Profile For Michael B.

Can someone help me get my arms around the daily, weekly living costs of an OTR driver. For a minimum there are food, laundry, showering, entertainment, etc. I know starting at .25 CPM and running 2500 miles per week (which may be high) brings home a whopping $625 per week. After Uncle Sam and my state takes 25- 30% that leaves me about $450. If the daily costs add up to $25/ day or $175/ week then the net pay is about $275 a week. Maybe $25 a day is high? But Subway for 3 meals is $24. Maybe $25 is too low. Can those with experience help me understand this better? Thank you.............

(second edition) I have been reading here for about a month. I expect to start school in mid January. My question is about the daily routine. I believe I understand that every day has potential to be quite different with new challenges. I get that. What I have some concerns about is after driving. I read a lot last week about parking difficulties and challenges. So here is what I would like to hear discussed.

2. What do you do after driving and all the work is done? Do you venture out of the truck? Normal jobs I would be home and interact wit family, friends, etc. Is this a very lonely existence? I know there are computers and phones and other technological devices that one can communicate with family, watch TV, movies etc. Maybe someone could describe a good day? others may pitch in with a typical day and others and discuss a not so good day?

I have been reading here for about a month. I expect to start school in mid January. My question is about the daily routine. I believe I understand that every day has potential to be quite different with new challenges. I get that. What I have some concerns about is after driving. I read a lot last week about parking difficulties and challenges. So here is what I would like to hear discussed.

1. What is the best daily routine to find parking? In a best case scenario would you start early and find parking early? (I understand that loading, waiting, weather, traffic, etc., etc., are part of the routine that changes everything.) That said if I am loaded and plenty of miles to drive for the next 3 days what you say would maximize my days, rest, fun, etc.?

Thanks everyone. I have net my quota! You have been very helpful....

Yit can.. Are you available still??

Thank you. I am hoping to be out west. I had Sprint several years ago and had some connection issues out here in California.

I need to interview 3 drivers to get a grant for my CDL school. This can be done via email. There are only 11 very easy questions like: What is your typical day? What is the normal starting wage? etc.

If anyone any one is interested I would greatly appreciate some help. I think that it would take about 15 minutes and 1 email.

What carrier has sufficient coverage from your experience? I am able to switch phone carriers and was hoping that I could avoid picking the worst carrier (again) for my needs. I am about to start CDL school and likely will look for a OTR trucking firm. I have looked at various phone company coverage maps and was hoping for some real world experience before I make my selection. Thanks!

I am about to start CDL school. I have done a lot of research and I am looking forward to my new career. The one area of concern is the comfort of the driver seat. I have some back issues and long rides tend to be a bit painful in a bad seat. I can get out and stretch and relieve the issues. I have not seen any thing of seat comfort in my research. I used to fly aircraft in the military and typically the aircraft had good seats. I assumed that an industry that requires drivers to spend many hours daily to be seated would have superior seats. Is that true? Are the seats comfortable? Any other with "bad backs" out there that may want to comment??? Thank you !

Here is some interesting information for those in California and collecting unemployment. I just got a grant form CA for the entire amount of my truck school tuition. They have from a federal gran $5000 per unemployed in CA. (There may be some other qualification other than just unemployed, perhaps a veteran status is also required)Regardless if you are from CA and are collecting unemployment there is a strong possibility of getting qualified for this grant. I believe it s WIA funding. There are qualified schools that you must chose from. They are generally the best ones from my research.