I don’t think I can take the pay anymore

[-]

Ibrxhim_2@reddit

Come to portugal and join PRIMAFRIO, SALARY 3000€

[-]

My girlfriend just finished Schneider entry level driver training/orientation today. 2 week program.She got her cdl thru a community college for free. Goes out with on road "training engineer" for 5 days starting Monday. They're starting her at .65 cpm on day one. But her and I will be 48 state otr , 30 days out.

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Forward-Taste8956@reddit

I highly doubt the miles will be there

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CJCONTRERAS2021@reddit

In the meantime ...keep enjoying your negative outlook on life my brother

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Forward-Taste8956@reddit

Bro I make 6 figures I been driving for 5 years.. I’m only telling you the truth I’m not being negative.. Big company’s like that pay crap …Especially year 1 but hey maybe 25k-35k is good enough for you..

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CJCONTRERAS2021@reddit

We will find out. Not too worried about it. I know how to prove to my driver managers I can grind out miles if we get some cushion time so be it. I will enjoy the downtime with my girl and won't worry too much. She gotta get that 1st 3 to 9 months experience b4 we make Maxx $$ the only priority

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ImJobyBaby@reddit

Sysco

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Successful_Mail_7821@reddit

Hope you are not with Swift, they fuck the drivers at every turn. AND treat the office people worse.

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National-Internet-99@reddit

Flatbed

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jose_guapo_@reddit

You’re not fully applying yourself Smokey! You got to put in time. How are you complaining being in a new field? I bet you have less than a year in trucking. Smh. Bunch of crybabies

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

I do have less than a year. Regardless when you break down the paycheck and how many hours you worked you make less than a walmart shelf stocker. And yes I’ve compared checks to someone who just stocks shelves at Walmart. They’re almost the same.

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jose_guapo_@reddit

Work harder. Trust me nobody here made big paychecks starting out in first 6 months. Find the tricks of the trade and it will be a lot smoother and easier to deal with

[-]

BluCollarGuyOG@reddit

First year sucks, try to stick it out, find a dedicated route. It'll help a LOT.

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Potential_Walk3839@reddit

cut down your at home overhead and your on the road expenses and change your mentality from a victim to a winner

or;

keep complaining

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Food service

[-]

bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Food service is the dream but there’s none near me. Dude who delivers bread to the stores in my area makes about 110ish and is home every day it’s crazy

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

You may need to go where the work is. Try to find a food service company that is mostly pallet drops with little dolly and work. I went from ramp and dolly to now mostly pallet drops. Or find out who does Aldis in your area, that’s pallet drops and six figures most likely.

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Or like you said, do bread and make bread

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LyubviMashina93@reddit

Bro people act like it's an atrocious amount of work. Like you're just dead every day and will have injuries. Because I really don't mind some exercise. I used to do concrete and all kinds of physical labor. I unloaded my trailers at Dollar general too. So I have to ask. How bad is it really?

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Physicballs1655@reddit

You’ve got to remember physical labor to truckers is different than to construction. A normal day of construction physical labor would have 95% of truckers in the hospital.

[-]

Southern-Action454@reddit

Have to disagree heavily with this statement, as someone who has done both construction and trucking. I would say anyone is capable of working construction, it about working smarter not herder, but more importantly truck driving can be very physically intensive. Depends on what your hauling, how you load/unload, where you’re hauling, etc.

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Ok-Salamander565@reddit

Lol maybe like 85-90%

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Traditional-Bee3016@reddit

Idk that's what I want to know

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Consistent-Mode-7947@reddit

Bustin ass all day long and lying on your timesheet that’s kept in the truck so you can bust ass all day long tomorrow on time.

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

The first couple of months of ramp and dolly work will definitely suck but after that it’s not too bad. It’s a job to where you can make a lot of money, but only after a few years of ramp and dolly work I was ready for something different. I work at a company now that does do some ramp and dolly work, but mostly uses a liftgate. A lot of stops are pallet drops, with some down stacking pallets as well. I’m on extra board with this new company and my schedule for next week is two days of pallet drops and three days of liftgate and dolly. Should make 1800-2200 for 55-60 hours

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yourlmagination@reddit

Aldi carrier in my area used to pay good, got bought out by Penske, and now it's garbage pay

[-]

Shinneman@reddit

I heard that also

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Yeah that’s definitely a factor

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JimmyBluffit420@reddit

Just hit my 1 year last month Running regional OTR flatbed with a small carrier, McElroy. Made $65K. Meh.

Just started with another small carrier this week. Local dedicated home daily at $26 hour with 55-60 hrs a week guaranteed.

Put your time. I plan on doing this for a year and then switching to fuel hauling.

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chisoku1126@reddit

thats exactly what im trying to do. but im still stuck at the damn dmv.

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JimmyBluffit420@reddit

What’s got you stuck at the dmv?

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Fuel or doubles can both be six figures

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anxious_polarbear@reddit

Fuel is where it's at. Paid by the hour, home daily.

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NoRelation1491@reddit

Fuel is the tits, I took all my PTO, all my sick days, unpaid days off, only worked 4 days a week during the slow winter months (about 3 months) and still made $102k in 2025......

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Turbulent_Elk8129@reddit

I read this is Shane's voice too. 😂

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SchityCityGangBang@reddit

This what I’m trying to get into. Well dairy tankers then eventually fuel. Paid by the hour. By the mile is a scam as far as I’m concerned anymore. Hopefully I can get in somewhere.

