Rookie Pay Example This Week

My largest gross was a little over $1400 in a week.. more common is about $900.. worst was $380 when I spent several days at home and the truck also had to be serviced later that same week. All in all, not too bad as a driver with under 6 montgs experience.

You go girl ;)

Husband had a family reunion last weekend, and Laredo seems to be the black hole for freight, so after all deductions, about a hundred fifty next pay...if we're lucky. Makes me want to avoid home time (and Laredo) whenever i can lol.

I agree with the avoiding Laredo thing, even though Stevens has a small yard facility there and normally has loads in the facility to take out. I do not like sitting around, and almost every time I hit Laredo, I end up increasing my thumb-twiddling skill for at least a few hours - even if it's just a drop and hook.

Thanks rainy, that's good news for potential drivers. I understand that this kind of money will not be typical for drivers who are not trying, but it shows the income potential to drivers who are willing to apply themselves.

Income has been one of my main concerns. I'm looking out for my future, and while I like the idea of driving a truck, I also need to have the income potential there to make it worth the switch for me. I am willing to work as hard as possible in order to make the best money possible, I just fear that I may not know the ins and outs well enough, or know the tricks (as Old School has talked about) well enough to make it happen. I understand that it's a learning experience.

Another concern is the way Knight is dispatched. It pays a sliding scale of between .40 to .49cpm based on length of haul. They say it is 40% drop and hook and 60% live load, and that the average length of haul is 750 miles. I see people talking about getting runs that are 1100 to 1600 miles, which looks like it wont be something I will get at Knight. I guess the best I can hope for is to get a 600 or 700 mile run, drop and hook and get another 600 or 700 mile run. But, if it's, drive 600 miles, then have to wait at shipper for 12 hours, then another 600 miles, then wait again...that won't add up to many miles over the week. However, I assume that if I get stuck at a shipper for 12 hours, I can use that as off duty time and get my 10 hour reset, and just keep going.

But, if it's, drive 600 miles, then have to wait at shipper for 12 hours, then another 600 miles, then wait again...that won't add up to many miles over the week. However, I assume that if I get stuck at a shipper for 12 hours, I can use that as off duty time and get my 10 hour reset, and just keep going.

Uh... yeah that 12 hours would be ur break. I do my 8 in sleeper or 10 hr at customers all the time then roll out with a full clock.

It doesn't matter if you get a 600 mile run or a 1200 Mile run...there are only so many miles you can run in a day. The only customers I have sat at for 12 hours waiting for loads are meat places .... tyson... smithfield...cargill. funny thing is that I haven't don't them in a couple months. Seems like my FM has been giving me the tight loads... even if only one drive shift for them.

Most of my customers take me early... and get me out within a couple hours. Then I park and sleep to roll out with a full clock.

That pay scale at Knight is pretty good... and I only have about 20% drop n hook. The "tricks" part you learn along the way by asking other drivers and reading this forum ; )

Thanks rainy, that's good news for potential drivers. I understand that this kind of money will not be typical for drivers who are not trying, but it shows the income potential to drivers who are willing to apply themselves.

Income has been one of my main concerns. I'm looking out for my future, and while I like the idea of driving a truck, I also need to have the income potential there to make it worth the switch for me. I am willing to work as hard as possible in order to make the best money possible, I just fear that I may not know the ins and outs well enough, or know the tricks (as Old School has talked about) well enough to make it happen. I understand that it's a learning experience.

Another concern is the way Knight is dispatched. It pays a sliding scale of between .40 to .49cpm based on length of haul. They say it is 40% drop and hook and 60% live load, and that the average length of haul is 750 miles. I see people talking about getting runs that are 1100 to 1600 miles, which looks like it wont be something I will get at Knight. I guess the best I can hope for is to get a 600 or 700 mile run, drop and hook and get another 600 or 700 mile run. But, if it's, drive 600 miles, then have to wait at shipper for 12 hours, then another 600 miles, then wait again...that won't add up to many miles over the week. However, I assume that if I get stuck at a shipper for 12 hours, I can use that as off duty time and get my 10 hour reset, and just keep going.

Yes. Long stops at shippers or receivers are great for 10 hour breaks or 8-2 splits. I do not like taking breaks at shippers or receivers as there are almost never showers (none that I can remember), and the other facilities are sometimes... questionable.

I have sat 12 hours or more several times at Smithfield Farms Tarheel, NC. I don't like the place because it's a primary processing plant, and therefore smells horrible. The facilities are questionable at best, though I've definitely seen worse at some produce places. It is nice when you drop a load after a solid day driving and have just enough time to ride to your next load, PTI, and set up for a 10 hour break while that load is being put in the trailer. Wake up, do a quick morning PTI and have a full clock of driving ahead of you.

600-700 mile loads sound like regional loads. Does Knight have full country OTR as well, and are you regional or OTR? Knight is one of the companies I am looking for as a possible place to move to after a few more months with Stevens. I've heard good things about them, and I spoke to a Knight driver just the other day that said he averages 12,000 miles per month. Clearly I'm taking that with a grain of salt, but 12k miles per month would be nice :)

One reason thatis better to discuss net, is while most people on here are company drivers, there are a few owner ops as well. An owner op's gross is going to be way higher, but his net may only be a little higher.

It might make sense to talk about gross, because everyone has different deductions. Anyway, my best week *gross* was only in the 900s, and usually it's in the 800s. But I'm only making 37 cents per mile. Wish I could have gotten on with Prime, that sounds like a sweet deal.

Miracle, I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. Let me lay out two examples. I'm going to use round numbers to simplify the process. I am not going to pull out IRS withholding tables to get exact numbers.

