Here's some advice if you are willing to take it. Save as much as you can. Either put money as a down payment or pay for a cheap truck and fix it as you go. Either get your own authority or go under someone else's too. This way you can take home those 6k+ checks. Coming from someone who's done this for 10 years. From company to leasing to owner operator. Anyways, good luck to you driver.
I don’t look at weekly. I tend to go by month. Learned that when I did commission sales. 3 weeks of zero and one week of 25k still makes a good month. You will go crazy if you look week to week. 3 bad weeks and one great week still makes a good month. Just have to save some of that good week.
100% agree with everything you say in this video. 1. Budget budget budget and max that efund 2. Only go home between 4-6 weeks 3. Keep taxes in a separate account 4. Be willing to run 5. Stay positive through the down days
You should not have to budget if you're getting enough on the load. You should never pull a load less than three dollars a mile. And $4-$7+ on stepdeck. Otherwise you're getting fucked. Get your own authority and get you a broker and then try to get you a secured customer contract. Do it the right way and you'll make money. An
And remember this if you work for prime they can fire you if you got your own authority. There's nobody can fire you ! That's just a little food for thought and something for you to think about!
Flatbed owner ops/lease ops make the most imo. Grossing 7-10k a week. I was a flatbed lease driver, was making 2500-4k a week. But I switched to being a company driver. I’m making 100k a year and I’m home every day.
@@austro3852 Well like you said. It takes 2 years or so to get to that. The company I worked for required 2 years of OTR experience paired with several months of flatbed experience.
I'd imagine that being a trucker is "easy but hard". im an Amazon driver and that's the way i describe the job. its easier that other jobs ive had but a pain in the ass.
See I’m lucky I live in Michigan so local work and training is plentiful. I went to a local school had a local company sponsor me through the schooling. I’m about to be two years with the company and making decent money. About to have my route switched to an over night run so I can bring even more money in. But definitely the best choice I’ve made was getting into trucking. But I definitely feel like it’s not for everyone, and if you come in thinking it’s gonna be easy you’re gonna be disappointed.
Hi Rex, my name is Craig. I am streaming your videos from Newfoundland, Canada. I stumbled on your channel just a few hours ago and, after watching a few, I am very intrigued. I usually don't see what goes into these careers, and would love to know more....for example: Back in the day (I'm old school) I was advised that tractor trucks for tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler use had about 18 gears and were manual transmission. Now, in the 21st Century, it looks like they may be fitted with automatic transmission systems. Is there much that has changed in the past 20 years or so? Also, I mainly watch videos while relaxing or laying down (I work 12 hour shifts as a taxi driver and have a disability). So, while I do watch your videos by looking at your channel and selecting several videos to watch and adding them to a playlist. Due to this style and watching on my computer (better sound than my phone), I may not hit "like" or comment on each individual video, please understand that doesn't mean I think anything negative. Thanks in advance for your understanding and keep trucking, I will keep watching. BTW, the new Freightliner Cascadia tractor truck looks incredibly nice (though the black Peterbuilt Driver Information Cluster looked very modern and digital). What made you change? I assume I will know this information when I watch the "don't get a Peterbuilt Truck" video lol. Take care Rex, and be safe out there, helping keeping our National (Canada and USA) economy going along. Not sure what type of music you enjoy, but I heard many truckers enjoy country music. If this fits you, check out these recommendations: If you subscribe to Spotify, all these songs can be found there. Phantom 309 and Teddy Bear are recitations set to music. I've Been Everywhere was also recorded by Johnny Cash. Track Artist Album ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18 Wheels And A Dozen Roses Kathy Mattea Untasted Honey Brothers Of The Highway George Strait Troubador Roll On Alabama Roll On White Line Fever Merle Haggard Down Every Road (4-CD Box Set) Phantom 309 Red Sovine Super Hits Teddy Bear Red Sovine Super Hits I've Been Everywhere Johnny Cash American II: Unchained Convoy C.W. McCall C.W. McCall's Greatest Hits Here is a link to a playlist with these songs using Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/6GBtpFJdOxLNym5CDIuPzN?si=009cee9107d34cc3
If you want to make consistent money get your own authority and dispatch yourself. Never ever lease a truck from a company because they're going to take all your profit off the top of the load.
The one thing I don’t understand is when people say “you can make money if you hustle..” as a driver you can only drive 11 hours a day.. for the guys not making money, are they not putting in full days or are they just not getting good loads?