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Vegan-Joe@reddit

Ive got about 2 more weeks left on my CDL school and looking at melton truck lines flatbed since they take new grads. Pay doesn’t seem terrible, plus they offer $100 tarp pay and $150 monthly student tuition reimbursement. I’m from California and they are taking drivers from there. Much better than what the other mega carriers were offering. Once i get my experience then I can work locally, but i got to start at the bottom.

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JimmyBluffit420@reddit

I’ve met some Melton drivers in wild. They seemed happy with their workload and pay. My advice with flatbed is always try and have at least an 7-8hr sleeper berth break before you start your day. It’s not uncommon to spend 2-3 hrs picking up a load, which you can use for your split (7/3 or 8/2) and then that will give you enough time to make it to your drop point.

Also, get yourself a Planet Fitness black card. I never liked pulling into a truck stop past 5pm. Too much competition for spots and double parking usually leads to you being blocked in by another driver. PF’s that are open 24/7 are usually located in large parking lots. I never had any problems parking off to the side.

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Avocado_Blanket@reddit

Heads up on fuel hauling you will reek of fuel your clothes, personal car, it gets into your house, it’s stuck on your body. Terrible for your health. Fuelers have a higher rate of cancer

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JimmyBluffit420@reddit

Damn. Thanks for the heads up.

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apathy420@reddit

Hey! We receive McElroy flatbeds at our lowes. Always like working with the drivers.

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JimmyBluffit420@reddit

Lowe’s loads are something I’m glad I don’t have to deal with anymore. Not so much with the stores, but those Lowe’s DC’s employ morons to load the trucks.

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turtlepowr89@reddit

I see only one answer to this.

Eliminate the competition!

For liability sake, this is a joke.

[-]

WHODUNNITT303@reddit

Reddit removed my post for saying the D D word lol, I’ll just call em flip flop drivers, we all know who I mean

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WHODUNNITT303@reddit

Durka durkas gotta go

[-]

Then-Campaign9287@reddit

What city is this? New York City? Yeah, but in the midwest and Southern USA, it is extremely rare.

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WHODUNNITT303@reddit

Come to Massachusetts PFG makes 100k easy

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No-Method-6524@reddit

SE is being hit hardest. Increased demand with diesel fuel being monopolized and home to many Spring Break destinations and March Madness tourism dollars. The American South East is often the most expensive region in the continental US

[-]

BaseballDue9043@reddit

You have never been to the North East then! I'm from SE Louisiana and its not where near the most expensive region!

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Kansas City. If you’re not making six figures doing food service then you’re at the wrong company

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MuphDiesel@reddit

You would just find something to complain about there too. This industry isn’t cut out for everyone. Go find something that doesn’t make you cry.

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Damn bro you still the same lardo from earlier you just keep coming back. This is a reddit post not your favorite fast food spot you don’t have to keep coming back industry is honestly the easiest job I’ve ever had but the pay is ass

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Way_Objective@reddit

What’s your area? Look at Pepsi or Keurig they pay hourly

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ifbevvixej@reddit

What about Domino's?

We had Domino's trucks, driven by Domino's employees, bring us our product at the stores I worked at. I'd check them out.

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Some of those guys do 150 and everything is on carts

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Commercial_Ad3579@reddit

McLane has OTR drivers. Also, if you’re in Texas or east, Total Transportation of Mississippi will hire you, and you’ll make at least $1000 a week.

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Some-Possibility2072@reddit

I was a bread man. In the early 90’s, my route was grossing nearly $2000 per week. Did they mention that you have to buy the route and truck, similar to chip routes and routes like Little Debbie cakes? In most areas, that’s how it’s done. You’re responsible for all the maintenance on your vehicle, getting new accounts, etc… Also, on your 2 days off, you have to swing by any grocery stores on your route and “pull” the bread up from back stock. Most guys would pay a young relative a couple bucks to do it for us.

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Safe_Fail_568@reddit

You were making 3000k + a week?

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JalocTheGreat@reddit

UPS Team drivers some over $200K as company driver

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Safe_Fail_568@reddit

Those jobs are extremely hard to come by. I think they hire internally

[-]

JalocTheGreat@reddit

I missed my chance in 2020 they hired hundreds of drivers at CACH in Chicago even those with accidents and with failed drug tests.

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

If I would work by a normal four day schedule, it would be between 1400 to 1600 and then I always worked extra. The extra route would pay the route pay versus 300 or 500 depending if it was a non holiday or holiday week. I also cashed out 80 hours of holiday, and since my pay rate was component pay based on how many stops cases and miles I worked it would fluctuate every two weeks. The two back-to-back pay periods I cashed out the 40 and then other 40 hours of holiday, my pay rate was around 65 an hour.

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

My current job I should be making between 1700-2500 a week for 45-70 hours if running solo routes that week or 2200-2500 a week for 80-100 hours if on a team route (half of the time in the sleeper). I don’t have a dedicated schedule since I’m new so I have to work whatever needs done. I don’t want to run teams and they said they will try to accommodate that, but if I have to, I have to. Home daily.

