Prospects For New Drivers ?

Hi everyone. I'm researching into getting a CDL and would like to ask if anyone can give some idea what is the current demand for new drivers in this industry ? I've read the book on this website all about trucking which states that opportunites are plentiful for new truckers. But this booklet was written several years ago I think it said. I've been looking at Craigslist everday for a couple months for jobs. In the transportation column i've seen postings which give me the impression that the opportunities and pay for new drivers is not too good. Which is it ? Is there a huge demand for drivers or not ?

According to the trucking book on this site, at least at the time written, truck drivers are in such high demand that new drivers have many choices, so much so that a new driver likely can make 40K his first year and have several choices of companies, routes, etc. without having to BS around with low paying crappy job offers. Is it still like this ? Some of the Craigslist postings I've read are from drivers who've indicated that the industry is not paying much anymore.

I'm looking to get into this simply to get money, but not to make a longterm career. I'm 42, married, own a house, never worked a fulltime job for anyone, and have managed to live doing internet marketing. So I really have no kind of job resume, I've been self employed. It has not been working out though lately and I'm running on credit and need to start making money fast and trucking seems like one of the few ways of making some decent money without any experience. I realize all what's involved in the trucking lifestyle, and I figure I'll give it a go for a year or so to save some money and have a CDL as a plan B in life.

My goal is to get into dry fright either regional or OTR , and be able to make enough money to pay my bills and save some. If I can take home at least $2500/month after taxes it would be sufficient. I'm not really looking to run hard and make as much money as possible. Reason is that my ultimate goal is to develop my website as my primary income, and this I plan to do while I'm on the road, any time that I have sitting, waiting etc, I will not be twiddling my thumbs or watching movies but rather doing my online business. So to me it doesn't matter much if I have less miles and more waiting time than most drivers would want.

So considering I'd be a new driver with nothing much for a resume/work references, and not a huge ambition for driving extra miles or more hours than DOT allows, do you think there is still ample opportunity to meet my goals in this industry right now ? Also in choosing to go for company sponsored or private school training, do you think one or the other of these may be more accomodating for my situation ?

Thanks, Mike

I just got part of the answer to my question as for how much new drivers actually are making in the following post: (looks like average 28-32K, I assume we're talking before taxes)

https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-2285/Page-1/im-a-new-driver-and-im-not-getting-good-miles

Look around this site especially under the "Becoming a Truck Driver" section. If you are looking for a fast 40k a year your first year, I don't think it will happen in trucking, but it could.

As far as demand goes I think it is still quite high, I recently got my CDL and I have 4 offers from big otr companies. The local companies require a year or more of experience and I will go otr to get the experience. Its typically 7 days on per 1 day off. It pays low your first 3-9 weeks during orientation and mentor training. And I would assume its like any other job, you start at the bottom and work your way up.

Your wife may not like the long weeks away from home either, which is surely a consideration.

Phil

Thanks Phil. I've continued looking around on this site and getting more answers to my questions. One other important factor for me is that I live around the central florida area - port st. lucie, on the east coast 1 hour North of West Palm Beach. What I've read here is that the opportunites around in South Florida are very limited. It seems to be one of the most limited places in the country for driving opportunities. Apparently, none of the company sponsored programs hire in this area. Although one company Werner has been mentioned here.

Welcome aboard Mike!

Well I literally wrote the book on this site so I can talk about that a bit

As far as first year pay, nowadays unfortunately you can expect about $32k-$36k your first year. Possibly a little more at some places, depending on a million factors, but somewhere in that range is something you can count on if you're willing to put in an honest effort and all that. Back when I started in '93 I made $40k my first year. But these days, even though the demand for drivers is still extremely strong it's not quite what it was before the economic meltdown of '08. So real wages have come down a bit, and when adjusted for inflation the real wages of today have barely more than half of the spending power of wages back in '93. You would have to make $64k+ today to equal the spending power of $40k in '93.

So the demand for drivers is strong but real wages will likely be $32k-$36k your first year.

