Question:
Hi all. Been lurking for a little while, decided to post finally. I am considering driving a truck for a living after I got laid off from my last job, and am looking for some answers to some, I am sure, basic questions. Such as...despite the smoke screen the recruiters use, what can a new driver realistically make his first year? I would need my CDL and am thinking of using one of the training companies for that, so I know there's a one-year contract (maybe more for some companies) to offset the training and the pay is not all that great. A recruiter for a company I spoke with today was talking about a first year driver making $31K to $39K the first year. Is this realistic? Would I have to kill myself doing it? I'm not a youngster, either, so another concern is, how long can a driver expect to be able to drive? Age 60, 65, over? Assuming that he is able to pass the physical and drivers test, obviously.
I would also like to actually talk to some drivers face-to-face if possible, but in San Diego the only truck stop I know of is in Otay Mesa. Are there others that I may not know about?
Thanks in advance for your questions. I'm sure I'll have more.

Answer:
Go to the Acorn Casino at the top of the pass on I8 east of S.D. That place is full of truck drivers in the evening. I stop and park there the night before I deliver. If there any indian casino's around your house go there. They all have OTR truck parking.

Answer:
Originally posted by Jim in SD:
Hi all. Been lurking for a little while, decided to post finally. I am considering driving a truck for a living after I got laid off from my last job, and am looking for some answers to some, I am sure, basic questions. Such as...despite the smoke screen the recruiters use, what can a new driver realistically make his first year? I would need my CDL and am thinking of using one of the training companies for that, so I know there's a one-year contract (maybe more for some companies) to offset the training and the pay is not all that great. A recruiter for a company I spoke with today was talking about a first year driver making $31K to $39K the first year. Is this realistic? Would I have to kill myself doing it? I'm not a youngster, either, so another concern is, how long can a driver expect to be able to drive? Age 60, 65, over? Assuming that he is able to pass the physical and drivers test, obviously.
I would also like to actually talk to some drivers face-to-face if possible, but in San Diego the only truck stop I know of is in Otay Mesa. Are there others that I may not know about?
Thanks in advance for your questions. I'm sure I'll have more.
Welcome to trucknet. I hope that you can find some of the answers you are looking for and dont have to sort through too much of the BS some will post.
With that said let me see if I can provide you with some insight.
$30,000 your first full year as a solo driver (after you complete all training) is possible but more than likely your first year income is going to be closer to $22-25,000. That $30,000 income is assuming that you will run 2500 miles plus per week every week and quite frankly that is a little hard for a new driver to do between having to prove themselves to thier dispatchers and learning how to work smarter and not harder, not to mention the 25-28 cpm most companies offer new drivers that first year. After you complete that first year then you can expect your annual income to increase and if by your 3rd year of driving if you are not making 32,000 plus per year something is wrong somewhere.
As far as going through the company sponsered schools I would highly reccomend that you do this only if it turns out to be your only option. Many of those school are what is known in the business as CDL Mills. They give you barely enough training to hopefully pass you CDL skills test, and if you do not pass you may be left having to owe for the school in full and left high and dry. While this is not always the case it does happen. The written tests you usually have to study and pass on your own within 1 or 2 days of starting class. You will recieve little or no training in logging, regulations, etc. These will be provided by your trainer (hopefully) assuming you get your CDL. In addition you are pretty much locked into working for that company for one year (possibly more) and may end up owing for the entire amount of the school (which often costs the same as a 4 or 6 week program) even if you worked for that company for 11 months.
A much better route is to pay for or finance a school on your own. Most training companies will reimburse all or part of the tuition costs over the course of a year on a weekly or monthly basis and if you quit before you get your tuition back you won't owe the company anything and will more than likely have less to owe.
There are many drivers in thier 60's and some in thier 70's. As long as you can physically do the job and pass your DOT medical exams you can keep on trucking.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
A major carrier such as SCHNEIDER will offer superior training over a CDL Mill School in my estimation.
Look at it this way...You are going to have to go through a school. You are going to have to spend a year with a training carrier. Why not combine the two and walk away debt free?
I would certainly ask the carrier what the ramifications are if for some reason you do not complete the initial training phase...but it will be the same result as a mill. Even if they put you out the door with a piece of paper, will you be able to pass a pre-employment test? Will you make it through the training carrier's training phase?
You need to talk directly with a training carrier such as SCHNEIDER or SWIFT...do your first year with a good safety/performance record and go from there.