[-]

Safe_Fail_568@reddit

Impressive

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Thank you. Where I’m at now there’s only one location near Kansas City and it’s a ridiculously good company. Free lunch (breakfast on Fridays) cooked on site five days a week, 401k and pension, other benefits are really good, free ice cream a couple times a week in the summer, free hot pies served during the free lunch sometimes. Worst part is being new and being on the extra board (on call/as needed), but they try to give you a full schedule a week in advance. If your on a team route you may sometimes only have a few hours between one route to the next but they try not to do that either. Every person I refer I get $2500

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1point3@reddit

Man that sounds a lot like the company I used to drive for. Extra board was terrible cause routes left at all times of the day but I never had to worry about not running a route.

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

I was at McLane and started on the extra board there, now at EARP Distribution

[-]

1point3@reddit

Yeah, the money was great but to me it wasn’t worth it to wait for a route to open up. I did extra board there for a year and a half

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Hope you’re doing well now

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Daddgonecrazy@reddit

Earp?

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Yep!

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CaptCooterluvr@reddit

I was gonna guess either Earp or Chik Fil A supply

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

CFA is also really good

[-]

jmzstl@reddit

Wow I was not expecting that. The McDonald’s distributor in my area pays like $75k on average.

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Are you currently at EARP?

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Daddgonecrazy@reddit

Nope. Interviewed there and got the job but ended up turning it down. Schedule was crazy and just wasn’t worth it. I’m out of truck now though.

[-]

KilljoyTheTrucker@reddit

You dont work for 13 plus weeks out of the year?

117,000 a year at 3000 per week is only 39 weeks of work my dude. Most people aren't taking a week plus off per month.

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Didn’t make 3000 a week most weeks and last year I was on training pay the first three months. My pay is explained in an above comment but I can post proof if you want

[-]

jabber1990@reddit

you know how you get those jobs? you have to know people and they have a waiting list to get hired....and many are union so the union also has a say

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

Absolutely not, the turn over rate is usually so great that these places are always hiring. There may be some exceptions in some areas, but that is not the norm. How one gets a job in food service is by applying to the job

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NoCommunicationPro@reddit

I am also not a pussy and would rather bust my ass than sit in a seat for 11 hours trying not to fall asleep. Which food service jobs are the best? I have sysco and US food here in tampa fl. Also pepsi and coke seem nearby as well.

[-]

InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

McLane, Sygma, Chick Fil A, Domino’s, NDCP, Little Caesars, QCD. Not Sysco or US Foods, but those two can be ok if you don’t do stairs and the locations are easy.

[-]

jabber1990@reddit

why the hell would you encourage somebody to work in a job like that?

[-]

Time-Carpenter9523@reddit

I think you misunderstood the phrase "food service".

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adub01@reddit

Pussyyyyyyy. Go be a roofer and you will see how “hard” these kinds of jobs are. Makes food delivery look like a cake walk

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

I’m not a pussy

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CaptCooterluvr@reddit

Not in the KC area, demand for drivers is so high that if you can pee clean you’re in. Sysco’s so hard up they’re hiring guys who are just out of prison

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

If McLane and EARP are doing interviews and hiring every week, I can only imagine how crazy it is at Sysco.

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tantric_tongue69@reddit

Most food service works you to the bone. US Foods was the hardest job I ever had.

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

I would only want to be with a company that has dedicated large scale customers instead of doing anything and everything. Never done stair stops, never will

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SmokeClouds8@reddit

How many hours do you work a day?

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InsertCoinsToBegin@reddit

12-14 a day, 45-70 a week. It all just depends

[-]

oneshadeoff@reddit

Yep. Do some actual work, make some actual money

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NaturalBornKillah@reddit

And i thought i was gonna make low with 0.65cpm start with my buddys mid-size company. These pays are criminal for real. People are talking about 35-50k a year while I'm doing 4000miles a week with 10hrs sleep and not anything shady with logbooks. Every friday at home with my 34hr cycle. And the they say "wE nEeD mOrE DrIvERs. tHeRe iS a dRiVeR shOrTaGe." Fucking liars. Just to milk new drivers and old ones with .45cpm in this economy, fuel prices and infilation. "I did this." Did it...

[-]

12dv8@reddit

$120,000 a year is what you make as a bag boy? Go for it

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Idk where you saw me say I made 120 but alright

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12dv8@reddit

You said you made more as a bag boy. I make $120,000 with a cdl.

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Good for you lmao you want a cookie? I said I made more asa bag boy meaning I made more bagging groceries back then compared to what I’m being paid now

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12dv8@reddit

You should have said that the first time….. and of course I want a cookie…. Send chocolate chip… those are my favorite.

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kali4niakid@reddit

Stevens transport as a fresh new driver I made 1k,1k,1.5k,1k my 2nd month on my own as a rookie, for me that doubled my monthly wage

[-]

bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

They out of Texas ?

[-]

kali4niakid@reddit

Yup, they will fly or bus you in for free, put you in a hotel for free, training is extensive, orientation,training on truck with a trainer,post training (grad class) takes 6-8 weeks, paid training 800 a week, after all that bullshit you get your own truck and roll otr all 48 states. It’s reefer.

[-]

bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Damn that sounds kinda dope

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WilyNGA@reddit

They must also do some training in South Georgia, because I would start every morning around 9 am and see their 'Driver Trainee' trucks heading out of the parking lot.

