Going off of these figures, truckers earn a higher salary than the average occupation in the U.S., which is $35,540 for all occupations. Upon finishing their classes, drivers receive a certificate of completion. Many companies pay their truck drivers by the mile -. Is it possible to earn $100K a year driving trucks or will I earn a measly salary? Putting Walmart aside, the median annual pay for big-rig drivers in 2021, per BLS, was $48,310 or about $23 an hour. At the time of ATRI's report release in November, the research organization began to observe demand for replacement tires as freight activity picked up. The average Commercial Truck Driver salary in Tennessee is $51,890 as of February 27, 2023, but the range typically falls between $45,890 and $59,490. They must have a commercial drivers license (CDL). In the realm of truck driving, heres a couple of CRAZY ways you can earn over $100k annually: If youre unhappy with your current truck driver salary, or are considering a new career as a trucker, its important you do some research. Interestingly enough, truck drivers have the highest salaries in Wilmington, DE at about $70,911 per year. However, this is just a national average, which means your area may have higher or lower rates. Operating costs in the trucking industry are about $1.38 per mile. Some drivers claim that traffic delays and poor weather conditions result in unpaid time. How Much Do Truck Drivers Make in Canada? Truck driver pay per mile affects the total annual income. The median cost of trucking school is $3,500. Still, costs are up significantly over the last decade, ATRI said in its report. Many Schneider driver associates will earn up to an additional $.04 per mile effective January 24. Among other stipulations, the law introduced a federal minimum wage and held employers to workplace safety standards. Hand-eye coordination. Well, typically, earning that much in the profession is pretty uncommon. In a new original study, Seek Business Capital examined average annual truck driver wage data from the BLS by state in relation to the average per capita income and the results show the profound effect location has on salary and could justify an interstate move for many truckers struggling to make ends meet. And the leading carriers are incorporating driver feedback into decision-making, according to Farrell. This amount is subject to variations, both up and down, depending on employment status, location, and training. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. The average truck driver's salary in the US is $60,175. Landstar DUV /RKY Agency 10922 State Route 212 NE Bolivar, Ohio 44612. Keep up with the story. Truck drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) must have a hazardous materials endorsement (H). Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. Industry averages for total driving labor expense per mile range from $0.49 to $0.83 ($0.67 per mile on average). Trucking wages often follow trends on the spot market, which has surged in 2020 alongside the demand for e-commerce. If you have a proven track record, consider requesting compensation for significant delays. Fleet size plays a big role in fuel costs. EMR Drivers Service the Route, not the Truck. I'd say a good starting number is 40. This comprehensive guide analyzes what you can make as truck driver in North America and how you can increase your income. Even if youre already in the business, you may want to find out if your pay rate is fair, or below average. In comparison, Amazon is ranging between $50,000-$60,000 on average, and Sysco is averaging around $80,000. Although such delays can reduce the drivers rate per hour, the rate per mile remains the same. The answer also lies in the history of the transportation industry and labor laws. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile . These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes that sometimes span several states. I'll have a year in June and already been offered a job paying 46cpm in unrestricted trucks. And is it beneficial? But if youve just completed truck driver training and are looking for your first job in the industry, youll be lucky to get much more than $0.29-$0.30 per mile. GP Transco truck drivers also report happiness with the transparency and support the company provides. The highest paying owner operator jobs are long-distance runs, which may require you to spend a lot of time out on the road. Thats why its important as a trucker to work for an employer that offers above average or, in the very least, fair pay per mile, so this can offset the extra time you spend off the clock, so to speak. Salary: $45,000 to $60,000. They claim that per-mile rates encourage drivers to minimize delays and get back on the road again. I qualify to start in June, as I need 1 year of experience to work there. "This is only going to continue to expand across the industry, because it works well in so many other industries," he wrote. Here are the 10 best states for truck drivers which also takes the states cost of living into account: Though not a state, the data for Washington D.C. is too compelling to ignore. Proponents of per-hour pay insist that the system is efficient. Drivers may not work more than 14 hours straight, comprising up to 11 hours driving and the remaining time doing other work, such as unloading cargo. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours that a long-haul truck driver may work. When negotiating rates with a company, stick to the facts. Average weekly pay of $1,400 to $1,600 or more per week since you can run as many miles as you can get. Don't go less than that if you're brand new with no experience. Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent. If costs in these . Estimated average of $3,421 per week Company Solo Driver $0.37 - $0.60 per mile Up to 3,000 miles per week Estimated average of $1,239 per week Owner Operator Driver $1.22 - $1.75 per mile Up to 3,000 miles per week Estimated average of $4,162 per week Salaries by years of experience in California Under this scheme, workers are paid a fixed rate for the unit produced regardless of how long it takes. Those who succeed have reported bringing home earnings of $60,000-$80,000 or more. How do you do it? About 259,900 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Average income per mile: $1.75 to $1.95 per mile; Average truck payment: Waste disposal trucks. Nearly four decades later, many drivers believe this pay system is outdated and needs an overhaul. https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any 3 Years In 2018 according to Bureau of Labor, the average salary for truck drivers is $ $43,680. She attributed the rise to inflation and rising incidences of nuclear verdicts, which are legal awards of more than $10 million. Running your own truck is a lot of work, and you need to know what youre up against. What Is A Good Starting Salary For A Truck Driver? Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely. For all of 2021, the average owner-operator spent $45,605 on fuel. For an experienced driver, the per-hour pay rates increase significantly. Here are nine of the highest-paying jobs in trucking you may consider. Truck drivers in this industry earn an average salary of $49,927. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. "We are committed to rewarding company drivers for the safe and professional work they do to excite our customers," said Dave Geyer, EVP and Group President of Transportation and Logistics at Schneider. Oct 7, 2022. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Thursday, September 8, 2022. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them. Hey, y'all I plan on starting a fleet. Average Pay: $0.40 per mile Below Average Pay: $0.28 per mile Above Average Pay: $0.45-$0.50 per mile There are some people who recommend not accepting pay that's less than $0.40 per mile, which equates to about $40,000 per year for most drivers. Job Listing Rules. Owner-operators make significantly more per mile, but they also have higher expenses. This model works well for the trucking industry at least it did for many decades. The average local truck driver's pay per mile is between $.28 and $.40 per mile. Most truck drivers are paid on a cents-per-mile basis. "Higher starting bonuses are likely to become more commonplace," ATRI wrote. Note that to make an even comparison between time-based and mileage-based rates, you must compare gross pay with gross pay or net pay with net pay. Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. In May 2021, the median annual wages for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers usually are paid by how many miles they have driven, plus bonuses. In general, truck drivers are expected to drive between 280 and 430 miles per day, or up to 3,000 miles per week. Trucking's average operational costs per mile vary year to year, based on several line items, including driver wages, equipment costs, tolls and fuel. The key is to find an employer (if you want to be a company driver) that pays a fair rate. In addition to the above driver pay amounts, don't forget about the value of a comprehensive truck driver benefits package. Net pay refers to take-home pay amounts after these deductions are subtracted from your check. Use these tips to get better pay. After completing truck-driving school and being hired by a company, drivers normally receive several weeks of on-the-job training. But they dont necessarily earn a significant amount more. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. May be required to unload truck. Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. Being an owner-operator does have its perks, and if you know what youre getting into, it can be a profitable career. $25,500 - $30,499 1% of jobs $30,500 - $35,499 6% of jobs $35,500 - $40,499 12% of jobs $41,500 is the 25th percentile. However, many companies offer regular pay increases every few months during your first year as a driver. . From what I've seen .30-.45 is good for new drivers or is that a bit high? These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of OTR Truck Driver in the United States. Call Recruiting 877-441-9128. The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. For truck drivers, this meant getting paid per mile of travel. Some heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes. . Realize that you will not make top rates if you just graduated from trucking school. Implementation of safety tech will help to moderate the insurance increases, according to ATRI and Nuest. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Costs fell 9% for TL carriers and 3.5% for LTL carriers from 2018 to 2019, according to ATRI. