The headline rate never tells the whole story. What matters is what remains after the miles, meals, parking and unpaid hours are counted.
Start with the money you keep
A strong gross number can hide weak detention policies, unpaid layovers or a lane that forces expensive parking. Compare offers using net weekly income and hours away from home, not cents per mile alone.
Track one ordinary month: paid miles, unpaid time, road meals, showers, parking and every hour spent waiting. That number is your real baseline.
Food and parking add up fast
Buying three meals a day at truck stops can erase hundreds of dollars every month. A compact refrigerator, microwave and one grocery stop per week usually pay for themselves quickly.
Paid parking is increasingly part of the job. Ask whether a carrier reimburses reserved spaces and keep every receipt.
Downtime is the hidden bill
A breakdown is not just a repair problem. It can mean missed miles and days without income. Read the breakdown-pay policy before you sign, and ask how quickly replacement trucks are issued.
Compare the whole job, get every promise in writing and protect the license that pays your bills.
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