1st Year Employment In Trucking

Guy is right.

It`s just a start up issue. You are actually in a better place than a lot of drivers who are in this business.

My advice would be to keep doing what you are doing and you will be rewarded.

Guy is right.

It`s just a start up issue. You are actually in a better place than a lot of drivers who are in this business.

My advice would be to keep doing what you are doing and you will be rewarded.

Thanks. It's 12:01am Got to roll!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Enjoy this special day!

David G

You home everyday and you making 650 to 850 a week? Hmm I see absolutely no issue. Local routes or routes that have you home every night are often really long hours and the pay never matches the amount of work you put in. It takes awhile to work your way into the good routes.

Unless you get with a larger LTL company or possibly Union then expect to make that kind of money.

These other drivers have probably done what you are now and worked their way into the routes they have now. Longevity at a company has its benefits.

If he's talking gross, I disagree that anyone working in this industry, driving these trucks, should accept being paid as little as grossing $650 per week. Especially not on those kind of hours. I'm guessing he's exaggerating about 2 A.M. to 7 P.M. daily, but that would be 85 hours per week.

David G

You home everyday and you making 650 to 850 a week? Hmm I see absolutely no issue. Local routes or routes that have you home every night are often really long hours and the pay never matches the amount of work you put in. It takes awhile to work your way into the good routes.

Unless you get with a larger LTL company or possibly Union then expect to make that kind of money.

These other drivers have probably done what you are now and worked their way into the routes they have now. Longevity at a company has its benefits.

If he's talking gross, I disagree that anyone working in this industry, driving these trucks, should accept being paid as little as grossing $650 per week. Especially not on those kind of hours. I'm guessing he's exaggerating about 2 A.M. to 7 P.M. daily, but that would be 85 hours per week.

I'm not sure exactly what he does, but I can identify with the 2 AM - 7 PM thing. Then again, it may - MAY - have a lot to do with: how far away he lives from the terminal AND what he delivers.

Back in the 1990s, I drove a rig for a "local" trash hauler. I lived 90 miles south of their one and only terminal. So, I had to get up at least 4 hours ahead of report time just to get to work. The work itself was 3 or 4 loads per day, sometimes drop and hook but mainly live load. At times, the planned 3 loads would become two before they shut me down for the day. Another long trip home. I brought home around $600-800 GROSS/week (not bad for the 90s, but still...). I was home every night, but not really "home." During the week, it really was just a place to lay my head. There was no quality time at all 5 - 6 days a week. At the time I was married; my wife really thought I would kill myself living/working like that.

Then again, as I implied, pretty much all my choice there. Had I lived, say, 30 miles away from the terminal, quality of life would have been much different without changing anything else. Even with the AWFUL Chicago rush-hour traffic. If it's only time one needs, find a place to live smack in the middle of your main runs. Had I done that, I may have remained with that company a lot longer than 1.75 years.

Thanks for all the great advice! I'm still here at the same company. February will bring in my 6 month mile marker at the same company.

Things are in fact settling down. I'm starting to get some decent loads and runs. I'm also now in a Day Cab so I'm actually get home daily. Not much time home daily but enough to see the wife, have small bite to eat, tuck my daughter into bed (even though see is already asleep) and get some sleep myself. My wife and daughter like it better that I'm home daily too. Its a little more predictable. When driving the sleeper I never knew, where I was going, for how long or how late I'd be home on Friday (I was getting home mainly on weekends\).

I think one of the most important things mentioned was this:

Also, early in your career you don't know what you really want out of trucking.

I have to admit this statement is very true. Since being transferred to a Day Cab from a Sleeper Cab about a month ago I can now see more clearly some of the "what do you really want out of trucking" means. Maybe like you have all said I've been road tested (still being road tested) but getting more established with the company.

Anyway, I wanted to give my update and thank you all the the great comments, advice or Internet coaching.

I'm certainly more enthusiastic now and looking forward to seeing what the next 6 months will bring.

Drive Safe.

Right on! I know it is hard not to bail for the seemingly greener grass. Now you're establishing a place in the company. Good to hear and best of luck.

That's awesome news David....love to hear it!

Ya, you really have to give trucking some time in the beginning. There's so much to learn, so much you have to prove....it takes time. We're glad to hear things are going better for ya, and most importantly that you're home to see the family everyday. That's fantastic.

Keep us updated and stay safe!