11/13/2024
Good Morning everyone! Day 3 of Knowledge, that school doesn't TEACH!. Things you should know as a new CDL A Driver!
This is a "LONG POST"
Paid CDL Training Program Wages Can Be Lousy
To add insult to injury, chances are that the time you spend on the road with your driver trainer, won’t pay particularly well.
New truck driver training pay can be lousy. So be prepared to take somewhat of a financial hit. Most carriers pay poor wages for the training period.
However, driver pay doesn’t improve very much, even when you hit the road on your own in that first year or so.
You should be prepared for this. It’s not fair, but it’s reality.
You’re not going to make great money the first couple of years as a trucker.
It’s the price of getting the experience and sharpening your driving skills. It’s a sacrifice I suggest you take in stride if you want a truck driving career.
You may get long trips, which usually pay better as there are more miles.
However, you won’t be able to travel as efficiently as a more experienced driver, as you’re still learning.
Consider it part of the learning process.
On the other hand, if you’re running short-haul, sometimes you won’t get the miles you need from all the waiting time, border crossing, and delays. That translates to low pay.
Which means Be Prepared For ‘Thin Living’
There are sacrifices you’ll need to make if you plan to stay in the trucking industry.
It can be ‘thin living’ at times. Don’t expect to get rich for a little while. In fact, you may never get rich from a truck driving career.
But, personally, for me, it was worth it.
As a new truck driver, I invested my time to get the experience I needed. As a result, I was hired by the trucking company of my choice. I truly loved the job, too.
Eventually, I did end up getting paid a very hefty driving wage.
Don’t be surprised to see experienced drivers getting dispatched with better loads… the better loads pay better.
Fact: Junior drivers tend to the crappiest work.
Dispatchers know the work is crappy. They don’t care, for the most part, how crappy it is. They have a job to do, and that is to move freight.
So be prepared financially.
It can be very expensive to live on the road. But, it’s part of the program. Budget and make adjustments to your spending. It’s necessary if you want to have a successful, profitable truck driving career.