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. A driver team is two drivers who drive in shifts while the . I give my express consent authorizing TruckersReport and its. Data on how experience level affects total compensation is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as part of their National Compensation Survey, which is based on factors such as knowledge, complexity, contacts, and environment. Primary auto coverages are expected to increase between 5% and 15% in 2021, Nuest said. | 2 p.m. Lower diesel prices continued through 2020, which will likely reflect in fleets' fuel costs in ATRI's next operational costs report. 20 % below national average Updated in 2021. More than 90% of respondents in ATRI's research said they offer health insurance, and nearly 90% provide paid vacation. ATRI expects the driver shortage "to worsen in the coming decade," with estimates of a shortage reaching 160,000 drivers by 2028. This amount includes base wages, incentive compensation, per diem, accessorial pay, workers comp, health insurance and retirement benefits. The charts below illustrate trends in operational costs for fleets, according to ATRI's data. KLLM Transport Services is raising pay and compensation next month by up to 33% for. Drivers may receive bonuses for hauling hazardous freight, such as propane or other explosive materials. The new year is a time to start planning budgets and setting financial targets. The Midwest has the highest average flatbed rates at $3.11 per mile; the lowest rates are in the West, with an average of $2.41 per mile. Let Transport Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. Average Salary of Trucking Types of Jobs Class A: $49,000 CDL Driver: $46,000 Truck Driver Run OTR: $62,000 OTR CDL Truck Driver: $57,500 Dump Truck Driver: $39,000 CDL Truck Driver: $51,500 Tank Truck Driver: $59,500 Bulk Truck Driver: $52,000 Semi-Truck Driver: $49,000 $58,425. He included a provision in the FSLA that exempted truck drivers from minimum wage requirements. Federal regulations require CDL drivers to maintain a clean driving record and pass a physical exam every two years. For the first quarter of 2022, the average owner-operator has . The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $48,310 in May 2021. Drivers who haul sensitive materials or have a lot of experience may earn $1,350, but dont expect that kind of pay as a rookie. By checking this box and clicking the "Send me job offers" button below, I represent that I: By checking this box and clicking the "Send me job offers" button below. It costs about $180,000 per year to run a commercial truck. 2 Years Here is how you know. How Much Does A Normal Truck Driver Make? This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. The pay per mile model is considered piecework pay. Cookie Policy | This story is part of the Transport Dive Outlook on 2021, a series on the trends that will shape the industry in 2021. What's a good average price per mile rate to pay OTR drivers/team drivers? In addition, companies like Air Products and Praxair report highly competitive wages for truck drivers. Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. High. $16,500: Food and drink while on the road - this is called "per diem" and is major for your taxes - you can deduct $66 per day in 2021) $15,000: Truck maintenance $13,000: Insurance $5,000: Tires $1,000: General administrative expenses (accounting, for example) Truckers pay for gas in two different ways. And in a world full of traffic jams, delays and inspections, drivers are donating more of their time than they did in the past. In 2022, the average salary for a tow truck, Read More Tow Truck Driver SalaryContinue, Until the famous Ice Road Truckers TV series, most people had never heard of ice road trucking unless they were in the trucking business, Read More How Much Do Ice Road Truckers Make?Continue. Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport. Jim Stinson Fleets have already locked in 2021 build slots for trucks and trailers, according to FTR, as carriers anticipate continued freight demand this year. On average, drivers (with some experience) are paid between $0.28 and $0.40 per mile. Finally, long-haul drivers earn more because each trip requires a significant amount of time away from home. the United States! But the Bureau of Labor Statistics does provide some figures to go off of. . class type, city and state, number of hours of training. Visual ability. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. The overall average salary for a truck driver is around $60,000. Some truckers say that in a 70-hour work cycle, as much as 10 of those hours may be unpaid because the truck just isnt moving. Most people assume that owner-operators earn more money per year, and in most cases, they would be right. The average pay for dedicated drivers can range from $0.40 to $0.64 per mile. "Tire demand will reflect economic activity," ATRI stated, adding that tire costs are expected to rise over the next year. Driving a truck can be a physically demanding job as well. Carriers also use driver benefits to recruit and retain drivers. The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile. 100k in 2021! Truck drivers earn an average yearly salary of $47,130. . Meaning if an ice road trucker could work a year straight with very little vacation time, they may earn an annual salary of $120,000 to $160,000. The COVID-19 pandemic created a volatile market that made contract a more viable option than private carriage for many fleets. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400. The industry average rate per mile typically varies between $1.50 and $2.50 per mile, although you will find exceptions outside those ranges. $51 k. $59 k. $67 k. $51,519. Many women doubt that reporting an incident will lead to consequences, the agency found. Compensation is rather low for rookie drivers, but pay rates usually increase after 6 months to 1 year. