What Is A Decent CPM For A New Driver?

We have had a few recruiters come to school and I'm wondering what should I be looking for as far as CPM , benefits, etc.

I would say look here Paid CDL Training Programs and here Trucking Company Reviews. In the company sponsored training you can see a variety of starting CPMs and you can find some in the trucking company reviews. Good luck.

You will find all sorts of pay from .27 CPM to .46. It depends on the comonay and their training. Oneay pay higher during training but lower once solo.

I THINk it was PAM and CR England that were kinda low in the 20s and swift and prime are in 30s and 40s.

I get .41 CPM in the condo and the lightweights get .46

My companyranges from 37 to 50cpm, depending on loaded/unloaded and mileage range. We have around 100 trucks out there.

What you may discover is that CPM doesnt matter so much. Some companies may pay more but you might get fewer miles where another may pay a lower CPM but dispatch you for more miles.

What id really be looking at is hometime, insurance and other benefit options. My company started me out at 33 cpm, however in only 2 months i was at 39 cpm and now 8 months in im at 52 cpm. So while they start lower, if you perform they really bump you up fast...not so much about longevity. Our top drivers are making 65 cpm or so ive been told, which to me is mind boggling lol.

Another example was my nephew who was trained by and drove for Stevens. What he told me was that even though many companies paid more, he always got alot of miles (over 3k a week consistely) he was very happy with them. He left last month after incorporating and purchasing a hotshot with a guaranteed 3yr contract from his primary customer. It will be interesting to see how it goes for him because the competition is fierce in the area he intends to operate.

I think id just choose based on personal needs and preferences and not worry CPM so much and focus on learning the job well.

Like Sue said, CPM is just one factor. You also have to factor in how many miles/week you will get. Once you have those 2 numbers, you will at least have a general idea of gross earnings.

Then you have to consider medical insurance costs and other costs that will HAVE to be paid.

Beyond that it's really a bunch of little things that may contribute to your decision but should not be a deal breaker. Some companies offer detention pay, more CPM on short hauls, Hazmat loads, tuition reimbursement, etc.... The list goes on.

Having said that, the worst combination you can get is low CPM and low miles. Remember, as a new driver they typically aren't going to schedule you tight or give you hot loads because you are an unproven driver.

I'm a new driver still in training and I am thankful I found this site. I come from a military and corporate office environment. Trucking is a whole different world.

The good news is that the cream always rises in trucking. At my employer (Tyson Foods), they expect 500 miles/day average, and more when reasonable. Simple math tells me I'll be fine financially as long as I take care of business and don't hit anything.

Best of luck!

My company started me out at 33 cpm , however in only 2 months i was at 39 cpm and now 8 months in im at 52 cpm. So while they start lower, if you perform they really bump you up fast..

That's the key right there. Don't worry as much about what they'll start you at. Look at where you'll be after 6 - 12 months. These companies have a terrible problem with turnover so they incentivize drivers to stick around that first year with frequent, sizeable raises.

You can also ask a company's recruiters what the average miles per week are for solo drivers. They should know that number. That, along with the cpm you can expect after a few raises, will tell you where you'll stand.

Plan on being with your first company for a minimum of one year. That's one of the big things we really try to help drivers understand - the big miles, better pay, better runs, and better treatment all come after you've been there for 6 - 12 months. Until you've been there long enough to learn your trade and prove yourself to be a safe, reliable, hard working driver you're normally not going to get the big miles and special favors the top tier drivers get.

Thank you all for the great information. The first company that came in was offering .34 cmp with .40 being the top for your first year. Average 2200-2400 mile a week. I thought their staring pay was a little on the low side.

Thank you all for the great information. The first company that came in was offering .34 cmp with .40 being the top for your first year. Average 2200-2400 mile a week. I thought their staring pay was a little on the low side.

Nah. Last week I ran 2465/miles at 41.5 CPM. Plus my bonuses (which usually cover my insurances) I grossed about $1200 and took home $875. For one week after all my insurances , vision, disability etc. My health insurance is going to make a big drop next month when I hit one year.

At .34 CPM you'd be at like $840 for the same miles before bonuses so figure the bonuses (if your company is similar, you conserve fuel, and drive safely) could very well cover your taxes. But if the company gives raises quickly you could catch up to me. I started at 39.5 CPM. So not that much different from you.

I usually average more but some weeks like to run hard and others I take it easy. Personally, this is the most I ever cleared in my life and its much easier than the stress I had before. Now I pretty Mich only get stressed by weekend dispatch hahaha. Not their fault they just don't understand the stuff we go through.