Answer:
You can go to a local school and pay 3000 for a CDL. You will have a CDL in 2 weeks this way. It is worth less. You will still have to go through the carriers OTR Training school. Even though you have a CDL you will need to be trained in the fine art of OTR. Go to a carrier and let them pay for the training, all you will have to do is work fot them a year. You will need a year anyway. Most carriers want a year OTR to consider you a "experianced" driver. Schnider offers GREAT training. Most driver out here could not pass theor training course. Just a fact. You should have no problem makeing 36k your first year. Your second year should be about 900 higher and so on till you get to about 50k, then you will rid at that level till you quit and start over on the OTR pay scale again. If you hear these fellows bad mouthing the company you chose, ask them if they ever worked there. Schnider is one of the only carriers that will train you on a skid pad. In my opinion every driver should have this training. It is priceless. Most learn how to controll a semi doing a 360 by trial and air, they will teach you how to handel this on a safe surface. Do not pay for a CDL!202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
If you are going to recieve job training funds from the state or some other job training program don't waste it on CDL training; use on a another field or go back to school if possible.
If you are single and feel trucking is the only option you have, and only need to make pocket change for groceries and a few extras for a year or so, and have no bills or a mortage to pay, then go to Schneider's school and forget the other 'training' companies. Even if you don't like Schneider their training is better than the fly by night 2 week schools, but not as good as some of the long time schools out there, like the school at Drumwright, Ok., as an example, and a few others.
If you want to stay local in SD or Cali, do some legwork and try to find local outfits that will hire somebody with a good work record and find out what schools they would hire somebody from, if you can pay for you own schooling. The vast majority of newbies quit OTR, not because they are lazy, or stupid, or whatever. They quit because the living and working conditions suck, and the pay is awful, the later being the main reason, as the hours are very long for the money recieved.
If you have a family, it will also be hard on them. Don't be wowed into thinking $31K or so is a big deal; they throw big numbers out there to rope in suckers who don't have a clue to how it is out on the road. Something like 99% of newbies quit, and it's not because they are all lazy or sissies.
You can't go by asking drivers about their company, either. Most don't know who you are, for one thing, and will never tell the truth, anyway. The will puff up the job to make themselves look good, or try to get recruiting bonuses. Nobody is going to tell a stranger 'my company sucks, and I work for them because I'm an idiot and can't do any better'. Not to say there aren't some good jobs out there, there are, but they are hard to find and don't have hardly any turnover.
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Answer:
Don't know much about the former but you can make a pretty good guess't'mit based upon the company cpm for newbies and the low end of 'ave miles' per wk for starters--when comparing.....
As for school: I checked around between the company offered programs, CDL mills, and vocational schools. Considered also the entry level of my experience (0) related to td knowledge and exposure: A choice I didn't regret was taking an 8 wk course at a vocational school at about $1,300....This covered tuition only, and expenses for food, transportation, housing were out of pocket or had to be financed some way...
But the options are then opened to you to choose among the companies which hire from new trainees...And you should have more confidence regarding your skills and limitations than someone who enters freshly out of a CDL mill....
If financing is a problem, then one of the company sponsored training programs may be your choice.......From what I've gathered...you will still have contracts to sign regarding employment obligations of a yr or two, and will have to dig in your own pocket for food and incidentals during the training period.....Also you will not normally be salaried until after successfully completing a portion of your basic training.....If recently out of work and unemployment eligible, you may qualify for special retraining funds through your state and federal unemployment office....Several of my classmates did this and were funded fully for the cost of tuition, hotel accommodations at single occupancy, and food allowance through out the whole 8 week program......and are entering the truck driving profession with a bit more knowledge and experience than someone from a 3 wk program and a $6,000 debt...
Good luck to you......(Consider that whatever you choose---it's not just an investment of time and $: You're making a committment to a whole change of lifestyle....Some commit and make it. Some get trapped ---as you can judge from some of the posts ----and hate it....And some of those will make a move to go with something else.....The drivers you get to talk to, if you follow the above suggestions of other posters...will be giving you their story from their perspective,,,but you will have to do your own thinking about what is right for you)
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Answer:
If I am not mistaken which ever road you choose be it carrier training or going to a private school and getting your own funding.You will still be paying for the school if you quit.I don't believe a carrier is going to continue to pay your school payment if you quit?In some cases it may take 3 years to pay this trucking school debt off as most carriers pay $150 max per month toward the loan.atleast and I stress atleast with a carrier sponsored program you are paid in full within the year.If you quit a carrier that is paying your monthly payment if you quit and want to move on I don't think another carrier is going to take over that note for you?Thats just one mans opinion and you know what they say about opinions....

Answer:
Originally posted by Jim in SD:
...despite the smoke screen the recruiters use, what can a new driver realistically make his first year?
Possibly as much as $30K, but more likely closer to $20K-$25K.
I would need my CDL and am thinking of using one of the training companies for that, so I know there's a one-year contract (maybe more for some companies) to offset the training and the pay is not all that great.
OK if you cannot finance your own education. If you can get a bank loan, or have the money on hand, do some research into truck driving schools. The company run ones can be good, but more often than not, they are just giving you enough training to get your license,and then they will put you with a trainer for peanuts.
A recruiter for a company I spoke with today was talking about a first year driver making $31K to $39K the first year. Is this realistic?
Sounds high to me. What was the per mile pay rate?
Would I have to kill myself doing it?
Probably.
I'm not a youngster, either, so another concern is, how long can a driver expect to be able to drive? Age 60, 65, over? Assuming that he is able to pass the physical and drivers test, obviously.
As long as you can maintain your CDL, and keep a valid medical card, you can drive-there is no mandatory retirement age.
I would also like to actually talk to some drivers face-to-face if possible, but in San Diego the only truck stop I know of is in Otay Mesa. Are there others that I may not know about?
Thanks in advance for your questions. I'm sure I'll have more.
Look for some local truck companies and go to their terminals to see if any drivers wil talk to you. Truckstops are not alwyas the best place to go to talk to good drivers, as they are out making money and not sitting in truck stops. I rarely go to a truck stop except to fuel and shower. I can't stand the crap they serve in the restaurants, and don't particularly care to be surrounded by grumpy, tired, uneducated and unshowered truck drivers. Many truck drivers are very negative about everything, or can only talk about trucks and fishing, and I don't need to associate with those types.
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