How Much Can You Make As a Truck Driver?
Asked by R.B. #1
I'm considering switching careers, I'm currently in HR making 40k. I have a MBA but no CDL or prior Trucking experience. Looking for paid training and Local, although will consider national if opportunity for high income (55k+) is realistic. Anyone have any heaplful information i.e placement specialists, average salaries, ect?

Best Answer:
i have been driving for 6 years i went to western truck driving school paid 3500 got my class a my first job was hauling cement tankers i made 45000 my first year and worked my ass off 70hrs all local but i was only home for 8 hours give or take and off on some weekends i paid my loan off in 16 months for school then i got burnt out after 2years and now i haul food grade tankers flour,sugar,oil ,and I've been doing it ever since i love it and its still local 80% of the time the long hauls are overknighters i averaged 50000-62000 and this year i.ll clear 57000 easy caution once you get diesel in your blood you will never want to get boring desk job again

It depends on who you drive for or if you are an owner operater.My husband has been driving for several years {for a company,locally} and he makes no where near 55k a year.I am not saying there are not driving jobs out there where you can make that kind of money,I just know you can't do it in this area.To get started get a CDL book from the DMV and study it.Do you know someone with a tractor=trailer you can take your test in? Practice probably wouldn't hurt if you're not familiar with a truck.They have you back between pylons and stuff like that.There are some places that pay for schooling if you work for them.Check your area.Good luck.
Answered by birdlady

Paid training isn't likely to be offered for local work. Companies like Swift offer "free" training but you'll be paying your living expenses during that time and then you'll go over-the-road. First with a trainer and then on your own. If you want to drive locally, and you have no experience, your best bet is to pay for good training and hope you're in an area that has more opportunities than candidates. It's quite possible to make 55k or more driving OTR but don't expect much of a home life and, realistically, you're not likely to make that much in the first couple of years. Turnover in the trucking industry is high and companies are generally unwilling to pony up big bucks for unproven talent. OTR is more of a lifestyle than just a job and not everyone is well suited for it. There is a high demand for OTR drivers, less so for local, so training is most likely to be offered by OTR companies than local drayage companies but, if you don't ask, the answer is always "no" so you might ask around. If your work history is exemplary than you just might talk someone into paying for training. All "free" training that I'm aware of comes with strings attached. These strings are usually tied to time of employment. In other words, if you quit the job too quickly you'll probably be asked to pay, at the very least, a prorated amount towards your training. Hope this helped.
Answered by Phil H

A friend of mine used to work for CR England and he went thru training with them. I think it took 3 months. He made around 1,000 a week bring home, but he was gone all the time.
Answered by davidnicolewilson