Why do some truckers get paid well? My thoughts

[dead_node]

Sometimes people ask me what I earn as a trucker. I tell them I made slightly over $100K per year since 2022. At one point I was even making over $200K as a lease purchase contractor hauling freight from New York and other northeastern states.

Their jaws drop wide open. They ask how a trucker can possibly earn that much money. I shake my head because regular civilians, and even most truckers, don’t get it.

Even though there appears to be lots of truck drivers out there, people who can handle the job for prolonged time periods, and DO THE JOB WELL, are rare and valuable human beings.

Let’s look at the primary obstacles that lead to driver attrition:

1. Social isolation. This gets to a lot of people after a few months or so. Most human beings aren’t willing or able to deal with this.

2. Driving up to 11 hours in a 24 hour period, working about 70 hours per week, and working odd hours and random schedules. A lot of people can’t physically do this without falling asleep. And many more face burnout after six to twelve months of keeping this pace.

3. Traffic accidents. Good defensive driving requires discipline that most people don’t have, and so many drivers get into career ending accidents.

4. Drug use. Drivers are subject to random drug testing. If you can’t stay drug free you’ll get caught and be kicked out of trucking within 1–3 years. This obviously weeds out many people. And the tests are really accurate nowadays (think hair follicle drug tests).

5. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Even a DWI in your personal vehicle, off duty, will take you out of trucking for roughly 5 years depending on the company you want to work for. This ends a lot of careers.

6. Health problems. Staying physically fit on the road, again, requires discipline that most people don’t have. The obesity rate in trucking is BAD, and a lot of people have to quit over the resulting medical problems.

7. Violations. Speeding tickets, vehicle maintenance violations, inspection failures, etc., go on a driver’s permanent record. Avoiding these takes discipline that most people don’t have. And getting too many points will make you unemployable.

In summary, a professional truck driver who can survive all those career snags above is obviously hard to find. And if you can pass this test for 1-2 years, you will have your pick of good trucking companies willing to pay you more.

You see. Trucking isn’t about going harder and faster. It’s a long term game of risk management. Learning to thrive in pain and suffering, having a high level of discipline, and not making dumb mistakes, will take you farther than anything else in this game.

And most people can’t do this game well. If you CAN, you will have almost zero competition.

[Errolv]

“Why do some truckers get paid well? My thoughts” What a great topic! You lead with the $100-200K per year. There’s some truth there, I really want to read about it. But then you go into trucker lifestyle issues. Tell us about the $100,000 per year and how you get there. I know this is doable.

But the list of driver attrition issues is also real, but I do not believe these are daily or regular problems any/all drivers face.

Social isolation: yes, trucking is a lonely job. I thought that was almost a benefit during the COVID shut-down. But it’s still lonely. But now we have data to our cellphones and can get up with friends on a regular basis. I agree, it’s still a lonely job. My worst pickups were at places that have a shipping office that only has a desk with a file folder full of bills and a phone on the wall. That’s it.

HOS: Yes, driving 11 hours a day on a regular bases can get you down. That 70 hours driving + on duty in 8 days is literally a lifesaver, limiting your driving until you take a 34 hour break form the job. We all live with it.

Traffic accidents: more or less a fact of driving life. But the actual rate for fatal (not injury or property damage) truck involved (involved, not just caused by) accidents in 100,000,000 miles rate for OTR drives is actually less than that for four-wheelers: Trucks 1.3 fatal accidents per 100 million miles driven Car drivers make it up to 1.6 per 100 million miles. The big trucks are actually driven a bit more carefully.

Drug use: As a CDL instructor I made a point to tell my class the weed use has to stop “last week”. Very few students had a problem with that. I’ll just leave it there.

Booze: Yes, alcohol standards are tighter for commercial/professional truck drivers than for four-wheel drivers. BAC of 0.4% for CDL people is illegal. Car drivers get away with 0.8%. Also if an officer asks you to blow into the machine and any (as in more than 0% alcohol on your breath), you are Out Of Service for 24 hours. Don’t forget to call your dispatcher to discuss the delay.

Health: You have it right, dead_node. The most work most drivers do is climbing in and out of the truck. And holding the steering wheel. Many truck stops do their part and offer fresh cut fruit and veggies for the drivers. Some have weight/exercise rooms. So what are you going to do?

Violations: just like car drivers, truck drivers must do their best to stay safe and legal. We have much more to deal with: 70- foot long vehicles that weigh as much as 20 regular cars. Freight that might be worth over a $million, and needs to be secured down correctly. Hills are important going up or down. Hours of Service regulations that must be followed. Regular inspections from the oil level to the tail lights, every day.

So, dead_node, seriously, how can new drivers maximize their income?

[dead_node]

Errolv. It’s a simple answer hiding in plain site. It’s a combination of discipline, work ethic, and an ability to tolerate discomfort. That’s a summarized version of my previous post.

