Why are OTR truck drivers so underpaid? 🤔

In today’s video, I’ll be sharing my thoughts regarding OTR driver pay. I believe OTR drivers should be amongst the highest paid drivers in the trucking industry. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

[@randletv]

Otr drivers should be making 2k weekly no discussion

[@MrFriday83]

Nah, 3k. 😅. Otr are working 70 hour clocks. Actually more because theyvprotect their 70. At 2k that's only 23 an hour with a bunch of overtime. Lets make it 3k and it starts to make sense

[@Handyman123100]

I’d say 4k after taxes for dedicating their lives & health to their job

[@reesetrels8925]

$2k minimum but most times I was lucky to get $1k with those slaves wages

[@kingpayne25]

I’ve always said OTR is only beneficial to people who are homeless!!! If u have family, a home and bills then it’s not worth it

[@payne7761]

My brother is OTR and can barely make ends meet and he's in his 50s.

[@QuintenMoore-mc4ni]

Right

[@g.i.joetrucker4443]

See this the B's what I'm.talking about lol Y'all know that y'all won't have freight to deliver with ur local job if it wasn't for OTR? I'm OTR make $100k plus with benefits and I have a home to come home to . That's a lazy loser mindset to think that otr doesn't have a choice because they're homeless

[@kingpayne25]

@@g.i.joetrucker4443 prove it !!! Post your year to date !!! We don’t believe you

[@DarneIITV]

@@payne7761damn

[@jc9876]

I did OTR for a year and at first it was fun then it became depressing. I dont have a woman nor do i have kids and after a while it became difficult for me. Im still with the same company but im home daily now. Still working around 55-60 hours a week, but its nice being able to sleep in my own bed every night.

[@TABGZ]

Just got my offer accepted at Gordon Food Service in Bethlehem, PA all thanks to Anthony tv.

[@kassimabdullahi5143]

I did OTR starting out. The money is definitely there if you willing to sacrifice and try specialized divisions. It’s just the pay inconsistency that gets to you when you do OTR. You can be making $2000 one week and $700 the following week just because of simple breakdown or not getting loaded/unloaded on time. At the end of the day if the OTR guys are not there, we local drivers wouldn’t have loads to deliver locally.

[@terelltorrance]

I enjoy being an OTR driver. Been doing it since I started.. Its the companies that take advantage of the high demand for OTR drivers. They know most drivers are fleeting and will not educate themselves about the freight markets.

[@ojdajuiceman6139]

Iv never complained about driving otr because i had a goal. While i was otr i had no rent mortgage or car note and saved. Bought a house and went local

[@ne9835]

That's what I'm trying to do right now bro.

[@smokehouse1369]

Like a lot of careers, the pay should be more. OTR gave me a chance to travel & see friends & family. Local is good however you have local bills & that’s one of many reasons why I’m glad I did OTR.

[@HeyArnoldGotAFootballHead]

Somebody gotta do it, but it ain’t gone be me 😭😭

[@DarneIITV]

🤣🤣💯

[@282RoadRunna]

😂😂💀

[@Jack-pd4ps]

No body has to do it. Companies will do what Drivers allow.

[@HeyArnoldGotAFootballHead]

@@Jack-pd4ps somebody has to do the OTR work or we would be ass out of a lot of shxt. I respect those who do it for that very reason

[@ne9835]

​@@HeyArnoldGotAFootballHead YUP!!

[@g.i.joetrucker4443]

I'm a otr driver and I used to drive local. Everyone doesn't qualify to get a local Gig not because they don't have a good driving Record, it's because they don't have the skills to drive In close maneuvers. Drivers gaslight a lot on KZbin the dude situation where he sitting at the shipper is he Doing refrigerated? You know thats the nature of cold warehouses. Find a niche job that cater to your life style. If you want to be home everyday so u can be with your family N make a decent check get your hazmat so you can do p&d for xpo old dominion food service beverage delivery Fuel hauling, yard jockey etc however expect to work 13 to 15 hours a day tho and occasionally hitting that 16 hour exemption button. I always ran out of hours as a local driver and I was tired everyday. However,As a otr driver I work 9 to 10 hours a day and I'm rested I get paid For all my time even when I'm sleeping

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

My first driving job was/is Sysco. I genuinely believe ANYBODY can learn the close maneuvers, and quickly. It's not quite as bad as it appears if you are in a day cab, shortens the truck just a little practically. And singles instead of tandems shortens you further.