[-]

kali4niakid@reddit

And that pay is after taxes, single

[-]

Singledad247@reddit

If you’re with a MEGA, get 3 months and then sign on with another MEGA and be put on an account! Do not drive with a MEGA unless you’re on an account! I have learned that in my 9 months with MEGAs. I started at Hogan this week. I made $555 yesterday, and $378 the day before. Also I can go home daily, or nearly everyday. I left a home daily job with Schneider getting $.64 per mile

[-]

Few_Interaction1327@reddit

Just got hired on with no experience hauling milk, home daily, $20 an hour, 60 to 70 hours a week. 6 days on 2 days off.

[-]

Upbeat-Network-1812@reddit

Food delivery as others have said. Labor intensive yes. But they will almost always take new grads or those with less then 1 year experience. Crappy Sisco near me drivers are earning plenty as there is never a shortage of hours delivering food. Me personally? I first started as a yard jokey/spotter. The pay wasn't great but my company paid OT, and I was getting at least 12-24 hours of OT each week. I could easily bring home 1,500 - 2,000 per week spotting and be home daily. Maybe look into that as an option. And yes, sometimes you have to move to where the work is if you want to be home nightly.

[-]

RectumRavager69@reddit

Yeah your first year you'll be lucky to net 35k running OTR. Just have to stick it out and either get on somewhere better, become a trainer, go dedicated or regional and bust your ass, or do riskier shit or shit that's more complicated than just driving. Or just suffer for a few years until you start making real money.

[-]

bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Rn I’m dedicated walmart. What’s funny is I deliver to the same places the actual Walmart drivers do and Make probably 1/3rd what they make if not less

[-]

RectumRavager69@reddit

Because the walmart guys have minimum two years OTR with an immaculate safety record and near immaculate service record, if not three to five years, and they put up with a camera in their face and a bunch of corporate bullshit and wear a uniform every day. They're so much cheaper to insure it is unreal. Orientation there is not wholly dissimilar to the beginning of basic training in the fucking Marines.

[-]

aFrothyMix@reddit

30 months + clean record, camera outward facing only, definitely the LEAST corporate bullshit i've ever experienced inside or outside of trucking. Its great. stick it out and come over in a couple years and wear the goofy uniform. Just don't fuck up one of our trailers.

[-]

Largofarburn@reddit

lol, I actually like having a uniform. I’ve got 10 pairs of everything and can just make little stacks for each day so I can just grab and go when I wake up.

[-]

scottiethegoonie@reddit

I don't mind a uniform but Walmart "uniforms" are wack. They look like TV repair men from the 1960's. I wish they would modernize the look.

[-]

aFrothyMix@reddit

My DC looks like a coal miner from the turn of the previous century, jeans + light blue collared shirt. I wear my suspenders proudly with my Walmart Uniform! I'll wear anything they want for the amount of money I make and how little I work.

[-]

Dangerous-Moods@reddit

Hahahaha!

[-]

derekschroer@reddit

No inward facing cameras, we keep the lens blocked and don't have any issues with safety for it. As long as you're not on your phone, and follow proper SOP then you'll be golden

[-]

RectumRavager69@reddit

I've wondered how the phone thing works. Like I'm assuming you can't have a phone mount in the truck at all, but could you have like a youtube playlist of music set up to listen to while driving and have that playing through the Bluetooth with the screen off and the phone inaccessible while driving?

[-]

derekschroer@reddit

No I have my phone mounted.and use it for gos and music/podcasts/audiobooks. Just can't have it in your hands. I actually run Bluetooth earbuds with no issues. Also, if you're in a preventable accident, you'll actually need to provide your phone records for the investigation to make sure being on your phone isn't the cause. Meaning you'd have to have ATT/T-Mobile/Verizon, since prepaid phone records are almost impossible without a court order. This means no voice texting, or even automatic text replies.

[-]

Zxynwin@reddit

A bit of an exaggeration with the orientation bit haha and the cameras only record outward but there is a lot of bullshit

[-]

aFrothyMix@reddit

what DC?

[-]

Zxynwin@reddit

Put in the 2.5 years and stay safe and get on with Wal-Mart if you want to go that route otherwise you can find better paying jobs at the 6month to 1 year mark and especially at 2 years. Try getting your tanker and hazmat endorsements if you can, opens a lot of doors and you would need the hazmat for Walmart anyway(not sure if they require it for you third party guys)

[-]

SchityCityGangBang@reddit

I was clearing 50+ my first year OTR. Damn megas are rough.

[-]

Floki9083@reddit

I started with Ashley as a brand new driver in July, I was averaging 100ish a week after my training. But I got super lucky because my trainer was one of the main guys on a flexible fleet and I finally got in that around Christmas and I'm averaging 1800 to 2000 a week now. I get paid a flat rate per day no matter what I do, which sometimes is crap if I drive all 11hrs in a day, but I average 300 to 400 miles a day and roughly 6 to 8 hrs.

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SchityCityGangBang@reddit

I’ve been looking at them as an option actually. Do they have driver facing cameras? How’s the management? Do they like mostly leave you the hell alone?

[-]

Floki9083@reddit

They have driver facing cameras but they are covered unless you get caught on your phone or something like that. As an otr/ptp person you are given a load and a time as long as you get that load there around that time or before management will never call you. Which with Ashley it's a little different because at first you are just moving a trailer with furniture to a drop lot that someone else is gonna deliver. That kind of load is very lenient. Then with the empty they'll usually get you a backhaul. Sometimes they tell you to dead head back to a DC, but you get paid for loaded, empty, or bob miles all $.50 a mile.

[-]

RectumRavager69@reddit

I literally do not believe you unless you were working for a friend or family member that paid you decently right out of the gate.

