Question:
What is the average starting pay per mile for an OTR newbie?
I have an opportunity to start at $.30 for a flatbed company that is close here. They are starting me out at their 1 year pay because of my driving experience in the Air Force.
Is that pretty good for starting?
The guy at TMC said he may be able to start me out at $.29 for my prior driving.
Just wanting your suggestions.
TimThis is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:
Although, I don't have any "Flatbed" exp...I would say that starting at .30cpm is not bad.
Most dry van & reefer carriers start anywhere from .23cpm-25cpm.(of course there are a few that start LOWER than that.)

Answer:
Is way above average starting pay for a newbie. If this company you are talking about is going to give you some training and they seem to be an overall good company based on your standards then go for it.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
CPM rates tend to be higher in the east than here in the west. The offer you got would be a nickle higher on average for starting pay out here. I started on flats too. Now I do a dedicated near home and slammin doors. Way easier than flat bed. But I'm old and wussy these days. You'll pick up extra pay for tarping and some will pay for putting up a side kit if they use em. Some will pay 15 or 20 bucks for each pick up and drop you make. Otherwise I personally think flat bedders should be paid .40 plus for the work that's required. Done reefer, drys and flats now and none work harder than flat bedders. My hat's off to them all. It's a way of life for them. Kinda like cowboying. Nobody seems to explain well the reasons but yet they do it for the same pay dry van operators do it. Keep plenty changes of clothes and lots of baby wipes and a good A/C is a must. Gaurd your shower tickets, you'll make use of em all...BOL
Character: Doin the right thing when nobody's lookin..JC Watts

Answer:
Try CFI - Joplin, MO 1-800-641-4747
I don't know if they can use your experience in the Air Force, or how recent it is, but if they can their starting pay is .32cpm for 1 year experience. If you have any questions let me know.
Good Luck

Answer:
What can I expect to make the first year.
I am just trying to get an idea. I will hopefully be at $.29 or $.30.
Thanks,
TimThis is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:
Since you didn't mention if they had told you your average weekly miles, I'll toss a couple figures in here for ya. These are just guesses, so I could be way off base here.
.30 cpm x 2000 miles = $600.00
$25 x 2 for tarp pay = $50.00 (say you pulled 2 loads this week)
Weekly total wages = $650 before taxes and insurance deductions)
.30 cpm x 2500 miles = $750.00
$25 x 2 for tarp pay = $50.00 (say you pulled 2 loads this week)
Weekly total wages = $800 before taxes and insurance deductions)
You can probably figure about $100 to $150 being taken out each week for taxes & health insurance. Maybe more, maybe less, depending on if you're married and have kids or not.
You will have weeks with more miles and you will have weeks with less miles than I stated. That's where your budgeting comes into effect.
*******************************
"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane!" (from Waylon Jennings)
"The feel of the wheel delivers me, from a life where I don't wanna be." (from Joe Stampley)


Answer:
So I can expect to make around 35,000 to 40,000 within my first year. I can deal with that. I am an E4 in the Air Force and cleared 21,000 last year. It doesn't pay to be in anymore.
I know there is quite alot to have to buy to start out but I am pretty much ready to get what I will need to start out.
Thanks,
TimThis is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:
Lemme c if I can explain. The flatbed offer you got sounds good, but flatbedders typically run fewer miles than dry van or reefer. If you go to any trucking website or pick up any trucking mags in a trkstp, you will bombarded by: "Highest cpm"
"most miles" "get home weekly" and on and on. if you already have 1 year military driving, I would think most companies would put with a trainer for a short time anyway. Just to give you OTR, tarping, reefer exp for whatever division you go into. I made reference to the hype about the cpm. Dont get me wrong, it is important, hubby and I get 39 cpm running team over at Werner(not selling Werner here, either) But we run 5500-6500 most weeks. We could go to company "A" pays us 42 cpm, but we may only get 4500-5500 miles per week.
The carriers are all pretty basic in what they offer. Some have a niche in one area, some in another. That's why there are so many of them. If there was one perfect trucking co., as the adds try to convince you, we would all be working for that one carrier. I have been teaming with hubby since 1996, we have been o/o 3 of those years, now we are back to company drvrs. Whenever we have changed companies, we have asked drivers why they drive for...., and what peeves they have also. we seem to get a good mix of opinions. You will have to make up your own mind. Just don't start out job hopping. Me and hubby did that our first 2 yrs teaming (he's been drving since dirt was made) I am currently home because of an injury on the truck, he is out there solo. Back to job-hop. Most carriers now are pretty strict about the # of trucking jobs a driver has over a 2 yr period. You won't like everything about the company, in fact you will probably not like as much as you do like. But hang in there. If you r like the rest of us hauling the nations hamburgers and Huggies, you will get that diesel addiction to a job you will love to hate and hate to love most days. Hey somedays me and pappa quit several times a day, we just only tell each other.
Calamity Jane
"Reach for the stars even if you have to stand on a cactus"

Answer:
I have heard that TMC is really good company that will give you the miles you want. I want to run anywhere from 2500-3000. I think that if I do that then I will be pretty happy. I have only done flatbedding so that is all I know and I really enjoy it.
If anyone drives for TMC and can fill me in on what kind of miles you get that would be great.
Thanks,
TimThis is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:
Originally posted by USAF 2T2:
So I can expect to make around 35,000 to 40,000 within my first year. I can deal with that. I am an E4 in the Air Force and cleared 21,000 last year. It doesn't pay to be in anymore.
Tim
Wow, I see military pay has really gone up since I was in. I was making about $14,000 a year as an E-4, and that was only 6 years ago.
"If the rubber ain't burning then I ain't earning!"

Answer:
makes some good points, although, I have to disagree about flatbeds running fewer miles. I've pulled just about every kind of trailer there is and dispatched vans and reefers. There's good and bad about all of 'em and each of them has the potential to make a log book scream.
The most important point that Calamity Jane made may be to avoid job hopping. If you stay with one company long enough you gain leverage. Every company spends a fair amount of money on recruiting and the most cost effective driver for them to recruit is the one that already works for them. If you have a problem, talk to someone in management (not dispatch; management) and get it straightened out. The company has an incentive to keep you happy within reasonable bounds.
As far as pay goes, remember that you are going to be keeping two households going. The one with wheels and the one without. No matter what you do to save money on the road it is still more expensive. It generally costs me between 100 and 150 dollars a week to live. I think if you're careful you can do it for less but not a whole lot less.
You do get a better tax break than most business travellers but the road is still expensive. Make yourself stick to a budget and you'll be more successful.
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." ...Soren Aabye Kierkegaard


Answer:
while in school, pay zero
company training,pay almost zero
so for the first few months,you make next to nothing and if you have to pay for school,that will make your first year mighty slim.
Wyle E. Coyote
Supergenius!


Answer:
As far as pay goes, remember that you are going to be keeping two households going. The one with wheels and the one without. No matter what you do to save money on the road...[/i]
That's why it's soooo Important to be Debt FREE BEFORE going OTR & it's Equally Important to BUDGET.
At least have ALL Credit Cards TOTALLY Paid OFF(if you have CCs)

Answer:
I like your attitude. have you got an unmarried sister?