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. Experienced drivers start at 28% for their first month of employment. Dry van owner-operators spent $45,416 on fuel, Reefer owner-operators spent $56,165 on fuel and Flatbedders spent $43,127 on fuel. Trucking companies are boosting pay to keep drivers on their payrolls. Safe driving, minimal damages, and other professional driving habits save the company money. The salary of a truck driver is dependent on various factors such as where they are based, the distance traveled, the size of the vehicle, the hiring company size, seniority, driver qualifications, working conditions, pay structure etc. Its difficult to determine how much truckers make per year because theyre paid by the mile not hourly or on a salary basis. While the lowest 10% of truck drivers might make less than $30,000 per year, the top 10% of salary earners, especially those that haul for well-established, reputable . According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the government agency that publishes employment figures, the 2021 median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver pay was $48,310 per year or $23.23 per houramong 1,951,600 drivers. Fuel was fleets' second highest line-item cost in 2019, after driver wages. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average truck driver salary/pay as $47,680 per year. Finally, it is important to realize that a system that has worked from the beginning will not change overnight. The average hourly wage for a Truck Driver - Heavy in the United States is $22 as of September 27, 2021, but the range typically falls between $20 and $26. Following behind GP Transco is Barr-Nunn, where the average salary is $87,142, and Walmart, with an average salary of $87,013. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held about 2.1 million jobs in 2021. Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and other drivers take many different routes throughout the country. Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs to minimize downtime. At 2,500 miles per week, you may earn between $675 ($35,100/year) and $725 ($37,700/year) each week. The median overall annual salary for a heavy and tractor-trailer driver was $59,683 in 2019. Qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both a knowledge test and a driving test. Last Modified Date: Keeping your record clean and having a professional attitude will pay off in the long run. Below is a brief overview of what owner/operators in different parts of the industry can expect to earn per mile and the average monthly payment for a good truck to work in that sector: Flat bed trucks. For more information about truck drivers, visit, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, For more information about truck driving schools and programs, visit, National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools. The rest covers overhead expenses like permits, tolls, tires, and more. The per-mile rate varies from employer to employer and may depend on the type of cargo and the experience of the driver. They spend much of this time alone. Reefer rates are averaging $3.19 per mile, with the lowest rates being the Northeast at $2.47 per mile. In the trucking . Pay Period Salary; Per mile: $0.49: Per week: $1,183: Per month: $4,731: Per year: $47,306: . The average truck driver salary in the USA is $62,447 per year or $30.02 per hour. Wyoming. They travel with a team including a spotter so that their journey is safe from start to finish. Although fatalities are uncommon,heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations. How Much Does The Average Truck Driver Make Per Year? This web page is written by the staff of DUV, an Independent agent for Landstar Ranger. The American Transportation Research Institute's latest trucking costs data suggest last year was good for carriers, but maybe not so much for drivers. Getting this endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test and a background check. Use this information and wage comparisons to make your case for better pay rates. Truck driver salaries vary depending on region, type of equipment, and a driver's experience level. Mileage rates vary according to the drivers experience, the type of load, and the length of each trip. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the difference for Americas roughly 3.5 million truck drivers is that wages should remain steady for the anticipated future as the industry struggles with finding enough drivers to fill its orders, especially as many experienced drivers begin to retire. . In 2021, a new driver is making about 46 cents a mile, with the max pay going up to a shade under 60 cents a mile for experienced drivers, Costello said. . To be clear, your pay per mile will not account for time spent: As you can see, drivers spend a lot of time waiting, and theyre often not compensated for it. "The cost of trucking insurance has increased drastically over the past 5-10 years," Jennifer Nuest, transportation marketing coordinator for HUB International Transportation Insurance Services, said in an email. Other factors include location and employer. They are also subject to random testing for drug or alcohol abuse. This post will go over comprehensive salary, Read More How Much Do Box Truck Drivers Make?Continue, Car hauling is a specialized trucking niche, and it can be a lucrative one.