[-]

Largofarburn@reddit

I think I started at like $23 an hour and cleared like 58k my first year. I’m pretty sure mid 50’s is average unless you’re getting fucked or like paying off your training or some other bs.

[-]

SchityCityGangBang@reddit

Yeah that’s what it is I think. People get locked into megas because they want an easy ticket into the industry. It’s not a bad route I don’t think it’s just not the only route like seem people assume.

Ag was kinda scary tbh. But the checks were good out the gate. And the training was good too.

[-]

KilljoyTheTrucker@reddit

Ag can be tricky and is reliant on your region/specific niche within it, and a willingness to work weird/long hours sometimes.

But I recommend it to a ton of guys that want to get into driving that have some ag laboring experience, because some of that will transfer for them at least.

[-]

ThermalChaser@reddit

I made 60k my rookie year at regional midsize dryvan company in NC. 53cpm and averaged 2500-2800miles per week. That's pretty standard pay.

[-]

SchityCityGangBang@reddit

Just looked to be sure. Yeah take home was 52800. Running my ass off to Texas and back. But I got into OTR with my license after doing six months running tomatoes. I never worked for a mega. And I never will.

[-]

SchityCityGangBang@reddit

Don’t really care what you believe. If you think that’s a brag it sure is a humble one lol. 50k ain’t doing much in California and when you consider this job and all the hours you work. It ain’t enough.

[-]

Radiant_Swan187@reddit

Huh??? I made 50k in 2019 first year Prime. Thats insane any driver can make that

[-]

RectumRavager69@reddit

I mean net, not gross. I'm on track to gross over 60k but my actual take home is like 36k if the trend holds.

[-]

itsmysecondaryblog@reddit

How are you having 40+% of your check withheld?

[-]

RectumRavager69@reddit

Taxes, insurance for myself and my kiddo, child support, repaying my cdl.

[-]

KilljoyTheTrucker@reddit

Insurance and child support are part of your take home when it comes to conversations like this.

Thatd be like saying your cash advances reduce your take home.

[-]

cryincryo@reddit

Local tanker, 149k last year. I got that job with two years of CDL experience. Just have to hang in there and think ahead to where you want to be in the future

[-]

Jazzlike_Plan7349@reddit

I lived a great life after I got my cdl in 07. Bought a house in 2020. Purchased my 1st trk in 2023 it's been downhill since smh I was doing ok until Trump came in office. I don't took out 2 loans to keep the wheels rolling since last April smh it's over for me pretty much time to go back to being a company driver.

[-]

NoCommunicationPro@reddit

which mega are you with currently?

[-]

bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Schneider.

[-]

NoCommunicationPro@reddit

I am flying to Mississippi on Sunday to go to Total orientation. .41 cents a mile. Already depressed with how low that is but I need to get some experience.

[-]

SlothyTendecies@reddit

.41 cpm is CRAZY. I don't make insane money but I love my company. .65 cpm plus bonuses every month, $40 per stop on multi stop loads, pretty good insurance and I actually get home when I ask. I wish I still had my paystubs from when I started at Werner 12 years ago because I bet it was about what you're gonna be making. Your first 2 years or so are gonna fucking suck, just be ready for it.

[-]

NoCommunicationPro@reddit

yeah I won't stay here long just need to get rolling ASAP. I will be applying like crazy every day. .41 cents is a joke.

[-]

Colaxis@reddit

So I'm a cdl instructor over at Prime, they're starting brand new flatbed drivers out at like .55/mile. There's always that for an option as well.

[-]

bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

I’m at 44 and I thought I was getting screwed. Back when I was with my trainer he was telling me he had people coming in 0 experience making 50-55 CPM doing the exact same work. It’s like they just pick a random number generator and say yes that’s what you’ll make!

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jimmythecornman@reddit

Cypress truck lines was paying 52 cpm for zero experience back in 2024. I would think its the same or higher now. Tarping every load though.

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THExPILLOx@reddit

You greenhorns coming in have to deal with the "stories" from the covid times. It was a bit of a gold rush in trucking for a couple years. Companies were waiving minimum experience, slapping down decent cpm, and offering tasty retention bonuses. But when that bubble popped, it popped back to normal.

I watched a couple different midsize megas go as high as 58cpm for general otr for newbies. Then after the bubble popped, their terminals got filled with empty trucks after they decreased pay back down lol

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RemoveTheRC@reddit

Consider yourself lucky. Those bastards started me at .34 cents a mile. I lived in the truck so I had no overhead, and I still lived paycheck to paycheck. Tough it out, your first year will suck, but I’m now making 33/hr for another company.

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Parking_Exit2297@reddit

I was making 41 cents 30 years ago wtf??? Sooo glad I work for private carrier paid hourly max my hrs made 153k last year, and nobody bothers me I get my schedule and do my own thing

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brandmonkey@reddit

How do you find private companies like that? Where do they list their job openings?

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Parking_Exit2297@reddit

Look at companies that use them for their own products, I’m in haz waste

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NoCommunicationPro@reddit

yeah it's a scam but as soon as anyone else makes me a decent offer I will bounce. I am going to apply anywhere and everywhere cause .41 cents is a joke with how much everything costs now

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Appropriate_Gur_6642@reddit

If you’re willing to do some manual labor, come over to schneider’s dollar general account, it can be hard work but the pay is much better.

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LizBegins@reddit

Ouch. How much experience do you have now?