I've made decent checks on horrible loads by using my 70hr clock properly, it's when drivers stop every hour for whatever reasons (i stop 3 times total during my 11hr driving). Hustling is when you get to a shipper at 3pm to get loaded and take your 10hr reset right away and rolling at 1am. Some drivers stay up til 10-11pm then wake up maybe 8-9am so in that case I'm a day rolling ahead. If that makes sense.
@@truckingwithrex makes a lot of sense. I typically stop a total of 3 times during my 11 hour clock.. 1 for my 30 and 2 piss breaks. Never understood constantly stopping and wasting time.
Would you be willing to share what an average week looks like for you? I’m currently making good money running teams but have thought about leasing with prime.. wouldn’t want to take a step down right now though especially since my company is steady.
So for you has it been a balance of good and bad weeks and it's a wash, or is it mostly good you had a breakdown but you're still overall making good money?
fortunately for me as a (Tanker Driver) i can park at tank washes overnight and some tank washes have free showers and laundry. In general yes parking can be difficult after 8pm at night especially in the northeast like New York, Pennsylvania etc... The Chicago area is worse you'll need to shut down by 4pm to find parking. Most of the shippers and receivers have overnight parking so i take advantage of that a lot. Truckers path app is a helpful tool that tells you if parking is available. I've found parking at midnight, 1am or even 2am at mom and pop truck stops.
No sir You cannot. I had a eight hundred and ninety five dollar a week truck payment. In 2011. In the whole time that I was at prime I could not make any money. Number one they would not give you the miles. Number two if you go home for 2 days You're going to spend eight weeks in the hole. And this was on refer division. It is a very shity deal. Do yourself a favor get yourself? An. Aluminum? Forty eight foot sprout axle step deck buy you a truck and get your own m c and d o t authority and get on the dat load board. You'll make a hell of a lot more money. Don't lease a truck it's garbage. They're taking all your profit. It takes 3.00 a mile To barely break even. And prime does not pay you that.
All i grossed was barely A little over $100,000 the year I was at that garbage company. And I barely had $23,000 To show for it. And that money was already spent. If you want to net over two hundred thousand. Get your own authority. Anybody with any amount of common sense would know you cannot run a tractor trailer on that little bit of money. In order to have a profit left over you've got a gross over$ 300k If you want $4000 a week profit after fuel . And besides prime charges you for a bunch of bullshit that you will not have to pay for as an Is independent carrier With your own m c and d o t authority. If you want to get between $4 and $7 + and mile With a step deck. Do yourself a favor and don't lease truck. You can't make a profit leasing a truck.
Hey man good video i have a couple questions though, when your truck breaks down are you responsible for the payment out of pocket? Or does the company cover it ? And when you say breakdown pay that means what? Not to ask a bunch of questions just curious i look forward to seeing your response!
Yes you are responsible for your truck payment when it breaks down or if you take time off. In order to qualify for breakdown pay your truck has to be down for 48hrs and prime pays us lease drivers 225$ a day which basically covers your fixed cost (truck payment and permits). If your truck is down for 1 day prime pays me nothing and i lose a day of possibly running a load. Does this answer your questions? Thanks for checking out my vid. Ill be making more soon about my pay breakdown, things lease operators have to pay out of pocket like oil changes and the cost!
@@truckingwithrex gotcha, but are you also responsible for the repairs on the truck? Like its not a thing where the cost of repairs come out of a company card and you pay it back? Or everything is directly from your bank account like going to get fuel you swipe Your personal creit card
@@truckingwithrex really my main concern is when i go to training and finish it and decide to go lease if i have no money “even tho that’s unlikely “ how do i put fuel in my truck? Or if that week my truck breaks down how do I pay for it?
@@marqsworld777 any repairs outside of warranty are deducted from your weekly settlement. For instance i had to have a power steering hose and clamp replaced ($198) it was deducted from my weekly paycheck (you can choose to have it taking out in $25 or $50 payments) i chose to pay in full. Fuel is taken out of your weekly settlement also. Your given a fuel card to fill up.
@@marqsworld777 Prime never takes money out of your bank account it's all deducted from your weekly settlement and the rest after deductions is then deposited into your bank account
How many weeks was your TNT? I here tanker TNT is less miles but still takes longer cause its less team miles per week Thanks again for doing these videos, please keep them coming they are helpful.