Everyone rolls their eyes at this sort of answer. But I stand by my previous remark. Very few people can check all those boxes.

Drivers who can max a 70 hour clock are not common. Even 60 is hard for many. Yes, some people can do it for 6-12 months. 3 years is way less common.

Most truck drivers are not defensive. I disagree with you here. The statistic you sited is not a reflection of truckers’ defensive discipline. It could just be that cars are scared of trucks and watch out for them. How many truckers follow the rule about keeping 7-8 seconds of following distance? Less than 1% would be my guess…and that’s just one example of many.

Health. Most truckers get fat. There are ways to avoid this. I swung a kettlebell every 1-2 days for 2 years OTR. I did it next to my truck (no need for an exercise room). I rarely saw anyone else working out. I also stuck with the Warrior Diet (eating once per day) and primarily ate protein shakes…this is beyond the scope of this topic. But I stayed lean and muscular…and some people were surprised I was a trucker when they found out.

How does health matter for maximizing income? It doesn’t always do so directly. It’s just a reflection of indiscipline. Fat people are likely to have other sins that do hold their incomes back. Staying healthy is also a psychological boost. I imagine healthy people also have more energy, which helps them max their 70 hour clock.

Every company I worked for used to slam me with work. The managers and dispatchers always told me the same thing. Reliable drivers are hard to find. The ones who are reliable will get the most work. Most truckers actually hate their jobs and try to get by doing the bare minimum. They don’t want too much work. Mediocrity abounds.

[Errolv]

dead_node explains:

It’s a simple answer hiding in plain site. It’s a combination of discipline, work ethic, and an ability to tolerate discomfort,

Everybody, write those three ideas on cards and tape them over your windshield (up over the glass. Don’t obstruct your view.). This is how you maximize your truck income.

My embellishment:

• Discipline: Keep between the lines. There are tons of laws & regulations you need to follow. The pre-trip inspection is about 85% Safety, 15% maintenance. It is a discipline you don’t blow off. Understanding the HOS will keep you rolling more than it will make you stop for ten hours.
• Work Ethic: You are on your own out on the road, No one is watching over your shoulder. It’s up to you to drive safe, make your appointments and keep your team mate involved. What? you’re solo? Your team includes your dispatcher, for your dispatcher feeds you miles.
• Discomfort: Yep, you ain’t living at a Marriott. You pass the time in a room the size of a bathroom. It’s cold outside and it’s 50 yards to the restroom in the truck stop.

dead_node, I’ve been active on Trucking Truth for over ten years, and now I figured out how to sign in here. Your three ideas are the best explanation on making money with a semi that I’ve seen. Thanks.

[JayP]

As a new driver with 6 weeks behind the wheel with a mega Carrier running teams, I value all this input. I’m trying to learn how to make money with this new career in the most efficient way and it definitely seems to be a long game. I’m being told get this 1st year under my belt bc it will be the most frustrating and I can see the truth in that.

Our trainer had us maxing out 10 to 11 hour days getting 600 to 670ish miles a day when we had the long runs and I’m good with those kind of hours and miles. The comments above make me aware of a possible burnout 12 to 36 months down the road but I truly don’t believe that will be the case for me. I’ve been in the military and have been a traveler since my teen years.

As for health, that’s definitely a pressing issue at the fore front of my mind. Although I do indulge in my morning honey buns, we try and make the most of our money and food choices by shopping at a grocery store and stocking our truck. A lot of that consists of apples, bananas, oranges, celery sticks, yogurt and granola, etc VS eating fast food or truck stop food daily. Always room for improvement of course but I feel that being conscious of the health factors is a large percentage of the battle next to the steps we take in that regard.

Now I feel that I need to put a great deal of effort into protecting my driving record and CDL, keeping it clean as possible. Reminding myself daily of why that is important and not letting myself get in a hurry or frustrated with others on the road but instead taking my time and allowing myself plenty of room.

That being said, I feel I have 25 years left in me to work and I’m not just here for quick money. I’m here for this to carry me into retirement. My home is paid for and we have minimal debt that we are currently paying off so I do believe with the right financial choices this career can do well for me.

Thank you both for your insight on this topic of being successful in this career and your advice is something I will absolutely carry with me from this point moving forward.

[Errolv]

JayP, it sounds like you have the best quality of all: you are ON THE BALL Keep watching the big picture, mindful of the little things. Patience will help you learn all the ropes. In the back of you mind, remember your trucking company got to where they are by establishing operational rules so the company can operate efficiently. And that includes making sure their drivers are #1 safe, #2 productive and #3 happy with the job. In that order. If there’s something you don’t understand, like maybe detention, ask before you think they are screwing you.

Read dead_node’s three words every morning. (I know, there are five words, it’s really three terms.)

I hope you know this already: you are getting paid a minimal amount for training. Your trainer is probably getting paid for the miles you drive. Remember, your benefit is you are getting trained.