OTR drivers: would this be a good career change?
Asked by Persephone
My fiance is currently working as a dump truck driver, and he makes a somewhat decent paycheck, but it's not really enough to pay the bills (I'm in my last year of college, and we have 3 credit cards between us that we use when we're short on cash for groceries, gas, etc.). I have a part-time work-study job, but that doesn't pay much. He says that he would be able to make more money if he goes over the road, so he has been studying to get his CDL A license (he just has a B license right now), and he is supposed to take the driving test this weekend. I was just wondering, would this be a good career move for him? Does OTR driving pay very well? And do any OTR drivers out there have any tips that will help him to do well on this test? Thanks in advance for your answers. I don't know, but the place my fiance called said it would be fine for him to come in on Saturday and take his test...I'm not sure where he said it was, though.

Best Answer:
Truck Drivers, specifically "Over The Road" Truck Drivers, make about $35,000 or so that first year, and it goes up each year as the driver gains experience/time with a company. If he is planning to own his own truck, the figures are fairly different and can fluctuate substantially, as being an "Owner Operator" is costly and demands a driver that can stay diligent in the payments of the truck. A lot of Owner Operators say it is better to be a company driver, unless you really have your ducks in a row. Also, pay and benefits as a company driver can variate from company to company. My suggestion is he drive for J.B. Hunt (SEE: http://www.jbhunt.com/ ) or Schneider (SEE: http://www.schneider.com/ ), both pay well and are reputable companies. A solo OTR driver should drive about 10,000 miles per month, though some drivers can handle more, I have seen guys drive 14,000 per month, it's up to the individual, and his/her stamina, and diligence! :) At a typical .30 per mile base pay, that equates to about $36,000 gross BEFORE taking into consideration other pay and benefits, such as unload pay, layover pay, extra stop pay, etc. and of course driving more than 10K miles per month, good money if you ask me, and that is just in the first year or so! :) Be prepared for a major change in your personal life to, with him being gone a lot, life can get more complicated. You two need to discuss things, and make sure you think ahead on how to deal with issues such as death in the family, bills, the children, etc. so when he is gone, things run smoothly for BOTH of you! :) For more research about trucking pay, visit http://www.payscale.com , it is an excellent resource to help you decide which kind of trucking job to go for. Typically, a local LTL driving job will be better and pay a lot more! :)
13 Years of Trucking
Answered by SoapinTrucker

yeah they get paid well as far as help with the test - relax and do your pretrip (that's nearly an hour by itself) ....any endorsements N,T,X ???. also: Is the d.m.v. open on Veterans day weekend????
Answered by eddy r

Depends on if he has to pay for his fuel or truck maintenance or if he get's paid mileage. Either way, he's getting a short end of the stick. Running rate in milage is .40 a mile or less, and that rarely if ever pays out a per diem (food cost per day). Truckers are not raking in the dough, but if this is your boyfriend's dream, then hey, go for it...you'll be living high on the trailer park hog!
Answered by anjelkake

OTR pays with experience. Local A pays more. 16 to 18 an hour in CA. Check this site out. I would have rather start here than at such a low cpm (cents per mile). Regional is best for the married due to more home time and can pull the same pay if if you compare listings.
Answered by The Mr. Pine

a rough rule of thumb for OTR drivers is your mileage rate equals your yearly salary in thousands, so if you make 37 cents a mile you will earn roughly 37000 for the year. pay rates have gone up quite a bit in recent years due to a lot of drivers leaving for construction jobs. i quit a national carrier about 4 years ago and i am still getting recruiting letters from them.
Answered by ErasmusBDragen