[@payne7761]

My very first civilian truck driving job was local. hauling parts for honda. I think my 7 years as an Army trucker helped me get that one.

[@g.i.joetrucker4443]

@@superfamilyallosauridae6505my first driving job was with Sysco, I quit after 3 months lol but I was road examiner for another local company road testing guys and I failed a lot of em even guys that had experience because they never drove in tight spaces all they did was drop and hook at wide open distribution centers

[@chasedollaz7843]

For OTR money gotta do flatbed

[@ne9835]

​@@chasedollaz7843 What about Tanker?

[@fabriceny.1579]

Awesome video Sir . Keep up the great work… “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm “

[@imanthonytv]

🙏🏾💪🏾

[@NicholasEstrada-tp8cj]

Thank you ATV for acknowledging us. ✌️

[@imanthonytv]

💪🏾

[@codyroche2793]

Look into milk hauling, hauling wastewater, food service all good high paying jobs. You can find in same area a fuel hauling job paying $22 an hour and down the road another paying $32 an hour. Some waste paying $20 and others paying $30. The differences are crazy

[@blakebrown2070]

First and foremost hats off the many OTR drivers out there running coast to coast on behalf of local drivers across the globe we appreciate you!! Ant, you are on point with this one they are underpaid significantly but as you know when conversations are had with OTR drivers many do not want to work a physical job so they choose to drive…they definitely do not make the kind of money that they should

[@TruckerMike84]

Being on the road, particularly Over The Road it’s not worth being out there anymore . Best to be local paid by the hour and be home every night . You’re not not paid for everything you do as a OTR driver . Especially if you have a family . But if you have a family OTR really isn’t and shouldn’t be for a family man . Being OTR with the lack of pay affects your health . Physically and mentally . Not to mention the respect or lack there of doesn’t help either . That’s why I recently came off the road permanently .

[@TayTheLocalTrucker]

I think it all depends on the company you work for as well as tenure but I completely agree man, OTR drivers are severely underpaid especially new drivers. My quick stint of OTR was not lucrative at all. 0.29 CPM running over 2500 miles and not even bringing home $1000.00 was enough for me to know our lives would never change while out here OTR with the company I was with.

[@Jason-Hicks]

The money hasn’t been in OTR since trucking was deregulated. The money I make now (I work local hauling fuel) dollar for dollar is still less than my father was making in the late 70’s and early 80’s as a OTR driver at Dri-Fri. Then he was grossing $1800 per week on a slow week, and it plummeted to $500 a week, and that was to run from here in East Tennessee to California and back after deregulation. I spent a little bit as a OTR driver running southeast regional and there are days when I miss it. If it wasn’t for being home every night with my family I’d still be doing it. The money was better than hauling fuel locally, and there was nowhere near the micromanaging that I deal with now on a daily basis. About the cameras I really don’t mind them when they’re used properly. The problem I have is when they’re not used as intended along with the ELD’s. Too many times the cameras are used to spy on the drivers and listen to their conversations without their knowledge and the ELD’s are used as a productivity tool. That was an excellent point Anthony about looking at it through the owners perspective. I believe some drivers would have a different perspective on their situation if they did. ✌️

[@DarneIITV]

Soon as i left school i went straight to food service Im at Blue line little ceasers & it's probably the best food service job ive been in over mclane, us foods, sysco, beer etc

[@AO-pn2uo]

Thats my plan. Look like you still have time for hobbies too based off your youtube page (i subbed) huh?

[@sirgalalot88]

Ayo Anthony, just my two cents. It’s not ALL bad out on the road. I was comfortable in the truck. Had my nightly routine and comforts like the tv and stuff. Also, kinda liked driving out west and seeing the sights. Kinda looked forward to what truck stops I’d get to for the night. It wasn’t too bad for 80+ k a year. Actually kinda miss it.

[@imanthonytv]

I appreciate you sharing your experience bro. Stay safe

[@Heinrich99]

I like OTR, because I like traveling, the pay is definitely not where it should be though. My company has a mileage pay rate, the more miles on a run the less they pay, we had quite a few drivers quit last year.

