These are the kinds of claims that cause students and new drivers to jump on board with a carrier without giving it the thought that needs to be applied before joining. This is also another reason why so many newcomers to trucking fail.

There are simply too many statements like this one floating around all over the internet. Many times, by those who have never even driven a big rig.

There are those making good money with a truck driving career. But what is good money? The facts are, as a new driver you can expect to earn between $35,000 and $45,000 per year as a company driver. After tax right offs, personal taxes, expenses, etc., the final income (net) can easily be cut in half if not more.

Now, that is still a net income of around $50,000 per year, which is very good.

Just understand that not all Owner Operators are making this alluring $100,000 per year. Successful Owner Op’s have spent years of hard work, educating themselves on business finance and management, and have “paid their dues” so to speak, in order to rake in this sum of gross income. It does not happen over night for the majority of drivers.

Leasing programs through trucking companies are the best way for a new driver to “purchase” a truck in order to become an “owner operator.” It is also the best way for a new driver to fail. Studies show that drivers that “buy” a truck through one of these leasing “scams” experience an 87% failure rate. Let’s talk about the truth when it comes to these leasing programs. Studies show that the carrier will decrease the driver’s mileage to prevent them from being able to make the payment .

studies show that companies will add on so many deductions that they were actually receiving 90% of the driver’s income!

Now is not the time to become an owner operator. Fuel is too expensive, maintenance is still too high and there is still an influx of too many drivers and not enough freight. When you find these articles and ads claiming you can earn $100,000 per year driving a truck, just be careful. There are simply too many avenues that can take you down the wrong road.

If you’re looking to switch careers or just want to make a more interesting living, you should consider the truck driving profession. Trucking can provide entry level drivers with a salary of about $35,000 per year. Most industries start you out at a substantially lower salary. Plus, with the increasing need for entry-level and skilled drivers, within a few years you could make about $50,000 to $60,000 a year. If you decide to team up with a co-worker or even your spouse, you could make twice that amount, averaging over $100,000 annually. After a few more years you can lease your own truck and make $100,000 annual salary on your own. Since truck driving companies are in desperate need of truck drivers, particularly skilled and safe drivers, they are willing to pay you bonuses and offer incentives that most industries wouldn’t be able to offer.

Besides the benefit of your paycheck, trucking gives you the opportunity to see the many areas of the nation. If you choose, your trucking career can take you through most of America’s states. Most people don’t see the beautiful places and landmarks of this country because of the widespread distance between places. As a trucker, you can see all these places as a paid, traveling employee. Although you have a set destination, trucking gives you the flexibility to make your own hours and take breaks when you need them. Some trucking companies even allow you to bring pets or children along while you travel through the scenery of your homeland.

As a trucker, you can also be proud that you keep America’s economy running. Most items in this country are transported through trucks. Trucking is the best way to transport items because it is more efficient for perishable items than other transportation methods, such as trains, planes, and ships. With the strong need for truckers, you can be sure that you will always have a job in the trucking industry.

Although trucking is a physically demanding profession and isn’t right for everyone, you can usually find a trucking company and job that fits your needs and desires. Most truckers are away from home frequently, up to four weeks at a time, but some companies have guaranteed home time, and even offer flexible schedules so you can plan exactly when you want to be home. There are also jobs that allow you to be home every weekend. If you can’t stand to be away, you can get a local job and be home every night, with no long hauls.

If a career in trucking sounds appealing, you can start looking for CDL driver jobs on the internet. There are available jobs for needed drivers all over the nation, and even in other countries. Next you need to research companies, compare truck driving schools, and perhaps talk with some recruiters. When you find the company and school that you want, you can sign up to obtain your CDL license. After that, your new driving career can start.

Swift trucking jobs

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Technorati Tags: Trucking Jobs

Want to make a six-figure salary? Most people assume that it requires an advanced degree to make that kind of money. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are jobs that don’t require college training to make over $100,000. In fact, you can make over $100,000 with only a few weeks of classroom training and some time on the road.

A truck driver can make as much or more than a college graduate. In fact, many college graduates find truck driving jobs to pay more than their 4-year college degree. To start out, truck drivers take a training course which requires about two to four weeks in the classroom and behind the wheel training. This course will teach them and then test them on their knowledge of truck driving protocols and driving skills. With a passing grade, they can obtain their CDL and start their new career, in a much shorter time period and at about the same salary as a college graduate. They quickly increase their earning power the more they drive, and the longer their safety record becomes.

Unlike some careers, truck drivers increase their wages almost every year as they gain experience behind the wheel. However, to make the big bucks as a truck driver you have to be a little savvier than the average trucker. This means either buying your own rig or teaming up with another trucker to work as a team.

Team truckers make more than solo truckers because they can deliver goods faster than a solo truck driver. Team truckers are sometimes married couples who enjoy life on the road together, or two friends who join together to increase their paycheck. Either way, team drivers can receive plenty of jobs and can make over $100,000 per year. Not bad for someone without an advanced degree or expensive training.

Another way truckers make a six-figure income is by leasing or buying their own rig. Like any other business, after a few years of experience smart truckers opt to become self-employed so they can earn more money. Many successful owner-operators can even buy more trucks and hire their own drivers, creating their own fleets.

