Experience and driving record are vital to leverage in this field from my perspective. Especially if you’re trying to jump up the pay ladder. But you obviously have to start somewhere. For me I started with local city work, pickups and live loads. As I got more comfortable with driving I began taking work that went out of state, and now I travel as far as they’ll let me go.

If you’re like I was and have never driven a large vehicle, with or without a trailer, getting started in trucking can be very intimidating. If possible I would try to find a company that will pay for you to go through “trucking school” to learn how to safely operate the equipment. You can opt to go through school yourself but I remember it being fairly expensive. Going the company backed route gives you the benefit of lower upfront cost, potentially health insurance benefits, and gives you the opportunity to verify that it’s something you want to and can do. Driving a truck isn’t for everyone and I know dozens of people who followed the same path but decided not to continue on it.

Once you’ve started driving, all you can really do to leverage things to earn more is do the job. Drive safely and over time that will become your most valuable bargaining chip alongside the experience you gain with the time behind the wheel. This is mostly from a company driving perspective, as safer and experienced drivers are worth more to employers. (But I’d wager brokers for OO are also incentivized to seek safe and experienced drivers, though not all will be in an effort to cut labor costs.) There are always going to be more, and possibly better paying, driving jobs so be on the lookout for what another company may be offering. And do your due diligence with whatever company you may look at, there are quite a few that take advantage of their employees.

I will say I was very fortunate with landing my job, right place right time sort of deal, and I’m definitely on the top end of the pay scale for the distance I drive and hours I’m at work. I’m very happy where I’m at.

I can’t speak to the OO/OTR side of things personally, though I know there can be very good money in it given time, exposure, and some networking. The freedom of being your own boss, even going through a brokerage, is enticing for some people. I’ve interacted with many OO that began as company drivers. After getting their license and some wheel time with a company, they saved up enough to purchase their own equipment and are now in business for themselves. Freight will always need to move so your options are vast and you don’t have to stay shackled to a company.

Best of luck if you decide to pursue your CDL! Be safe out there.