Question:
I drove OTR for about 18 months & wasn’t able to get home enough, so several months ago I started driving a straight truck for a friend of mine that just had two straight trucks (24’ box). He told me that in several months he would be getting a tractor & 48’ trailer, Well he held true to his word & got an International day cab & a 48’ trailer. He’s paying me $10.00 per hour now with the straight truck & I will only be taking the tractor out when we have larger orders going out, for now maybe only twice a week. His goal is to get several more larger loads per week & keep me in the tractor full time then hire another driver for the straight truck I use to drive. I’m willing to work at my current rate for him for now to see how things go, But if things go as planed & I start driving the tractor full time what would be a good hourly rate?

Answer:
Part of it depends on the going rate for OTR drivers in your area. Here in the Seattle WA area, day drivers fall into two categories:
$11-$14hr -- low end.
$16-$18hr -- high end.
If you're living on the road for a few days/weeks at a time, you could probably get a similiar job that pays somewhere between $600-$800 a week with a larger OTR outfit -- maybe more with more experience. That's the basic going rate -- somewhere between $30,000-$40,000 a year the first few years of experience, topping out around $50,000 for solo OTr work....
These (legitimate) comparable jobs also include health insurance benefits, and other conventional employment benefits.
How you want to figure this into an hourly rate is up to you -- and drifts into a very controversial way of looking at compensation around here to say the least. My best advice -- make sure it averages least $100 a day for the days out, since just looking it from an hourly rate doesn't take into account the amount of work you're paid to do.

Answer:
Thanks Shuffler
I have 5 years experience with straight trucks, But with only 18 months OTR tractor trailer experience I would definitely consider myself on the low end.

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Here in Yakima they start at $7.35 and go up to about $17.00 for union.
Have seen ads for doubles, with hazmat jobs advirtising $7.35 a hour here. That is minumum wage here.

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Around here most drivers make at least $10-13 CAN an hour to start. Then anywhere from $14-20 CAN with a year or so experience.
I get $ 14 right now to drive straight truck and tractor trailer on a dedicated local run. Works out to $140 per day, 5 day a week, so $700 a week. And there is no Overtime options, so that kinda sucks, i would be willing to work OT if it was availabe.
I'm not really happy with that, but it's all i can get for now.
Alot of construction companies and farmers pay even less, i've found out.
i think if you want to good paying hourly job, you have to go to a union company.
This is all canadian $, so i not sure what it is in US$

Answer:
In central Texas the class A pay goes from $10.00 on up to $18.00 to $20.00 on the high end. I think union drivers make somewhat more in this area.
Class B goes from $8.00 up to $12.00 - $14.00. Alot of end dump work stays at about $10.00 or percentage.
I started with my company, after I left Swift at $14.50. After ninty days they gave me a buck and after my six months they gave me another $1.00. When my year is in, I think I'll get another bump, but it may only be 50 cents or so. The most senior A driver here, 11 years, makes I think about $20.00, so the bumps tend to slow after the first years. They do have good medical, including vision and dental, plus 401K. Holiday pay is if you are scheduled on a run you get 4 hours plus your hours worked of course. If not scheduled you get 8 hours pay. Kinda goofy but its ok.
No drop and hook. All driver load and unload so we work for it.
But yard and terminal is only 5 miles from the house.
Codger

Answer:
15 a hour min. Time and a half over 8 hours not 40 a weeks.
Full benifits package. They pay it all and match at leased 5% on the 401k.
If you are local they also pay you 36 cents a mile to and from work.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

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Do what now?
Are you saying that the local drivers get paid to commute?
BTW, Excellent job on the church! (in case I forget to post it in the other thread) ---------------------------

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Well thats two I know I won't get right now! It's just a small outfit with only three trucks.

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Time and a half after 40 or even 60 is more the norm in my area. Commuting pay is unheard of. Even though mine is only 20 miles one way, it is becoming a factor. It cost me 80 bucks to fuel my diesel pickup the other day.
I was doing a little fact finding at a CDL job fair saturday. (I have a review coming up in July and if they don't do right then I might have to jump ship) One company was offering a 50% 401k match with a 6K limit on your contribution. 50% is not to shabby.
The norm in my area for class B is in the 12 buck area but I do see ads for 15 bucks to drive a tri axle dump.

Answer:
I'm not sure of the going rate for loacal TT drivers in my area. Most mI've looked at pay a percentage. From 25% up to 30%. I know there is no way I would possibly think that some large OTR company will pay you more. You might take home a few more dollars after road cost but you hourly pay will sink way below 10 bucks.
By the way have you talked to the boss about a raise? Maybe he looks to give you one in the near future? I would look for atleast a couple bucks more an hour.

Answer:
I deliver and pick-up ornamental plants here in Florida for a wholesale nursery and greenhouse.........I travel no more than 4-states......when I'm OTR more than 100 miles from Jacksonville, we get paid $.38 cpm, plus all expenses..........when I drive local, less that 100-miles from here, I am paid $14.75 per hour and time and a half after 40-hours.
Personally myself, I wouldn't get out of bed for $7.35 per hour, much less drive someone's truck for that. I can't believe someone would pay too go to a truck driving school and learn to drive a truck for $7.35-$10.00 [er hour.........just my opinion.