However, this type of employment requires more business knowledge than a typical trucker driving a rig. It can be quite expensive and disastrous if gone into unprepared. Since an owner-operator is the boss, they must pay for their own health coverage, dental coverage, truck insurance, life insurance, workman’s compensation, repairs, gas costs etc.

On the other hand, it can also be profitable and offer more flexibility than as a company trucker. They have the choice of which job to choose and when to be on the road. Owner-operators must do the math and conclude which trucking job is the best one for their money. This can require consideration of several factors, including fuel costs and truck upkeep. Overall, owner-operators must have a little more monetary savings to fall back on and a little more business sense, which can turn into big profits as an entrepreneur.

Overall, there are numerous national truck driving jobs that can pay truck drivers as much as a college graduate’s salary. If you’re looking to make a six-figure income, perhaps you should start your career on the road.

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Essential Tips to Finance Your Truck Driving Training

Face it, truck driving school is not cheap and it can be hard to manage the financial burden of truck driving school if you have not been saving up for the financial expense. If you dream of being an owner operator on the open highways of this greatest nation on God’s green earth, listen up, we have some essential tips that may help you accomplish your truck driver training requirements without draining your bank account.

Research and locate progressive trucking companies.

Recent statistics indicate that the over the road truck driver shortage is close to 80,000 in this country alone. One way to get the training you need without having to take out a second mortgage on you home is to go with Carrier Sponsored Training. Other than a clean driving record and no felony convictions during the last year, most trucking companies require little to no experience, no tuition down payments and fast turnaround time for getting your license. Just make sure you get all of the basics you need to safely operate the vehicle on the open road.

Tuition reimbursements are common throughout the trucking industry.

Other training facilities offer tuition reimbursements plans through the carrier company provided you work for them at least a year after completion of training. This is a good option since you are guaranteed a position after graduation and will get your tuition reimbursed in the process. These schools may have some stricter requirements like background checks, the ability to pass a DOT physical and drug test, as well as having no felony convictions in the last seven years or currently being on parole.

Look for truck driving schools and trucking companies that make safety a priority.

Safety is top priority for first rate truck driving schools and trucking companies. If safety training is a major part of the truck driving school’s curriculum and is mentioned multiple times during your interview, rest assured that you are in the right place. You want to make sure the training you receive will keep you (and others) safe on the road.

Regardless of what route your choose to finance your truck driving education, do your research and make sure you are comfortable with the terms – i.e. job placement in lieu of tuition, carrier sponsored training, etc. We encourage you to talk to at least 3-5 truck driving schools, check graduate references and speak to the truck driving school career counseling department before you make your final decision.

If you found this article of interest, you can view other related articles including insight into the the process to acquire a class-A CDL license or understanding the ABC’s of CDL training

We also list the top 8 companies that many professional truckers believe are the best CDL trucking jobs in America at http://www.truck-driver-jobs-online.com

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Students should be fully aware of truck driving school scams. Some schools offer training programs that are extremely overpriced. Students of these schools will end up going into serious debt just to pay for their training. Students also need to be aware that there are schools which are owned by trucking companies that require the students to load and unload trucks and warehouses, without pay for the company, during time when they are not attending school. This is a form of tuition compensation. Some schools will also misrepresent their business connections with trucking companies, promising the students jobs after their graduation. No school can guarantee all students a job. There are quite a few schools that offer students fast training. Those schools simply don’t meet state licensing requirements, and don‘t adequately qualify students for truck driving jobs.

The cost of tuition is naturally a major concern when selecting a truck driving school. Some schools offer several forms of tuition assistance for students, and there are some that don‘t. Privately owned schools may or may not meet the requirements for financial aid. Public institutions such as community colleges do meet the requirements for financial aid. They also offer grants and loans to offset tuition costs. Students shouldn’t sign contracts that bind them into a financial agreement they don’t understand or don’t have the means of paying or repaying. There are some trucking companies contracted with truck driving schools that pay for tuition, housing and travel arrangements. Tuition reimbursement is applicable only if the students graduate, are hired by that company and remain with the company for at least a year. If for any unforeseen reason a student doesn’t graduate or the newly employed driver doesn’t remain with the company, accrued tuition expenses from the school then become the responsibility of the student/driver.

Choosing the best school will mean that you will succeed in passing your CDL and that you start out in your new career as a safe, dependable, and qualified driver. It is a very good idea for students to check with the Better Business Bureau or any other consumer protection agency, for complaints that have been filed against a school that is being considered. This small step can save you from making a big mistake. Knowledge is the key issue here, which will allow you to make an informed decision when selecting the best truck driving school.

There is a golden rule for students who are looking for a truck driving school, and that is to “know before you go.”

The task of making an informed decision should be based on your research and the process of elimination. Spend some time and do as much research and verifying as possible. This can mean making sure that the chosen school is in compliance with the rules and regulations of the state in which it operates. If applicable, choose a school that meets the demands of trucking companies that pre-hire students. A school known to go the extra mile to ensure that graduating students are successful candidates for the trucking industry job market would be the perfect school.

If it is at all possible, try to visit prospective truck driving schools way ahead of the enrollment date before deciding to attend. A well-established school would more than likely provide an informative tour for prospective students. The tour should provide a general idea on how the school operates, as well as an opportunity for intending students to ask questions, and have them answered face-to-face by staff, trainers and graduates.

Sam Ness writes about truck driving industry related issues. He often talks to truck driving school graduates and then writes about their experiences. Truck Driving Schools In The USA

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