Your idea about getting into trucking to make a wage while working on the side to build up your website isn't a bad idea in itself. But what makes it a bad idea is that you're married and you're not really interested in trucking per se and the travelling lifestyle. If you were single and didn't mind the idea of living on the road for extended periods while working on your website I would say go for it. But I'm very hesitant to recommend that plan under your current circumstances because quite honestly trucking makes for a good job and a great lifestyle for those who are really into that sort of thing, but it makes a lousy job and a miserable lifestyle for those who are not.

You've read my book so you know what I'm saying about trucking being a lifestyle. And as many people on this site will be quick to point out, it's not just a lifestyle for you. It's just as much so for your wife. The job is stressful and exhausting, and being away from home just makes it ten times worse when that's where you'd rather be.

Personally I would say look elsewhere for a job that will keep you at home with your wife and allow you to work on the side. It's not worth the time, money, hassle, and stress of getting your CDL , living under the scrutiny of the trucking industry, and living the travelling lifestyle just to make $35k-$40k when that's not where you want to be or what you want to be doing.

But that's not to say your plan won't work. Indeed it probably would as far as your website is concerned. You'll make a wage and you'll find a little time on the side to work on it. Not much time, but a little. But overall I think there's a lot of opportunities for work that would suit your current situation and life goals a whole lot better than trucking.

Thanks for the advice Bret, and for putting together a very helpful website. I did read through your whole book and enjoyed it. So I'm aware of the hassles, etc. I've also watched videos on youtube of truckers telling the hard realities of trucking life.

Knowing that, I figured I could deal with it for a year or so. My wife is good with the whole idea really because we just need to do whatever is necessary to get some money. We're figuring she could come along on some trips (not sure if most companies allow this for new drivers though. I recall looking into Schneider some years back and their policy was no company for new drivers until 6 months of experience). We have no kids, and both of us love to drive. Sometimes we'll go for a 12 hour drive to the other side of FL and back the same day. I am well aware though that trucking work is not anything like going for joy rides on your own whim.

So both of us are prepared to undergo the sacrifice for 1 year or so with the idea that I'd save some money and get some experience to qualify for a local job eventually. I'm aware that local jobs are very competetive though, plus being in south Florida, the chances of getting a decent local job after one year may be slim.

And I know what you're saying how there is likely little time to get anything much done trying to work on my website while on the road. I realize that on top of driving there's much else to be done and pure free time may be very little. So mostly your advice may be the best for me. Yet, like I said, being aware of all the challenges, under our current financial situation and me having little job experience, we are prepared to do whatever necessary if trucking is actually an option for us. This is what I'm mainly looking to conclude here, if it is even an option. And after reading what you've said about Florida, it looks like there may not be much opportunity here. It looks like there aren't any company sponsored programs in my area. I did see Bret where you advised someone in FL to submit a prescreening, or prehire form before signing up with Sage trucking school in FL. So I could try that and see what comes up.

My only question remaining would be, do you happen to know of any company sponsored programs that may be hiring in this area (Treasure Coast/South Florida) ? I read some mention of Werner, have to check that out.

Thanks, Mike

I'm seeing the map on this website showing all the truck driving schools in the country. Right near me is #8 & #22 in Fort Pierce - Indian River State College, and Sage Truck Driving School. I imagine if there's 2 schools in the area there must be at least some opportunities for new drivers. I'll speak with them and see what they say. They're likely to tell me though there's good opportunities just to get me to sign up. I'll see if they offer the prehire system.

I am pretty sure the prospects for new drivers entirely depends on your current place of residence.

I can open a newspaper from any city with in 100 miles of my house and just blindly look at 10 jobs in the classifieds, 9 of those will be for a trucking company of some sort. Mind you I live in the mid west and am surrounded by freezer storage warehouses , wal-mart warehouses, oreily parts warehouses, amazon warehouses, pretty much any place that generally has a warehouse...so its natural to have tons of trucking companies in the area as well.

Just remember Mike in order for your plan to work to save up money for a year both YOU and YOUR WIFE will need to be working. You can not be the sole bread winner. $2500 a month after taxes is very doable but if you are the only one working most of your income will go to bills that you have now and very little will go to savings.

Just remember in trucking you are paid by the mile so one week can be great and the next can be disappointing. Miles each week can very greatly depending on a number of factors.