How much can I expect in the 1st year ?

[Truck.PR]

Hi guys ! I live in Tampa, FL I'm car salesman and I will become a Truck Driver in one month since times are hard for the car industry a friend of mine told me about the truck industry plus I sold cars in the past to Truck Drivers and I know how much they make. I'm going to do my training with Roadmaster they have on site a couple of companies for hiring such as:

Werner Enterprises
CTL
Steven Transport
Covenant Transport
Cypress
Swift

My question is I already talked to CTL they offer Tuition re-imbursement up to $5,000 the driving is local since I'll be the newbie I will be nights and weekends and the pay is going to be based on the freight % they didn't told me how much the lady told me students drivers make around $500-$600 a week that sounds about right ? I'm struggling right now so $500 a week is good right now ! But not what I'm used to make but anyway. How much would I be expecting to make OTR as a student driver in my 1st year ?

Which company you would recommend to apply ? And which one is the best one listed above ?

Thanks for your help

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by Truck.PR

Hi guys ! I live in Tampa, FL I'm car salesman and I will become a Truck Driver in one month since times are hard for the car industry a friend of mine told me about the truck industry plus I sold cars in the past to Truck Drivers and I know how much they make. I'm going to do my training with Roadmaster they have on site a couple of companies for hiring such as:

Werner Enterprises
CTL
Steven Transport
Covenant Transport
Cypress
Swift

My question is I already talked to CTL they offer Tuition re-imbursement up to $5,000 the driving is local since I'll be the newbie I will be nights and weekends and the pay is going to be based on the freight % they didn't told me how much the lady told me students drivers make around $500-$600 a week that sounds about right ? I'm struggling right now so $500 a week is good right now ! But not what I'm used to make but anyway. How much would I be expecting to make OTR as a student driver in my 1st year ?

Which company you would recommend to apply ? And which one is the best one listed above ?

Thanks for your help

I wouldn't trust any of those companies if they tell you, a newbie, that you will be running "Local". Local, to someone like me, is home most nights. You might be sent out as a regional driver going multi-state (which basically is 1000 to 1500 from home) but most OTR companies don't send new drivers out on a truly local run, like an LTL (one day from home, tops) type business.

One thing you need to know is that lying is what most trucking company recruiters are paid to do, because, just like being in the military, you are just a number to them. That's why the turnover rate in the OTR trucking industry is so high among many of the companies you listed.

I don't know that much about CTL, but stay clear of Swift. They are NOT a good company to work for at all unless you want your CDL and don't mind running team for a year of your life at sub-standard wages.

[JLKKLJ777]

Figure on making about 35 to 40 grand your first calendar year. This is based on averaging about 2500 miles per week and earning .35 cpm. Most companies pay by the mile so the more miles you turn the more you will earn. Do not expect to be home more than once every other week though. Many carriers will expect you to be on the road for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.