You will never make good money working for them especially when you have to pay 4000 dollars a month get that truck back go drive for small company this dam company has ruined a lot of good drivers and killed there dreams I hope carma strikes them heard
If they break down you might as well kiss several checks goodbye I know I haven't been payed in 5 weeks and been back out for 3 and every penny has been taken to pay to fix the truck
Here's some advice if you are willing to take it. Save as much as you can. Either put money as a down payment or pay for a cheap truck and fix it as you go. Either get your own authority or go under someone else's too. This way you can take home those 6k+ checks. Coming from someone who's done this for 10 years. From company to leasing to owner operator. Anyways, good luck to you driver.
Can you do Own Authority as a Tanker
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side
I don’t look at weekly. I tend to go by month. Learned that when I did commission sales. 3 weeks of zero and one week of 25k still makes a good month. You will go crazy if you look week to week. 3 bad weeks and one great week still makes a good month. Just have to save some of that good week.
Thanks for being so honest. Always keep it real!
100% agree with everything you say in this video. 1. Budget budget budget and max that efund 2. Only go home between 4-6 weeks 3. Keep taxes in a separate account 4. Be willing to run 5. Stay positive through the down days
You should not have to budget if you're getting enough on the load. You should never pull a load less than three dollars a mile. And $4-$7+ on stepdeck.
Otherwise you're getting fucked. Get your own authority and get you a broker and then try to get you a secured customer contract. Do it the right way and you'll make money. An
And remember this if you work for prime they can fire you if you got your own authority. There's nobody can fire you !
That's just a little food for thought and something for you to think about!
With any industry if you hustle & work hard you’ll make the money & that’s the bottom line
Congratulations for the work and talent. Success!! Brazil 😎🙏👍🚛👏👏
We are so proud of you ❤️
Flatbed owner ops/lease ops make the most imo. Grossing 7-10k a week.
I was a flatbed lease driver, was making 2500-4k a week. But I switched to being a company driver. I’m making 100k a year and I’m home every day.
How’s that possible when they ask you for 2 years to get that kind of money or who do you know?
(*no hate just curiosity?)
@@austro3852 Well like you said. It takes 2 years or so to get to that. The company I worked for required 2 years of OTR experience paired with several months of flatbed experience.
@@austro3852get all your endorsements, twic, and passport. Plenty of companies that pay that
I'd imagine that being a trucker is "easy but hard". im an Amazon driver and that's the way i describe the job. its easier that other jobs ive had but a pain in the ass.
Couldn't agree more, we deal with all kinds of stuff....
See I’m lucky I live in Michigan so local work and training is plentiful. I went to a local school had a local company sponsor me through the schooling. I’m about to be two years with the company and making decent money. About to have my route switched to an over night run so I can bring even more money in. But definitely the best choice I’ve made was getting into trucking. But I definitely feel like it’s not for everyone, and if you come in thinking it’s gonna be easy you’re gonna be disappointed.
Hi Rex, my name is Craig. I am streaming your videos from Newfoundland, Canada. I stumbled on your channel just a few hours ago and, after watching a few, I am very intrigued. I usually don't see what goes into these careers, and would love to know more....for example: Back in the day (I'm old school) I was advised that tractor trucks for tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler use had about 18 gears and were manual transmission. Now, in the 21st Century, it looks like they may be fitted with automatic transmission systems. Is there much that has changed in the past 20 years or so?
Also, I mainly watch videos while relaxing or laying down (I work 12 hour shifts as a taxi driver and have a disability). So, while I do watch your videos by looking at your channel and selecting several videos to watch and adding them to a playlist. Due to this style and watching on my computer (better sound than my phone), I may not hit "like" or comment on each individual video, please understand that doesn't mean I think anything negative.
Thanks in advance for your understanding and keep trucking, I will keep watching. BTW, the new Freightliner Cascadia tractor truck looks incredibly nice (though the black Peterbuilt Driver Information Cluster looked very modern and digital). What made you change? I assume I will know this information when I watch the "don't get a Peterbuilt Truck" video lol.
Take care Rex, and be safe out there, helping keeping our National (Canada and USA) economy going along.
Not sure what type of music you enjoy, but I heard many truckers enjoy country music. If this fits you, check out these recommendations:
If you subscribe to Spotify, all these songs can be found there. Phantom 309 and Teddy Bear are recitations set to music. I've Been Everywhere was also recorded by Johnny Cash.