[@imanthonytv]

“The more miles on a run, the less they pay” With that pay structure, I can definitely see why drivers would quit. Such a counterproductive method of paying drivers.

[@jarrettharris4314]

Currently on my first load by myself right now. The worst part is finding somewhere to park. Planning on doing OTR for 6 months then try to find something local

[@klipzgod1503]

You can find local work with 6 months it’s gone be hard stay for a year and it will be very easy to find a job and the money will be better than otr

[@JasonJones-ju5gw]

Am a OTR driver just a month and a half in from school. I have all of my endorsement so I know my end game is the not start, i know where am so no complaints for me

[@membersonly4122]

OTR drivers that average 3000 safe miles per week, make 0.75 cpm minimum, $1.00 wouldn’t hurt lol but the company should be making a good profit as well in order to afford to pay the drivers that amount consistently.

[@DRich17]

Common carriers hauling general freight have too many greedy hands in the pot for the drivers to get their fair share. Private carriers and specialized fleets usually pay different because theyre getting a different kind of money. High turnover also makes it harder for the regular otr guys to unionized or just come together to demand better pay

[@imanthonytv]

Valid points

[@Zugzzzwang]

You do know that 90% of the OTR drivers are owner operators? To unionize the OTR industry would destroy small businesses and give the power to the mega carriers. It doesn’t seem like it but mega carriers are the minority in this industry.

[@DRich17]

@@Zugzzzwang I was strictly talking company drivers which is why I mentioned union but yes owner operators who drive otr are severely underpaid, mainly because they either don't know their value or through market manipulation but this is a whole other conversation so I digress.

[@vincentwilliams2314]

@@DRich17it’s paper work . If They don’t have thier own authority or direct contract with the shippers they’ll never get the true value of the load

[@user-zt5og2cn5j]

Yea you're wrong my homeboy making 3000 a week doing flat bed

[@imanthonytv]

Ok

[@justme4861]

I'm doing a four days delivery route for eight days with sysco. I made $2,937. I received $120 per diem for food. As a new driver, I'm grateful. I'm thinking of moving over to pepsi. Lol

[@imanthonytv]

Just curious..What would be your reasoning for moving over to Pepsi?

[@sdoieqwfjhweoiuhasdo]

Blame the brokers

[@Zugzzzwang]

NO blame supply and demand. In other words everybody and their mother, brother, sister, and grandma for coming in during that upswing right after COVID lol that’s the problem.

[@Zugzzzwang]

When APUs were first invented in the early to mid 2000s. Diesel hit $5 a gallon and rates were almost the same as now.. trucking is cyclical, people that don’t understand that HAVE TO LEAVE THE BUSINESS

[@Jack-pd4ps]

I’m a Truck Driver and I blame the Truck Drivers for the pay problem. If you’ve accepted a job offer with that low pay, it’s your fault. If you ran your whole 14 clock, it’s your fault. Who told Drivers they have to use the whole clock? The most important working is 12 hours and I’m not driving more than 8. I’ve never seen a group of people water down their job until I become a Truck Driver. Drivers are constantly working themselves or other drivers out of a job. I really don’t understand how a company like Transam is still in business paying Drivers 30 cents per mile. They are still in business because there’s always someone who’s going to accept it. When I was in school and they were giving a presentation, I stopped listening as soon as they said 30cpm. Glad I did because they did my classmates dirty. Companies will do what Drivers allow them to do. Once they get that luxury, it’s hard for them to do the right thing. In my opinion OTR Drivers that are unhappy with their pay and work situation, deserve it because they accepted it. Some local Drivers will work the hell out of you. A company tried to make me work 16 hours. The best thing I did was do what I can safely, run the speed limit. What was left, came back to the warehouse and I went home. Another Driver finished my work. I created work for another Driver and increased demand for more Drivers.

[@ne9835]

​@@Zugzzzwang What does that mean?

[@Zugzzzwang]

@@ne9835 which part bro

[@prepordietryin9119]

So I live off of an exit that has a truck stop. Actually the town I live in has two exits but one of them has a truck stop and every time I go by both exits on the interstate I always see truck drivers parked on the side. We have a truck stop that's pretty decent but it's always just too many trucks in there for everyone to get a parking spot I guess

[@reginaldpruitt3544]

Too many people want to live like the Jones’s but don’t want to put in the time and effort to educate

[@MrFriday83]

The most miserable ive ever been in my life is when it was otr or regionial. Also, its complete shit money. Even places like "walmart" saying 100k. Yeah sure youre working 70 hours for it, which translates to only $23h job with overtime. Thats dog shit.

