Fair Pay?

At 6 months our cpm goes from .14 (.28 split) to .20 (.40 split), and then at 9 months we'll get another penny each

From 28 to 40 is a massive jump. At that point you're making solid money, especially just six months into a new career. Not only will you get another raise at the 9 month mark but I believe you'll also get yet another raise at the one year mark.

It may not be much in monetary means, but in opportunity it's huge!

It sure is! For quite a long time I've been on the lookout for another industry that has this type of setup where they'll bring you in off the street, pay for your training up front, and then hire you afterward if you complete the training. I can't think of another industry that offers that sort of opportunity.

I also can't believe how many people squander it. Show up to any of these company-sponsored programs and within a few hours you'll meet quite a number of people who have really sour attitudes and have no intention of putting in any serious hard work or dedication toward this career. I've seen people take amusement park rides more seriously than learning how to handle a big rig. I don't know why that is, but for those of us who are serious about learning and becoming true professionals they sure do make us look good!

You're right, of course, since we are absolute beginners. I was just comparing it to the 40+cpm I read about here. I'm jealous, but our day will come and we will be experienced drivers making darn good money. I just wish it would hurry up so we can stop robbing Peter to pay Paul. Not trying to whine... I truly am grateful for the opportunity they've given us.

Oh and the next raise after 9 months is another penny each at 24 months...but still another raise.

Well it won't be long at all and you'll be at that 40 cpm level like pretty much everyone else.

And don't get too caught up a in few cents here and there. Ten cents or more per mile difference is obviously a lot. But when it's only a few cents it doesn't matter much because there are so many factors that go into how many miles you'll get. Even if you're making a few cents per mile less you're going to make a lot more money when you have a proven track record at a company you've been with for a while than you will jumping ship chasing a few more cents per mile.

For one, you'll already have a great dispatcher at that point who knows you and trusts you. That means you're going to get better miles and better runs than you would at a new company.

Another - once you've been at a company for a little while you start hitting milestones where other pay and benefits start kicking in. Your health insurance kicks in, your 401k contributions from the company start flowing, you'll get a week or two of paid vacation time, you'll get longevity bonuses for sticking around, and you'll get other bonuses like safety and fuel bonuses.

And of course it doesn't all come down to money. Proven drivers who have been at a company for a while get access to freight most drivers won't be allowed to touch. They'll also get special favors that most people wouldn't be given like extra time off or a trade up to a newer truck. And if you're ever in a really bad position and you need help from the higher ups you have a far greater chance when they can look on the screen and see you've put in your time with the company and you're a top tier driver.

So don't worry yourself too much about a few cents here and there. It's not at all like an hourly job where everyone is doing the same work for the same pay all the time. In trucking everyone is hauling different freight in different trucks for all different pay rates and there is no guarantee that you're going to get the big miles unless you've proven yourself over time to be a top tier driver. There's a lot of extra money to be made and a lot of perks to collect by sticking around for a while.

Early in my career I moved around a few times because I wanted to try different types of trucking jobs and see the whole country. But once I had been doing it for a few years I realized that picking a solid company, proving myself to them, and getting to know the right people would lead to great pay and great working conditions so I went with US Xpress and stayed with them for 6 years - super smart move on my part. It worked out great. I was able to move around from division to division at will, I was always at the top of the board for miles, and anytime I had a problem that needed special attention or a special favor I was hoping for I was given top consideration by upper management.

There's a lot more that goes into making a great salary and having a great experience in the trucking world than simply the mileage rate.