My husband wants to be a truck driver. He is looking into Swift (since they will pay for your CDL if you are employed with them for a while). The nearest location for them is about two hours away from where we live will that be a problem? The training is offered in Texas (our state) so he can do that. I know he will be gone for weeks at a time he wishes to do OTR. We have a small child so a team isnt an option for us. I hear people say there is good money if you are willing to be gone long periods of time, does anyone know how much is good money? Any information at all about the industry would be great. Thanks to everyone who answers.
2006-08-26 16:26:13 · 6 answers · asked by brandy 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
My hubby has been driving for 20 + years we own our truck and trailer and are leased to trucking company. We have 2 little boys at home. My hubby is gone about 2-3 weeks at a time.
He is considered an Owner Operator. Average income (before fuel, license, insurance, truck payment, trailer paymentetc) $120-140,000 depending on how long he is gone and how much the load pays,
It is a difficult life you really need to be an independent mom and are okay to do things by yourself and make decisions by yourself.
As for a company driver I don't know a whole lot. In my opinion $30,000 a year driving someone elses truck isn't enough money for my husband to be gone 2-3 weeks at a time from home and his boys.
2006-08-26 16:59:06 · answer #1 · answered by tmweber 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The location of the company isn't a problem. As a long haul truck driver when he is ready to come home he can drive the truck home and park it their. As he will be in the same truck when he goes back out on the road.
The only time he will need to drive to headquarters is for routine repairs.
As for the money. Yes it is good money. It is best if he can find another good male driver and drive team. They most likely will team him up with someone out of his class. If they keep their truck moving they should make good money. The key is on the road moving as they are paid by the mile. As far as an exact amount first find out how much team drivers get paid a mile fresh out of school. If he drives as a single driver the pay is also different.
2006-08-26 16:55:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work at a logistics company so I obviously see a lot of truck drivers. I also hear a lot of complaints. The one thing I hear all the time is if the company they are suppose to pick up a load at doesn't have a load ready for them or not at all they have to wait for a load. Sometimes this can be hours or days. They do not get paid to wait for a load. Some companies will let them bring a empty trailer back and pay them for it. Some companies will still pay you if there is no load and they can verify it.
The second biggest complaint is that their dispatch will send them to pick up a load and tell them it is ready for them, but when the driver gets there they find out that their dispatch already gave the load out to someone else so they are screwed.
I work with JB Hunt, Scheinner, JDCE, Express Carriers, Rush, TVMC, BAWC, and Triple Crown. There is problems with all of them. Express Carriers being the worst.
All the drivers have complaints about the companies they work for so I could not recommend one over the other.
I hope this helps a little.
2006-08-26 16:42:01 · answer #3 · answered by lakecity21 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im seeing a lot of advertisements for OTR trucking companies hiring at 41 cents/hour. If you can pull 500 miles a day, thats $205/day... or a little over $1000 per week... dont forget to deduct meals, lodging and TAXES! hehehe... Gov't gets it's part, even if you dont, heheheh.
Most of these companies that will pay for your training hire you at a lower rate, and/or deduct the cost of your schooling. And OTR drivers are often gone for a MONTH at a time, not simply a couple of weeks.
So, keep all that in mind. READ the fine print!
Good Luck!
2006-08-26 16:38:51 · answer #4 · answered by thewrangler_sw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do know that it pays pretty well but the problem is that they will be gone for long periods. It will be hard for him not seeing his child and you needing him. But it does pay pretty good. I don't remember the price i was offer but it was a lot. But i wouldn't suggest this job to a family man
2006-08-26 16:30:00 · answer #5 · answered by ShellShock Vet 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't know a whole lot about this, but truckers can make $60 - 70,000 a year, maybe even more depending upon how much they wanna work. In my opinion, however, doesn't seem like a very good career choice for a young, married man with a small child.
2006-08-26 16:37:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