How much should I expect to make the first year ?

Posted by Gold-Edge2485@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 18 comments

Got my CDL at 19 and I’ll be 21 next year, how much should I expect to make the first year and any advice regarding this industry will be appreciated 🙏

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Lumpy-Macaron4512@reddit

I made 70k working 65 hours a week at .39c a mile my first year in 2020

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AgapeAnus@reddit

I started at 35cpm in 2025. Same thing, got the fuck out as soon as I could. They were proud of upping it to 35cpm shortly before I hired on.

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Lumpy-Macaron4512@reddit

Yep got my experience and left as soon as I could

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Legitimate_Diver_699@reddit

I got $26/hr plus OT driving dump trucks and cement trucks

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Groundbreaking-Emu64@reddit

If you want more your going to work your ass off and not have a life choose wisely

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Ok-Problem-8359@reddit

Depends. I started at jb hunt local home daily which is pretty lucky but I work effort in I get what i wanted. I averaged 45 hours a week and made $75k the first year.

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Gonzotrucker1@reddit

If you start out as a dock to driver and go line haul you can easily earn $100,000

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366 days from first paycheck to last I made about 43k gross. First truck they had me in sucked and was down for maintenance all the time but could idle indefinitely. That includes my time with a trainer where I made training pay, had I stuck it out for 13 months for a full year of solo OTR that year would've netted me about 49k for ~300 days in the seat.

You'll make enough to live, barely, if you don't have a family and aren't dumb with your money.

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jmzstl@reddit

$50k-$100k

Depends entirely on the job you get.

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InterestingMatter506@reddit

I started in 2024 at 20 years old I made 76k, 2 years later I’m at 100k+

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Unique-Ad-2544@reddit

Anything over 50k your first year is a good first year. That first year you shouldn't even worry about the money it's all about trial and error learning how to drive the truck and your HOS. Your second year is when you start worrying about how much your making and if you should switch companies or not.

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