[@woozy9614]

What’s The Forearm Routine Bro 😂 ? Nah All Jokes Aside Tho I Plan On Getting My CDL Soon Just Appreciate Everything Im Learn’N From Your Channel 🤝

[@imanthonytv]

Lol hitting the dumbbells bro. I appreciate you rocking with the channel. 💯🙏🏾

[@Pollito6927]

Im regional i go home on the weekends and i love it. Why work 12 to 14 hours a day and then drive home. Thats more work in my opinion but im single so i don't have to check on nobody.

[@thewisevirgins8030]

Company goes overboard for equipment appearances. Its usually means the driver pocket is dry.

[@GeneralSirDouglasMcA]

I drive trucks (dump truck hauling asphalt) but will never go OTR. In addition to the low pay, I hear of drivers getting sent to places like downtown NYC or DC not long after they’re turned loose from training.

[@imanthonytv]

Yeah, I’ve heard that as well. Crazy smh

[@SalsHQ]

SENDING A NEW DRIVER TO DOWNTOWN NYC?? 😳😳 FOUL, I HAVEN'T BEEN TO DC BUT DOWNTOWN NYC IS CROWDED WITH ALL KINDS OF VEHICLES, PEOPLE WALKING, BIKES & SCOOTERS ALL OVER.

[@GeneralSirDouglasMcA]

@@SalsHQ It happens.

[@SalsHQ]

@@GeneralSirDouglasMcA NYC IS A MESS, I WONDER HOW CDL A VEHICLES PUSH THROUGH BOSTON 💀 PROBABLY WORSE THAN NYC

[@TopTee3]

DC not too bad but nothin to play with

[@machosouldeep]

I have one state exam left till I get my CDL. I plan on going local only to pay for cyber security school . My CDL school here in miami is 95% Cubans who just got to America 6-9 months ago, 3% Haitians and the rest Americans. My school is one of many that are CDL driver factories pumping them out super fast. In April they just changed the test to make it easier for them. These immigrants will work for anything , far less than what American drivers are used to. They live in a truck and send money home. I’m not mad at them just explaining a big reason why rates are low and will stay low

[@imanthonytv]

Yeah, I can see how cheap labor can drive the rates down in that scenario. Particularly if that’s happening across the entire industry. I don’t think it’s the only reason rates are low but it’s certainly part of the problem if that’s the case.

[@quentincollins2567]

Better go local. I drive concrete trucks now make good money

[@OneshotMovement]

What’s good money ?

[@quentincollins2567]

@@OneshotMovement enough to pay my bills and buy what I want

[@ggnero573]

Does OTR even make sense still for the industry? Seems like regional should be the standard/start of your career nowadays. Most the new generation of truckers don’t wanna go OTR for weeks at a time.

[@vinobeans9542]

Regional and OTR stay out damm near same time until you can take HT. From what I seen by calling companies.

[@imanthonytv]

Goods, machinery, etc still have to be transported all across the country by way of trucks so I think OTR is needed. However, to your point I do believe the majority of new truck drivers would prefer to stay local if they could find a local job. Somebody has to do it but the pay needs to go up significantly in my opinion.

[@ggnero573]

@@imanthonytv good point. I agree

[@lilred1107]

Not sure if you guys remember, but JB Hunt pulled alot of their OTR loads off trucks and is now on the rails just because of the many facets of recruiting and retaining drivers willing to run weeks at a time and live in that truck.

[@lilred1107]

Local/regional hourly pay home daily is where it's at. I work 48-55 hours a week and i know what to expect as far as money and most days are predictable with where i run.

[@TSi99999]

No thanks, having a daily commute there and back, uniforms, bosses telling you where to go, 16 hour days, crazy safety departments, slipseating, etc.

[@iand8418]

I’m currently running Regional right now & looking for something different. Most of the gigs I see posted want you to go OTR 48 & I’m like nahh been there done that..