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

2 months

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Chemical-Character79@reddit

At 3 months they usually let you jump on dedicated accounts. You will get a slightly better check and better home time. Start looking at job postings online and speaking with the account managers at your closest terminal.

Also start applying for local work, but it will be hard to get hired with just 2 months of experience, though not impossible.

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scottiethegoonie@reddit

Start looking for gigs at the 3 month and 6 month mark. See if you can do an internal transfer to local intermodal with them at 3.

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LizBegins@reddit

Yeah at a year you can get something decent. In the meantime dedicated, and if you have your doubles even better. Those accounts pay decently usually.

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Small_Claim_3593@reddit

One more month and you qualify for a lot of dedicated. I’m at CR England on dollar tree, don’t get me wrong it is hard work but everyone makes over 100k and 3months experience is our minimum. Where are you located?

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SchityCityGangBang@reddit

After six months you’ll be able to switch. This game you’re expected to suck it up for the first two years. My advice is keep your eye on the prize. Get at least one year xp where you’re at then start calling better outfits.

But those first two years good carriers look at you as more of a liability than an asset. And for good reason to be honest. Also it costs exponentially more to insure you with no xp. So another reason smaller carriers won’t mess with you.

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Virtchoo@reddit

Oh man, Illinois? I won’t go specifically, but if so I may have some suggestions for you.

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Defiant_Network_3069@reddit

Get over to the Chemical Side. You will make better money and they are always looking for drivers. The only thing is you have to shave.

I was with Schneider 20+ years ago. I started in Dry Van with a horrible trainer(lasted a few days with him). Got another Older Guy (who was Old School) trainer who was on Flate Bed at the time. I learned that. Then a few months later the Old Guy "Volunteered" me to jump to the chemical side where he was working because they were in a bind.

Wish they still had trainers like him in the industry.

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DanimalPlanet42@reddit

The economy is in a rough place right now. Trucking is hurting. Prime had to hire another company to haul their trailers because they weren't paying their own drivers well enough.

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FitRaspberry8107@reddit

Who did they hire? I ran with prime.

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DanimalPlanet42@reddit

Western flyer express

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Burn-The-Palace@reddit

USF, PFG, Sysco, Gordon, etc are all a good choice if you want to be active a lot. I've worked for two of them, and it's not the best work, but hmy God does it pay the bills. I saw on another comment you said they're not around, but check them for drop yards. My OpCo is about 2-3 hrs north of me, but my drop yard is 10min away from me.

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BaseballDue9043@reddit

Check with PFG ( Performance Food Group) if there's one in your area, IK in South Louisiana they hire no experience CDL and put you threw a 6 week training period. In my area the starting pay is $26hr!

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trucksarekewl@reddit

Bro 26 is horrendous lol

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BaseballDue9043@reddit

Shits its more than I make OTR with Schneider lol. It's because of the town. Houma,LA. End of the road swamp city.

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trucksarekewl@reddit

Yea dude aint no way. I wouldn't put my shoe on for 26 an hour. Just gotta relocate at that point

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BaseballDue9043@reddit

Agreed, I just bought a truck and am going O/O next week. Fuck this company driver BS

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Brilliant_Slide_1089@reddit

It’s always been a poor man’s job. You were crazy for going

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Bobby_Trucking@reddit

I am a rookie Driver on a dedicated account (regional) and this is my 1st trucking job I finished 2 weeks of experience as a solo driver and the pay has me questioning my decision to get my Class A license. I literally made more being a Amazon warehouse worker weekly ($800 - 1,000 weekly) now I am making around $500 - $800 sum weekly as a solo driver (keep in mind I am a new driver with zero experience so maybe it plays a part) but all the work and dedication I put to get my Class A license isn’t adding up but I gotta stick to it and get at least 1 to 2 years experience and things will smooth out for me and I gonna get all my endorsements and remove my manual restriction too

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

The training at Schneider is honestly buns. Some of it is useful like the 45° backing tips but the entire time I went through their training it was just the “Schneider way” that most instructors would flat out tell you “I’ve never used this method in my entire trucking career”

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Bobby_Trucking@reddit

I still in a way use the SMART system but it’s basically common sense honestly other than take 10 and 5 S’s

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MiguelSTG@reddit

You live an hour from Lexington?! Commute to Lexington! They have every LRL, soda and food delivery.

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

With gas being 4 bucks a gallon even tho I’d make more money I’d also spend all the extra I earned just in fuel

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MiguelSTG@reddit

I'm currently making 36+ an hour, or 0.83 per mile. Depends on if I'm in a line haul run or not. Not sure what you're currently making but that covers a lot of fuel I'm at 37k so far this year.

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threeglude@reddit

Terrible idea. I've done that hr commute each way and home daily before. You have time for literally nothing. I found myself decompressing at the shop for 30-60 mins before heading home. Trust me, 16-17 hour days will burn you up real quick!

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MiguelSTG@reddit

Not all city runs are 14 hour days. When I ran p&d I mostly did 9-11 hour days.

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jabber1990@reddit

its not for everyone...i'm glad you're leaving, we don't need your negativity

don't let the door hit you on your way yout

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

You comment on a nascar Reddit page like every day. Get a life

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jabber1990@reddit

what the fuck are you talking about? i've never done that

why do you make up shit about people?

