It would be LESS then minimum wage. This is NOT a job. (OTR) It's a life style. You either want to live it, or you don't. It's really up to the individual.

Two things that will tear you up as a newb.

Sitting idle.
Dispatchers.

There is a large amount of idle time. Waiting to load, unload, waiting for a dispatch. Bring plenty to do when you finally get your own truck. Like to read? Bring books, like movies bring alot of them. Play the guatar? Load it in the truck. It's not a matter of if you have down time, it's a matter of when you do.

I know several guys that almost quit that started with me because of pushy dispatchers. You have to learn to do two things at the same time. A: push back, and B: kiss butt. YOu don't want to be pushed around and not be able to get home when you need to be there, and you don't want to make them so mad that you can't get any miles from them.. it's frustraiting for a while figuring out a good balance.

hmm... those were pretty mcuh the downers for me when I first started.. been doing it a year and a half now and I love it. I was just home for three weeks over christmas and new years and I about went out of my mind. I love it out on the road.

Good luck!

 

Where can I sign up for the class. Do you teach it :-D

 

With the exception of what I received in trainee pay, that was never my experience!!

It's been a couple of years since I drove OTR, but I could knock out about 2900 miles with 70 hours work (before log book adjustments) with no trouble at all, and gross about $870.00.

If you do the arithmetic, it came to around $10.00 per hour. Since that Time, pay rated have gone up a little bit, for the most part.

2900 miles at $0.30CPM= $870.00 (70 hrs. of actual work)

Break it down to hourly:

40hrs.x $10/hr.= $400.00
30hrs. X 1.5hrs. X $10.00/hr.= $450.00
$400.00+ $450.00- $850.00

So, as you can see, $870.00 for 70hrs. of actual (not logged) comes to a little over $10.00 per hour; not a helluva lot of money, but better than minimum wage!!

Now, as I said, that was a couple of years ago.

If you are not getting that today, or something close to it, then as far as I'm concerned, you are working for the wrong company.

In all fairness, I will say that I worked for a very good company, and I had an awesome dispatcher who kept me running well; I didn't have to wait very long between loads, either.

 

Actually I applied to Southeastern Freight, local driving, and their online application had a 32 page psychological test. It was a pain in the rear answering all those questions. Here's the website of the company they use to do their screening http://www.unicru.com/

As for my 2 cents, I've only been OTR two months, I hope I can make it. I love driving, I can sit there for 11 hours with my foot on the pedal. (I was worried if I could do that) I have no problem with the living conditions. (I'm actually suited for these conditions) I have no problem being alone.

What gets me though, is it's like it's okay that they will abuse you for the first year. Seems like everyone takes that for granted. It's bad enough being paid 28 cents a mile which is what I heard they were paying people 20 years ago, but that coupled with the low mileage and this is absurd.

I just hope I can hang on. The thought of going back local turns my stomach.

 

I find many people think driving truck is all excitement and fun like they see on t.v. or in the movies. When I tell them it's not like that and some of what it's really like they don't believe me. It's definitely not for everyone. Drive safe everyone

 

either too many lot lizards.... :lol: :lol:

 

There is a screening test that Central Oregon uses before hiring drivers.

http://www.scheig.com/content/systems.aspx

 

The only problem with this is who will give the Psyche(spelling) evaluations to the company's. Its nothing new to the trucking industry, If company's would keep with the good pay, they could expect more drivers following their company guidelines. Its a sorry thing these days when the work ethic is you get what you pay for!!

 

GMAN The days of pilots making money are over. A new 2nd officer at Mesa airlines makes about 18K a year. A new Captain for Southwest around 37K. Yes there are a few experienced folks working for United and Delta making 50 - 100K but in a rapid pace these jobs are going away.

It was true that pilots used to have a BS because most pilots came from the military. However, especially in the regional airlines .. the 2nd officer has nothing more than 400 - 800 hours as an instructor. Some regional that fly regional jets require the 2nd officer to have an ATP that requires 1500 hours total time. Many of these kids graduate today from a school like ATP Flight school rather than college. They have much more investment in dollars than a trucker .. and make about the same pay these days. You make a good point that cheap tickets like cheap freight has its costs.

BTW) I have thought of putting my nursing license to work. (Took NCLEX in 1981 when I was a medic) Starting pay in $20 per hour. I average 18.75 per duty hour. (Certainly not comparing lifestyles.) Not much more money for a job requiring a lot of education.

I think there has been an overall decline in job availability and salary since 2002. So the question I beleive is not how much money ... but whether Trucking is meaningful and fulfilling.

 

I have been on this board for a little over a year.

The first time I quit I was prepared to back into situations that required a 45 degree ally dock. I found out that most of the docks required maneuvers in spaces not at all designed for 70 foot of truck. Many were blind side backs or serpentine maneuvers between cars, fences, posts, walls .. well you get it. In some cases safety was a direct question. Thus the stress was unbelievable and I was a wash out ..

After quitting Gordon I got myself ready for reality. I joined Watkins and Shepard. They go into the smaller mom and pop shops some really difficult situations, but now I am prepared. I just look at the situation and if things are not what I believe can be done .. I am assertive. "This dock might be doable by the last driver but we are going to unload this on the street ..."