[@grovedwayne390]

Regional fits me perfect. Crete it's mostly drop and hook. I'm pre-planned ahead of time and never sit. I go to the same shippers and the same state. It's very predictable.

[@SalsHQ]

WAS BOSTON, SEATTLE & NYC INVOLVED? 😳 MOST OF NYC IS GARBAGE TO DRIVE IN ESPECIALLY WITH A CDL A TYPE VEHICLE, THEM LING ASS 53 TRAILERS 💀

[@TomTom-gk6wc]

What companies run all 48 ? Name them please I would love to work for them

[@JoTrev1]

And to add, a step in the right direction is making up for lost money or really paying the driver for the actual time invested and not what the eld say. Then focus on higher pay. We also can’t be too greedy and think about the welfare of the company

[@everydaypeople4855]

With the company I am with I don't think I'm underpaid. It all depends on the company you drive for. The person just have to do their research. To be honest some companies are lowering the the time of being out to just 5 days. Some examples are Martin, and Crete. I remember a driver earlier when I started trucking drove for CR England use to drive locally ( even though CR England don't pay well, but a good start for beginners).It's another trucking company out there they have beige/brown trucks. I use to see them in GA, Illinois , and TX . They picked up at the M&M/DHL warehouses. They haul refers and dry van no touch. They allowed drivers to drive local too I can't remember the name of this company.

[@everydaypeople4855]

Ok I remember the name of the trucking company it's called KLLM trucking. This is the company with the beige/brown trucks. They use to have drivers home weekly as well. I'm not sure how there pay was like though. I know one thing for sure a lot of females drove for them. ALOT of females!

[@ashleymartin3752]

When i get my cdl class A, I want to do local

[@americanlinks1924]

💯💯💯❗️🙌🏽

[@avante.100]

Yeah the lifestyle and pay is definitely not worth it in my opinion

[@sbonner100]

It's all they know

[@lukeskywalker81]

From my understanding otr lika insurance thing plus its harder to drive local than otr

[@imanthonytv]

Yeah, I’ve heard arguments made for both local & OTR driving in terms of which is harder.

[@michaelperalta5727]

Starting week 6 of otr training wish I could get a local job in Miami but no one is hiring especially without experience otr sucks so much I wish Gordon didn’t reject my application

[@TLACY606]

Hang in there man. You will get it eventually. You may need to save up your money and move somewhere else. Or once you get the experience the local companies are looking for, then you can get that job alot easier plus most likely more money, better benefits, etc. Nothing happens overnight.

[@michaelperalta5727]

@@TLACY606 yeah man I really appreciate it already got a month in will check again after this year is over most likely early February I’ll start applying to local companies moving isn’t a option for me but hopefully once’s I start building the experience some doors will open up in Miami

[@TLACY606]

@@michaelperalta5727 Absolutely. Keep grinding. You will see a big difference in a few years.

[@kendallwilson6491]

Hang in there and get your experience keep a clean mvr and don’t fail a drug test you will get a local job soon. I finally got my first local job this past week and love it. Took 8 months to get from the time I got my cdl but since your otr you’ll probably get a local after three months I had to work for a trash company until a class a job opened up. I can’t go otr but that will definitely open more doors for you. It will also help you if you get all your endorsements. Already having my hazmat got me my job soon as I walked in for the interview.

[@TheFettMan]

I've seen people say that food service won't hire you without having food service experience doesn't matter if you have otr experience. Some companies don't make any sense. How are people supposed to get experience without given the opportunity to have experience.

[@elreal1342]

Is no question but OTR make a lot more money then any local job it just take time and meeting the right people I been doing OTR for years and I get paid 1 dollar miles making over 130k yearly and I from Florida I’m home every weekend I can take as many day off I want you just need to find the right company for you, if I need to go local and unload boxes just to be a cdl driver I prefer just do something else nothing todo with trucks because those local delivery companies that crazy you do a 3 people jobs in one day for a little pay

[@JoTrev1]

“First 2 hours free”. In my opinion that first 2 hours is between the carrier and shipper/receiver. A human is still responsible for the freight while it’s on the trailer. That human is the truck driver with a limited clock, and bills to pay.