Track Artist Album
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Wheels And A Dozen Roses Kathy Mattea Untasted Honey
Brothers Of The Highway George Strait Troubador
Roll On Alabama Roll On
White Line Fever Merle Haggard Down Every Road (4-CD Box Set)
Phantom 309 Red Sovine Super Hits
Teddy Bear Red Sovine Super Hits
I've Been Everywhere Johnny Cash American II: Unchained
Convoy C.W. McCall C.W. McCall's Greatest Hits
Here is a link to a playlist with these songs using Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/6GBtpFJdOxLNym5CDIuPzN?si=009cee9107d34cc3
Thank you for the info
If you want to make consistent money get your own authority and dispatch yourself. Never ever lease a truck from a company because they're going to take all your profit off the top of the load.
Hello bro, very interesting to you
Good job 👍
The one thing I don’t understand is when people say “you can make money if you hustle..” as a driver you can only drive 11 hours a day.. for the guys not making money, are they not putting in full days or are they just not getting good loads?
I've made decent checks on horrible loads by using my 70hr clock properly, it's when drivers stop every hour for whatever reasons (i stop 3 times total during my 11hr driving). Hustling is when you get to a shipper at 3pm to get loaded and take your 10hr reset right away and rolling at 1am. Some drivers stay up til 10-11pm then wake up maybe 8-9am so in that case I'm a day rolling ahead. If that makes sense.
@@truckingwithrex makes a lot of sense. I typically stop a total of 3 times during my 11 hour clock.. 1 for my 30 and 2 piss breaks. Never understood constantly stopping and wasting time.
Two things. Run your clock efficiently and don’t go home too much.
I really like this video.. if you ever looking to team drive let me know..
Thanks for checking out my vid! If I decide to team drive I’ll definitely let you know.
My first 2 months I’ve made $19k BEFORE taxes. I’m all caught up on bills and have zero debt besides a mortgage. I take one week off per month.
With prime?
With prime?
@@StephanJGreen-pd3sq yes
@@yuyojimenez3216 yes
Would you be willing to share what an average week looks like for you? I’m currently making good money running teams but have thought about leasing with prime.. wouldn’t want to take a step down right now though especially since my company is steady.
So for you has it been a balance of good and bad weeks and it's a wash, or is it mostly good you had a breakdown but you're still overall making good money?
Good video I’m goin to prime soon looking to go around October
Rex is the parking a massive issue today? I’d like to start OTR but I’ve been told that parking all over the country is horrific, thoughts?
fortunately for me as a (Tanker Driver) i can park at tank washes overnight and some tank washes have free showers and laundry. In general yes parking can be difficult after 8pm at night especially in the northeast like New York, Pennsylvania etc... The Chicago area is worse you'll need to shut down by 4pm to find parking. Most of the shippers and receivers have overnight parking so i take advantage of that a lot. Truckers path app is a helpful tool that tells you if parking is available. I've found parking at midnight, 1am or even 2am at mom and pop truck stops.
@@truckingwithrex thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate it very much.
Cool video, man. Just wonder if you went company for a duration at all after your Tn'T or if you just jumped right in to the lease?
Went lease right after TNT
@@truckingwithrex they allow that without paying back CDL schooling?
Hi there! Interesting videos! How do you get paid? By distance or hour or both.
Never lease. Get your own authority.
🤑
Nice video! So did you put in a year as a company driver? To pay off the CDL school... then lease from your second year?
No you only gotta pay prime back if you don't complete a year as a company or lease driver. I went straight to leasing
@@truckingwithrex 👍🏻 Nice. Then why do some prime drivers stay on as a company driver? Can make way more on lease right?
Are you willing to train someone?
No sir You cannot. I had a eight hundred and ninety five dollar a week truck payment.
In 2011.
In the whole time that I was at prime I could not make any money. Number one they would not give you the miles. Number two if you go home for 2 days You're going to spend eight weeks in the hole.
And this was on refer division. It is a very shity deal.
Do yourself a favor get yourself? An. Aluminum? Forty eight foot sprout axle step deck buy you a truck and get your own m c and d o t authority and get on the dat load board.
You'll make a hell of a lot more money. Don't lease a truck it's garbage. They're taking all your profit.
It takes 3.00 a mile To barely break even.