Driver #1- Divorced, now single, pays child support on 1 child. Works for ACME Trucking, earns .40cpm, runs 3000 miles per week. Gross Pay....................$1200.00 Federal witholding.....$ 300.00 Social Sec/Medicare...$ 100.00 State Witholding.........$ 50.00 Health Ins (Kid too!) $ 125.00 Child Support..............$ 150.00 401k.............................$ 25.00 Total deductions........$-750.00

NET PAY......................$ $450.00

Driver #2- Married, 2 Kids, Wife is a Nurse and has KICK A$$ benefits package at work. Works for ACME Trucking, .40cpm 3000 miles per week.

Gross Pay...................$1200.00 Federal withholding..$ 125.00 Soc. Sec/Medicare....$ 100.00 State withholding.....$ 25.00 Health Ins..................$0000.00 401k...........................$ 100.00 Total deductions......$ 350.00

NET PAY.....................$ 850.00

If you will notice, Driver # 2 NETS (or "takes home") $400.00 more per WEEK than Driver #1, AND contributes 4x as much to his/her 401k

Both of these Drivers earn the EXACT same pay. Everyone's circumstances are different. Therefore, GROSS PAY is the only barometer to go by. It reminds me of the scenario I hear from so many people on April 15th. "Hey! Im getting back $2400 dollars on my taxes this year!!! I try to remind them that it was their money in the first place. They just overpaid their taxes by $200.00 per month. Some people get it........most just look at me like I have 2 heads.

Per Matthew B:

600-700 mile loads sound like regional loads. Does Knight have full country OTR as well, and are you regional or OTR? Knight is one of the companies I am looking for as a possible place to move to after a few more months with Stevens. I've heard good things about them, and I spoke to a Knight driver just the other day that said he averages 12,000 miles per month. Clearly I'm taking that with a grain of salt, but 12k miles per month would be nice :)

Knight has full OTR, when I applied at Knight, I was applying to do OTR dry van , the recruiter asked me if I would be interested in running refrigerated on a super regional route. Knowing nothing about the trucking industry I told her that would be just fine. After a bit of reading, I think refrigerated is actually a good choice. From what I gather, people say that refrigerated drivers usually stay moving, so it appears that there will generally not be a lack of miles.

Interesting thing though, and while I don't believe in these types of things, it was interesting. So, my recruiter called me and told me that everything was good to go and that when I am ready to let her know and i'll show up in Dallas for my orientation and training period. I talked with my current boss, who asked me to give him a month. He was going to be out for 2 weeks, so the month would cover his being out for 2 weeks, plus 2 weeks when he gets back. Looking back, this may not have been a good idea, as I am sure that Knight probably doesn't want to wait a month for me to show up. I talked to the recruiter, and she told me she understands and to let her know when I am ready.

Anyway, a week before that, I was at a Chinese buffet, and at the end, got my fortune cookie. Inside it said "Success will be yours at home and in business in the next month".

Then, about a week later, I pulled up into a local truck stop on my way out to the field, and lo and behold, a Knight refrigerated truck was parked there, and the driver was inside the store, so I was able to talk to him.

Again, I don't believe in superstition or the like, but, thought that was all a very amusing coincidence. So, talking to the Knight driver, he seemed to be pretty happy with the company. He said the only thing he wished were better was the pay, but overall, he said the company is really good to him and he enjoys working there. I'm not sure why his pay is lower, he was saying something about him being from below Jackson, Fl., that may have something to do with how he is dispatched. Again, I can't remember exactly what he was implying there.

Long story...kinda short, seems Knight has a good relationship with their drivers and even the recruiter told me to talk to 2 or 3 drivers before coming to work for them and that i'll find that most drivers really like working for Knight. So far, after talking to my first Knight driver, that seems to be holding true. I just don't see many Knight trucks down this way. Maybe I need to go hang out at the local truck stop and see if I can bother some more drivers.....

Miracle, I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. Let me lay out two examples. I'm going to use round numbers to simplify the process. I am not going to pull out IRS withholding tables to get exact numbers.

Driver #1- Divorced, now single, pays child support on 1 child. Works for ACME Trucking, earns .40cpm, runs 3000 miles per week. Gross Pay....................$1200.00 Federal witholding.....$ 300.00 Social Sec/Medicare...$ 100.00 State Witholding.........$ 50.00 Health Ins (Kid too!) $ 125.00 Child Support..............$ 150.00 401k.............................$ 25.00 Total deductions........$-750.00

NET PAY......................$ $450.00

Driver #2- Married, 2 Kids, Wife is a Nurse and has KICK A$$ benefits package at work. Works for ACME Trucking, .40cpm 3000 miles per week.

Gross Pay...................$1200.00 Federal withholding..$ 125.00 Soc. Sec/Medicare....$ 100.00 State withholding.....$ 25.00 Health Ins..................$0000.00 401k...........................$ 100.00 Total deductions......$ 350.00

NET PAY.....................$ 850.00

If you will notice, Driver # 2 NETS (or "takes home") $400.00 more per WEEK than Driver #1, AND contributes 4x as much to his/her 401k

Both of these Drivers earn the EXACT same pay. Everyone's circumstances are different. Therefore, GROSS PAY is the only barometer to go by. It reminds me of the scenario I hear from so many people on April 15th. "Hey! Im getting back $2400 dollars on my taxes this year!!! I try to remind them that it was their money in the first place. They just overpaid their taxes by $200.00 per month. Some people get it........most just look at me like I have 2 heads.

Oh, I understand the difference between net and gross. I tend to focus on my net pay as that is what I can spend or invest. The fact that two people can gross the same but have different net pay is similar to the point I was making. I was just going the opposite way. Owner ops frequently talk about how much they make but always tell you how much they gross, where their net pay is often closer to what a company driver makes.