6/08/09...should I become an OTR truck driver?
Asked by Lewisimo
Like many, I find myself in the boat now of worrying about layoff's. I see in the local paper a lot of people are becoming truck drivers. I've always thought it may be a good career for me, but never pursued it. I have a chance now that my current company may pay for me to get my Class A CDL. I was wondering more about truck driving. I spent a lot of time in a car as a kid, so stopped at a lot of truck stops...I have a feel for those. The environment, attitudes, amenities, lot lizards, etc etc Todays fuel price is about $3/gal. I see truckers start pay at about $0.33 a mile, works out to about $20/hr or so. What it it like being a modern truck driver? What expenses come out of the drivers pocket? What are the job prospects in this crappy economy? What is the life like in the truck? I imagine cell phones and Sirius satellite radio help a lot. How much will I really take home in $ per week my first year? Assume I am able to drive as much as legally possible. Thanks all...

Best Answer:
First & foremost....job prospects right now in trucking are the worst they've ever been in the last 20+ years. Tons of small companies have shut their doors & bigger companies are on hiring freezes or are only hiring experienced drivers....and even then, being very "selective" about who they hire. Not saying it's impossible to get a job right now for a rookie....but for the last 10 years there has been a "driver shortage"....almost overnight it turned into a "driver surplus". The good thing is, whenever the economy DOES pick up, it's quite likely to be back at "driver shortage" virtually overnight. And the demand for drivers should be even higher than it was before the recession. So if you have a job that pays the bills right now, hold off & see what happens. That being said....your other questions. If you work for a company, the company pays for all expenses directly related to the truck. Fuel, repairs, tolls, parts, oil/fluids, logbooks, etc. Some companies may even reimburse for paper towels, window cleaner, pens & paper, etc....but it varies. Your out of pocket expenses are all of your *personal* requirements....food, clothing, entertainment, etc. If you get a ticket that is YOUR fault....moving violation or a logbook ticket, you pay for it. Most companies will pay the ticket "for" you & take it out of your next paycheck if you prefer. However any *equipment* ticket....anything that is faulty with the truck upon a DOT inspection, is paid for by the company. Hard to explain what it's like being a truck driver.....it's not a job, it's a lifestyle. And your interpretation of "what it's like" largely depends on your personality, life situation & overall outlook. If you have a family with kids at home, you may be frustrated at being away from home so often. If you are easily stressed or don't handle it well when people behave rudely towards you, you may find yourself overly stressed on the road. There is a LOT to deal with.....starting with a general public that largely doesn't respect or appreciate truckers.....big companies who treat drivers like "numbers"....and even your fellow drivers, many of whom are disgruntled & have no pride in their jobs. No parking places when you need them sometimes....logbook rules that aren't always practical, difficulty finding a place to take a shower or use the bathroom every time you need to. But, on the plus side, there isn't a boss standing over your shoulder, every day is something different, and you get to see some beautiful sights. All depends on your outlook, whether the "good parts" will outweigh the "bad parts". This industry has something like 200% turnover within the first 6 months of a driver's career...a LOT of people get into trucking and get right the HECK out, when they see it's not for them! So choose wisely :) Cell phones & satellite radio are helpful....most truckstops offer Wi-Fi & you can get an air card through the cell phone companies. You can put a TV in your truck, watch movies....with an inverter you can power any sort of electrical appliance, cook your own meals, etc. With the right setup you can do everything but take a shower & use the toilet in a company truck (and there are some custom owner/operator trucks that have showers & toilets in them). First year average income....when the economy was doing well....ranges from $28,000 to $35,000....the higher number applies to drivers who take as little hometime as they can stand. The good part is, if you keep your driving record clean & maintain good employment references, you can double or triple that income in 3-5 years. There is a great deal of potential for a driver who proves himself safe, responsible and capable over the course of 5 years....its those first 2 years you'll be lumped in with everybody else, to see who the "washouts" are. If you're still interested & want more info, consider joining either of these forums....they're free and full of tons of knowledgeable folks: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/trailertruckintech/ http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/