[@bonmoney6844]

Otr is good if u don’t have no bills and try to stack up some bread

[@Lololol45]

Surprisingly I make SLIGHTLY LESS and have 20-30 hrs +commute of my life back once I quit LOCAL trucking. Seriously ya’ll, don’t let this rhetoric of “not having a degree” so trucking is the next best thing! Keep the CDL, there’s tons of blue collar jobs that’ll hire you even over an experienced person in a trade over AND PAY MORE (for the CDL) than a person with no CDL.

[@triplec483]

I only do OTR when I want to travel to the other side of the country to visit family, otherwise I stay within the southeast . It’s just not worth it anymore

[@ThatFlyGuy98]

At bro any advice on how to contact GFS hiring managers ? I applied and I’m trying to reach out to one out in my area of Chicago but have no luck finding any #’s - thanks in advance!!!

[@imanthonytv]

Nah bro..It’s a reason you can’t find managers contact info online..Candidates would be blowing their phones up lol. You will have to go through a recruiter. Hit the link below for help with any other questions you may have.. Gfs.com/careers

[@jnx6650]

It doesn’t make sense, they get paid more less miles but obviously more physical work, i went w my uncle to train locally it was a stress waking up early asf drive an 1 hour to work at 2 am and having 14 hour days and driving back home through 2 hours of traffic their goes your whole day and not to even mention all the stuff you need to when you get home. It’s sounds good but it ain’t for everybody I like waking up in my truck knowing I’m ready off the bat no waiting time.

[@joycharles1055]

Who make more money otr or local

[@duronparks5515]

I NEVER DID OTR , I STARTED OUT LOCALLY DOING SODA, OTR DRIVERS ARE LAZY AND DONT WANT TO TOUCH FREIGHT, THE MORE YOU TOUCH THE MORE YOU MAKE

[@Jack-pd4ps]

Drivers deserve what they allow. Companies will do what Drivers allow. It should be a big issue to even accept low pay. Hours of Service is the maximum amount of hours you can work, it doesn’t mean you have to work to the limit. It’s actually, unhealthy to work 14 hours in a truck while driving OTR. By the time you’re done, you’re too tired to exercise and many people don’t have the discipline to workout while working that many hours.

[@s3oundh0l3]

Its the fact you making money on top of money you're very much admirable truck driving and content creating nice 👍

[@dwanmccallister5897]

What would you suggest for new drivers No experience. I have had my CDL since 10-2023 and only OTR companies have called me back.

[@DarneIITV]

Food service bro

[@greyyb8860]

Concrete, flatbed, dollar general, Coca Cola, Pepsi, all of these different types of gigs fuck with new drivers

[@ogusa1659]

I DROVE AN ENTIRE YR STRAIGHT OTR NO DAYS OFF ONLY STACKED UP 14,000$ NO KIDS NO BILLS NO NOTHING AN ENTIRE YR OF MY LIFE WASTED

[@TradingFacez]

Home daily for me y’all OTR runners can have that

[@vincentwilliams2314]

Some people that are otr don’t know how to run there clock and that’s why they not making money

[@knowledgehumanity9960]

Actually most aren’t underpaid. Most drivers don’t even know their pay card to make money otr. It’s not just about miles when getting paid. Dudes don’t even know when detention pay starts. Or how they stay in the sleeper over 10 hours. There’s reason drivers aren’t getting paid. Also they don’t even want to be a trainer.

[@benjamingray0039]

Man I am greatful!!! I doubled my annual income going OTR. Other local drivers wanna look down because they wanna sit at home and babysit their women and still get cheated with an OTR driver who can get in and out. Women will cheat on you while you at home, divorce you and take whatever you got. Ain't nobody worried about that petty stuff and you have to sacrifice for what you want. So why not get out here and get this money 🤑

[@rogerperez7363]

truck driven iz a SCAM the driver iz the LAST 1 ta get paid .

[@Pharaoh_The_Great]

I bet if the pay was $5k+ per week, everyone would be doing OTR

[@imanthonytv]

I wouldn’t. There’s too many ways to make money.

[@jalenmackall6743]

OTR sucks ass

[@QuintenMoore-mc4ni]

Right 😂

[@itsrelativ3967]

It sucks whether you have kids or not. It totally depends on your mental fortitude and ability to be patient. We all know nobody gives a fukk about truckers. Even prostitutes at truck stops and hotels try to disrespect you.

[@LOU-bg2wu]

FACTZZZ🚚🚚🚚🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