on duty functions." These include; waiting for a dispatch, filling out paperwork, fueling, checking in with shippers and receivers, pre-trips, post trips (both are mandatory every day) with a DVIR written report required for the post trip inspection at the end of the day.

That said you are required to not only maintain your daily log book, and DVIR, but to perform computer work (depends on company) to include loaded calls, empty calls, available hours, check calls, etc.

The current HOS is designed to limit driving not "on duty not driving" time.

So to answer the original question; the answer is: you will work up to 14 hours per day until you hit your 70 hours in 8 day rule. This means you will probably wind up driving around 66 hours within that 8 day period and will have spent several more hours performing on duty functions for which you will not be paid.

If you really want to be discouraged. Start calculating all the time you are away from home. Compare that to how much money you grossed during that time. Divide the total hours away into your gross earnings and I think you will find out you are making less than minimum wage as a trucker today.

[sprtrkrwhenprkd]

Makes you all wonder why we get into this game. I guess that words ring true, this isn't a job, it's a lifestyle.

[atvnut]

Originally Posted by Trucker574

Thanks to all of you for the great guidance. I have decide to join the family of truckers. One question. Many companies are shooting at me approx. $40,000 as my first year earnings .

I know that the $40,000 is an average, some make a lot more while others may make a lot less. For my area that's great. The cost of living is low.

But at any rate, if my math is correct, in order to make that at the factory that I'm at :( they would have to pay me $20/hr, no OT. $20 X 40/hrs X 52 weeks/yr = $41600.

My question is, how many hours per week does an average driver put in? After all, if they send me OTR for 80 hours/wk then I'll be making more like $10/hr ??

Hey Trucker574... I don't know about the average OTR driver, I'm in LTL freight and home everynight but I do know that DOT Foods guarantees you 50,000 the first year. Check them out at dotfoods.com

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

If you as well add in the Per Deim rate of between $35.00-$41.00 per day, then the average is a wee bit higher.
You still do a LOT of stuff for FREE:
1) Fueling.
2) Waiting at Shippers/Receivers as the 1st 2-4 hours are FREE, depending upon Company.
3) Sleeper time and OFF DUTY time are generally FREE unless on Layover at a whopping $50.00 per 24 hrs. usually AFTER the first 12-24 hours.
4) Other things as they are applied.

One can drive up to 11 hours a day therefore one can drive up to eighty-eight hours in a 70 hour week (work this through with the d. o. t.), but one can work more than 70 hours in an eight day week as long as one is not driving.
So in essence, WE can work TWICE AS LONG as the average worker in a non Trucking environment and yet WE are unskilled??

[Booboy]

Originally Posted by Trucker574

Thanks to all of you for the great guidance. I have decide to join the family of truckers. One question. Many companies are shooting at me approx. $40,000 as my first year earnings .

I know that the $40,000 is an average, some make a lot more while others may make a lot less. For my area that's great. The cost of living is low.

But at any rate, if my math is correct, in order to make that at the factory that I'm at :( they would have to pay me $20/hr, no OT. $20 X 40/hrs X 52 weeks/yr = $41600.

My question is, how many hours per week does an average driver put in? After all, if they send me OTR for 80 hours/wk then I'll be making more like $10/hr ??

Check out other truckimg jobs besides combinations.