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Quit lying. Get a life

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West-Raccoon-2043@reddit

If you have experience, I’d try finding a smaller company or go local. If you live out in the boonies like I do, good luck

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Sadly I also live in the boonies closest thing of substance is about an hour away.

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West-Raccoon-2043@reddit

Yeah I live over an hour from Richmond and at this point, I’m moving to Minnesota since it’s more affordable and I’ve already lived there once before. There’s more jobs up there than where I live at and even if I lived in Richmond, there would be more jobs

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MuphDiesel@reddit

Quit. Cry somewhere else

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

The fact that most of your posts are about a smoker I’m gonna assume you’re atleast 150pounds overweight

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BenefitShort7992@reddit

What are you paid?

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Demichef1@reddit

Anything fuel related would possibly be better for you. Propane/heating oil home delivery starts in a straight truck and doesn’t usually require experience. $28 an hour to start around me in PA. OTR hits a little harder than it sounds. 14 hours driving actually means starting work at 7am and ending at 9pm.

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mvamv@reddit

You're just working for the wrong company. What are your monthly expenses and how much are your weekly paychecks?

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tantric_tongue69@reddit

LTL carriers are best

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nasdawg77@reddit

All I can tell ya it takes some time in trucking to land where u want to. Thinking of the first couple years a type learning tools then keep rolling and learning as life comes. Money will come trust me but if it is your only reason for this job most likely trucking isn't for ya. I've seen people make a ton of money but they aren't happy about in this life style no matter how much they made... We will always be underpaid for the sacrifice we do for this career. Just a tip make meals in the truck. Stay out of truck stops and restaurants they soak up lot of the money. If you have s slow cooker make a meal in that and the end of the day be there ready for ya and you get a home cook meal. Drink water and make s budget. It's most likely not the trucking that's killing you it is your budget or lack of one that is.

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JerkfromNewJersey@reddit

Are there any local government jobs such as public works or sanitation? do that instead the pay can vary from suck to actually pretty good but at least you would be home everyday.

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Ok_Bug_6470@reddit

Cook your food, stay out of truck stops, get off of soda, don’t eat or shop in truck stops!!!!!!! Meal plan and get healthy stuff. You just want the habit of chewing and the reward is being full so just get stuff that’s not bad for you to eat until you’re full and after a day or two you’ll be fine. Drink water. No sugar. That’s 200 bucks every week or two right there. Lose your subscriptions and just use one or two. Get the Libby app for free audiobooks from the library. Stop fucking whining. It sucks for us all and there’s ones out here missing their kids growing up. Man the f up.

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take1000showers@reddit

Call the other megas and compare CPM before choosing or wait til you hit 6 months - 1 year and apply to other companies.

Put yourself on a budget and stop eating at the truckstops to try to save a little money.

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tthanksmom@reddit

Left trucking 2 years in. Got into high voltage trade (you need your CDL) and now I make TRIPLE, what I made in only 50 hours opposed to 80.

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TankLast1553@reddit

I got a job with contrans flatbed group usa right out of cdl school. I've been with them over a month. I haven't brought home anything under 1300 a week. If you do 2000 miles a week you are guaranteed 1500 plus you put in for per diem and you make 2000 a week, usually bring home around 1700 to 1800 and I'm home every Friday.

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Odd_Distribution5196@reddit

You could try hauling fuel, or ltl.

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Ok_Lunch273@reddit

I’m in the same boat as you. But I’m gonna stick it through because the pay really comes once you have a year under your belt.

Look at it like this:

My mentor told me companies kinda pay you based on what you know and if you’re safe. When you’re a new driver, you don’t know shit and unsafe so you’re paid like shit.

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Horchata415@reddit

I’m also a new driver and I cook on my truck. It saves TONS of money. Went big grocery shopping on my last home time and man, going to the grocery store in Texas was SO much cheaper than getting things elsewhere. I also boiled an 18 pack of eggs that live in my fridge. It’s helping.

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gamergabe85@reddit

Check out local LTL as well. Companies like UPS, FedEx, Old Dominion, ABS, and Southeastern Frieghtlines if you're in the south. I've been where you're at and I'm sorry you're going through it. With the above listed companies you're required to have all endorsements but passenger. Get passenger only of you're interested in being a school bus driver, public transport, or a tour bus driver. I'm a line haul driver for my company and I'm sitting at .86 cpm and home every night with an average of 450-520 miles a night.

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aacawe@reddit

The pay for new drivers is unreal. Just a total grift, it should be a crime. You are doing the same work the 10 year drivers are doing, hauling the same loads, delivering to the same places… which means the company is making the same money on you that they are making on their experienced drivers, they are just stealing from you because they can. Absolute travesty.

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CaptCooterluvr@reddit

New drivers also tend to run into things and cost them money

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SchityCityGangBang@reddit

There’s an associated cost of taking in new drivers. Many will quit a couple months in once the new wears off. The ones that stay will hit stuff and just be a liability. Not to mention on the job training is costly as well. In any case I wouldn’t call it stealing per se.

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Own_Clerk4772@reddit

I work for an amazon freight partner. Im local daily driver. Last year I made about $112k. Most freight partners require 3 months experiance.

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New_Situation1764@reddit

Like a sprinter van? Or local semi?

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Own_Clerk4772@reddit

local semi

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Initial-Relation-696@reddit

Your gaining experience, dont quit, start searching for what you want. 6 months of bs and you can start moving up the chain. Especially right now. Keep your head up and be thorough and learn.