And prime does not pay you that.
what your average mile when you started with prime as a tanker? i am hoping to be a tanker with prime
Year to date I'm averaging 2237 miles per week
All i grossed was barely A little over $100,000 the year I was at that garbage company. And I barely had $23,000 To show for it. And that money was already spent. If you want to net over two hundred thousand. Get your own authority.
Anybody with any amount of common sense would know you cannot run a tractor trailer on that little bit of money. In order to have a profit left over you've got a gross over$ 300k
If you want $4000 a week profit after fuel .
And besides prime charges you for a bunch of bullshit that you will not have to pay for as an Is independent carrier With your own m c and d o t authority. If you want to get between $4 and $7 + and mile With a step deck. Do yourself a favor and don't lease truck.
You can't make a profit leasing a truck.
Hey man good video i have a couple questions though, when your truck breaks down are you responsible for the payment out of pocket? Or does the company cover it ? And when you say breakdown pay that means what? Not to ask a bunch of questions just curious i look forward to seeing your response!
Yes you are responsible for your truck payment when it breaks down or if you take time off. In order to qualify for breakdown pay your truck has to be down for 48hrs and prime pays us lease drivers 225$ a day which basically covers your fixed cost (truck payment and permits). If your truck is down for 1 day prime pays me nothing and i lose a day of possibly running a load. Does this answer your questions? Thanks for checking out my vid. Ill be making more soon about my pay breakdown, things lease operators have to pay out of pocket like oil changes and the cost!
@@truckingwithrex gotcha, but are you also responsible for the repairs on the truck? Like its not a thing where the cost of repairs come out of a company card and you pay it back? Or everything is directly from your bank account like going to get fuel you swipe Your personal creit card
@@truckingwithrex really my main concern is when i go to training and finish it and decide to go lease if i have no money “even tho that’s unlikely “ how do i put fuel in my truck? Or if that week my truck breaks down how do I pay for it?
@@marqsworld777 any repairs outside of warranty are deducted from your weekly settlement. For instance i had to have a power steering hose and clamp replaced ($198) it was deducted from my weekly paycheck (you can choose to have it taking out in $25 or $50 payments) i chose to pay in full. Fuel is taken out of your weekly settlement also. Your given a fuel card to fill up.
@@marqsworld777 Prime never takes money out of your bank account it's all deducted from your weekly settlement and the rest after deductions is then deposited into your bank account
Thanks for video. Are you food grade or inedible? And how many miles do you average per week?
I'm inedible, 2400 miles per week on average!
How many weeks was your TNT? I here tanker TNT is less miles but still takes longer cause its less team miles per week Thanks again for doing these videos, please keep them coming they are helpful.
@@joehilton9208 10-11 weeks of TNT, tanker requires 25K miles
@@truckingwithrex What was the pay for that training? That’s a long time!
@@piptheprofit1004 $900 per week during your TNT training with prime
How many miles and how long did it take for OTR training? I believe they call it tnt training
25K miles took 6-7 weeks OTR
When you are saying these 3 to 4000 week checks can you be specific and clear that’s not with taxes taken out correct?
I made a more recent video explaining pay, taxes etc... you can make 2k-4k checks after expenses (before taxes weekly)... Hope this helps ya!
@@truckingwithrex thanks Rex
How long is the CDL school with Prime?
Took me 17 days to get my cdl with prime
When u say2-3K a week, is that gross or net?
Net
First
Well it would make sense if they give you rental till your truck is fixed
Umm ok
They do if youre on lease but not if you are doing lease op
No it’s not, you will not make money with prime!
You will never make good money working for them especially when you have to pay 4000 dollars a month get that truck back go drive for small company this dam company has ruined a lot of good drivers and killed there dreams I hope carma strikes them heard
Thanks for the realistic look at the income of trucking. 👍
You were awesome on the truck
Can you train me?
If they break down you might as well kiss several checks goodbye I know I haven't been payed in 5 weeks and been back out for 3 and every penny has been taken to pay to fix the truck
Oh yeah they didn't give me break down pay until the last week it was down out of 3 weeks
Jeez bro that's crazy! At that point I'd be returning my truck to success leasing and moving on. We know Prime gets theirs.
I hear freightliner is more reliable, is that what you've seen. Those Pete's look good though and people say they ride better.
Pete's ride is better and more roomy! I ordered a Freightliner through success leasing it'll be here in September. Get a Freightliner (less breakdown)