Can anyone tell me what kind of LOCAL trucking jobs pay really good?

Question

What pay can I expect as a beginner? Is hauling gas decent? Waste Management? What other jobs? Since I would be getting paid hourly, is the OT plentiful?

Answer 1

Local (LTL) truck driving pays VERY well, but the degree and/or mix of work involved varies somewhat. Some companies pay crap money, like $8-$12 per hour, while most start you around $14-$17 per hour. You should expect to "top out" around $20-$30 per hour before overtime in most local trucking jobs. Some you will only drive a truck, some you will only work a dock most of the time, some you will drive and work the dock, and make city stops.

Just look in the local phone book for companies like Yellow, Fed Ex (Ground), Reddaway, ABF, Old Dominion, Etc.

If the company has double trailers and no sleepers on their Tractors, they should be local (LTL), LTL means "Less than a load".

Personally, i would NEVER drive tanker trucks, I am not that solid in the nerves department, I don't think I want to spend a year or two getting used to that mass sloshing around on me :)

I totally prefer dry box loads, not flat bed, not tanker, not HAZMAT specific (HAZMAT drivers get paid pretty well though, like Nalco Drivers!)

I also drove OTR (Over The Road) my first 3 years of trucking, and loved it, but living in the truck did get old after awhile!

Yes, local/LTL city work and line runs is where it is at! Good pay, home every night, weekends off, great benefits! Generally, there is decent overtime, there again, it depends on the company, but most will work ya if you want it! :)

Answer 2

As a beginner try to stick to dry freight,local pickup & delivery is where its at. Keep in mind though that the more specialized you become,the more money you make.I started out doing "switching" at a local company.Then switched to chemical tankers,and now I haul gas/diesel. Some of your tanker jobs will pay by the load,I am paid by the gallon. The guys with us who have a small amount of experience usually make 12-14 bucks an hour,with time and a half for overtime (counting 1 dollar extra for working at night).With the tankers you will find "straight" tankers,or tankwagons, and the "transports" that are tractor trailers. I drive a tankwagon,with two years experience (doing that 12 years total) and I made 70,000 last year. In my opinion you cant beat tankers for the money,and the work aint hard.