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Itsalmostover71@reddit

Just that way the first yr out, if you still like that after 2 yrs you doing something wrong. At 2 yrs in I had 24 k saved. I did live in my truck for a yr, but had that cash.

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Intelligent-Rip-7827@reddit

Me too. I'm definitely looking for something that pays well. I am currently at schneider with about 1.5 yes of experience. They treat me very well but the maximum pay here is far less than what other companies start at. Thinking about applying to performance food service or some other, higher paying otr job. I'm sick of not being able to even pay my bills.

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gavjushill1223@reddit

You’ve already got your cdl just go to west Texas, work a rotation in well service and make 100+ starting out

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gavjushill1223@reddit

I got my cdl from my employer and they put me straight to work in 2006. I drove cranes, nitrogen transports, flatbed, drop deck pump equipment, eventually doubled and triples in excess of 300k lbs…I did physical labor yes but I worked 2 weeks on 1 week off, was paid for my week off, never paid for room and board and never had a year under 80k. I was 19 making more than local doctors. I suggest everyone go to the oilfield who has the work ethic because you will WORK

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FlatbedtruckingCA@reddit

Go to LTL.. line haul if you can and be home every day and be happy..

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W1D0WM4K3R@reddit

Not even just money. I was going to be at my mom's surprise birthday tomorrow. Was supposed to be in the city tonight.

Got to my trailer, found out someone broke into it and three other trailers in a fifty trailer lot, and it was a meat load. Got delayed enough I can't drive to the reinspection for contamination until tomorrow morning, to wait for god knows how long, to drive another six hours.

Then maybe I'll get to see her tomorrow, but I won't be seeing my own house until next weekend.

And all because another driver lost enough hours I had to deliver his load and take his meat reload while he took my load that doesn't deliver until Monday.

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erything4sale@reddit

I started off making .29 a mile with Pam Transport. Made 30k my first year. 5 years later, before I started doing my own thing, I was making .95 a mile. You gotta stay down and gone head put in that sacrifice year to get where you wanna be. Maybe even 6 months. I did a year because I signed a contract for the schooling. Point is, unless you know someone to put you on, you gotta take that pay cut to prove you bout this life. After my first year I went thru 10 different companies. Did team driving with Barr Nunn for a year, worked for USPS, did shit for owner opps, and transport driving. If this what you wanna do, gone put in that lil work and reap the rewards afterwards.

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kndwy@reddit

I guess 50ish is the standard

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TheRealGageEndal@reddit

I left it and got a job in construction.uch better pay and way more reliable

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Money_Invite_7175@reddit

I quit swift after 4 months, got a dedicated route for JB HUNT, it’s regional work, I gotta do store deliveries but I get to be home 2 days out of the week. Pay is good, 1400 a week. I still gotta pay the student loan for the cdl but making its still better.

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brandmonkey@reddit

You have to lump your own loads?

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RedlineM5@reddit

This is why I never did cpm. Everyone said leasing was a scam. I still did six figures my first year.

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10lugthuggin@reddit

Only time I've ever been a company driver otr I made .65 a mile and cleared over 100k. I'm not sure what they wanted to experience but it's wild to me that people are making this little doing the same shit I did... I guess I was just lucky as hell

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APizzaWithEverything@reddit

Go LTL, most of them hire right out of school these days

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Whitehoneybun666@reddit

Do 3-6 months then find a different job

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heruskael@reddit

Any LTLs near you?

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Nickelsass@reddit

Make the jump if you need to before you sink too deep. Keep your certs up to snuff in case an opportunity opens.

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MostOriginalNameEver@reddit

What company? Experience?

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XiangJiang@reddit

Doesn’t losing money depend on on your expenses? For example if you live over the road, you probably aren’t losing money.

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woefulknight57@reddit

Try Online Transport. They were pretty cool when I worked for them.

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modern_gentleman@reddit

go LTL

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Sledge1989@reddit

I hit 70K my first year doing team driving with Werner nine years ago, we were home every other weekend too. As far as newbie OTR jobs went it wasn’t a bad gig

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ShermanPanzer2@reddit

If you can see about going to flatbed if you can do the physical aspects. I started with TMC with no experience and my first year I hit I think 65k. It is pretty physically demanding work but well worth it to me after seeing so many people getting burnt by other megas

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

I’ve heard a lot about TMC mostly good stuff at this rate I’ll consider anything else

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Ancient_Alien_@reddit

Do flatbed.

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shockingman36@reddit

Do flatbed, you start at a higher base rate. You can consider melton or tmc. Then at 6 months you’d have experience for ATS if you’d like to try that out.

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Abject_Enthusiasm390@reddit

How long have you been in? Where are you?

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Been here 2 months now in KY

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sleepsoncouches@reddit

What part of KY? East/West?

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

East about an hour outside Lex

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sleepsoncouches@reddit

Ok. Nevermind then. I'm [near] West KY and could get you somewhere. What's your experience? Months in etc

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

Just 2 months unfortunately with a cdl and I worked oil and gas before and I’d move frac pumps I just didn’t have my cdl at that time

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groovyinutah@reddit

There were weeks when I worked for Western Express that I literally could have made more flipping burgers...

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bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)

It’s honestly disrespectful to look someone in the face and tell them that’s what they’re gonna make while also having them haul random junk with huge liability and potential fines if something goes wrong

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groovyinutah@reddit

Worst 6 months of my life...