What is the highest paying truck driver job? 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. High. Driver wages consistently make up the largest percentage of operational costs for fleets, and they were at one of their highest levels since ATRI began collecting data, despite a slight decrease from 2018 to 2019. For example, rookie drivers earn significantly less than experienced drivers with a proven record. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2021 to 2031. ATRI did a study in 2021 and said the average cost per mile in the US for a truck to haul was $1.85 (driver pay, fuel, equipment lease/purchase, maintenance and insurance). But the Bureau of Labor Statistics does provide some figures to go off of. If you have a proven track record, consider requesting compensation for significant delays. Based on the averages above, pay per week can range anywhere from $800 to $1,350. Drivers learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate trucking. The rest covers overhead expenses like permits, tolls, tires, and more. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. The tops earners average $300,000 and the lower 25% average $95,453. Includes base and annual incentives. Take benefits like retirement contributions and insurance coverage into account; they are also part of compensation. The company probably will not cover traffic or weather delays, but they might be willing to pay for your lunch while you wait for repairs. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. Tire costs have largely trended downward over the last decade, though the decrease is less than 1 cent per mile, or about 25 cents per hour, since 2011. ET, lured smaller carriers and owner operators, Trucks, trailers, tonnage: What transport data says about the state of the industry, Unscheduled maintenance becomes less frequent but more expensive, Sexual harassment goes underreported in trucking: FMCSA survey, Driver shortage eases slightly in 2022 but relief likely temporary, ATA reports, Why A. 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Job Outlook Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation. 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. Average income per mile: $1.75 to $1.95 per mile; Average truck payment: Waste disposal trucks. Other actions can result in a suspension after multiple violations. Primary auto coverages are expected to increase between 5% and 15% in 2021, Nuest said. In May 2021, the median annual wage for all workers was $45,760. Average weekly pay of $1,400 to $1,600 or more per week since you can run as many miles as you can get. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers, That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a truck driver in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. During this time, they drive a truck accompanied by an experienced mentor-driver in the passenger seat. $40,500 - $45,499 16% of jobs $45,500 - $50,499 12% of jobs That translates into average weekly pay ranging from $560 to $1,200. Use these tips to get better pay. They claim that per-mile rates encourage drivers to minimize delays and get back on the road again. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary. 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. Find a company that pays fair rates. . Data from 2020 will likely show increases in truck and trailer purchases costs per mile, as fleets accelerated their equipment buying from April through the end of the year. Qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both a knowledge test and a driving test. CDL Grad, No Experience Most drivers will get between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. The trend toward private fleets converting to dedicated carriage is beginning to appear. Like most significant issues, there are both advantages and disadvantages to being paid per mile versus receiving hourly rates. Don't go less than that if you're brand new with no experience. although some drivers are paid as much as $0.45 per mile, All Trucking reports. The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. Jim Stinson The answer also lies in the history of the transportation industry and labor laws. Company drivers are paid on a cents per mile basis. Some long-haul truck drivers, also called owner-operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. Truck driving school cost ranges anywhere from $425 to $10,000. Or will my trucker salary support my family? Cookie Policy | There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. Fuel was fleets' second highest line-item cost in 2019, after driver wages. CALL (219) 224-3133 CLICK HERE TO APPLY. Even if weather or traffic slows them down and extends their working day, they get paid the same. NEW increased driver pay and incentive package: Average $1857 per week Additional incentives available to earn up to $14,000 a year Home daily You will drive: Brand new equipment: 2021/2022 Freightliner Trucks Best-in-class specs designed for comfort 24/7 roadside assistance/maintenance XM Satellite radio subscription "Higher starting bonuses are likely to become more commonplace," ATRI wrote. In comparison, Amazon is ranging between $50,000-$60,000 on average, and Sysco is averaging around $80,000. The average truck driver's pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. 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. I'll have a year in June and already been offered a job paying 46cpm in unrestricted trucks. information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Net pay refers to take-home pay amounts after these deductions are subtracted from your check. Under this scheme, workers are paid a fixed rate for the unit produced regardless of how long it takes. ATRI consulted with insurance experts on the cost decline and concluded that the industry is maxed out in its ability to pay high insurance premiums. The trucking industry objected to a minimum wage for drivers. These are all normal factors that play into the pay rates of truck driving. Thursday, September 8, 2022. Average yearly earnings for a semi-truck driver in 2020 were about $47,130, which was a slight increase from $43,590 four years earlier. The vast majority of trucking companies pay their drivers by the mile rather than the hour, so a lot depends on how many miles you drive. The median overall annual salary for a heavy and tractor-trailer driver was $59,683 in 2019. Dry van owner-operators spent $45,416 on fuel, Reefer owner-operators spent $56,165 on fuel and Flatbedders spent $43,127 on fuel. Gross pay is the total wage you earn, without deducting health care expenses, federal income tax, or social security and Medicare tax. The average base salary for a trucker in the US is $77,321 per year, compared with an average salary of roughly $51,000 for the rest of the US. This Congressional act removed ICC authority over trucking, freeing the industry. The largest employers of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were as follows: Working as a long-haul truck driver is a lifestyle choice because these drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time. Truck drivers earn an average yearly salary of $47,130. Experienced drivers start at 28% for their first month of employment. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following: Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. The charts below illustrate trends in operational costs for fleets, according to ATRI's data. Let Transport Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. Putting Walmart aside, the median annual pay for big-rig drivers in 2021, per BLS, was $48,310 or about $23 an hour. The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. $51 k. $59 k. $67 k. $51,519. Workers in factories, steel mills, mines, and the transportation industry received piece work pay. The overall average salary for a truck driver is around $60,000. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400. You know if you are being paid fairly as a Truck Driver if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. But fleets changing what commodities they hauled, when demand grew in some categories and fell in others, may have increased insurance premiums due to perceived risk of hauling an unfamiliar product, she said. Reefer rates are averaging $3.19 per mile, with the lowest rates being the Northeast at $2.47 per mile. Truck Driver US$ United States. Requires commercial drivers' license. Delivery truck drivers had a median pay of $16.51 per hour in 2020, . But the vast majority still pay by the mile. 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. Zip Class A CDL Experience Please select ALL of your current, valid driver's licenses CDL A CDL B CDL C Send me job offers Mar 26, 2018 #2 BrandonCDLdriver Road Train Member 1,191 1,462 Sep 1, 2017 0 30 is really low 45 is pretty high. Many owner-operators routinely work with the same company, and many lease their trucks through a carrier in hopes of being their own boss. He included a provision in the FSLA that exempted truck drivers from minimum wage requirements. In the trucking . They travel with a team including a spotter so that their journey is safe from start to finish. Fleets are also adding flexible policies, such as allowing pets or family members on the road, Farrell said. In addition to the above driver pay amounts, don't forget about the value of a comprehensive truck driver benefits package. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays. 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. Running your own truck is a lot of work, and you need to know what youre up against. The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. If youre a seasoned driver, you have earning potential you can earn as much as 60 cents per mile, according to TruckDriverSalary.com. For all of 2021, the average owner-operator spent $45,605 on fuel. An accountant with 0-2 years of experience earns an average salary of $47,794, a mid-career professional with 3-6 years of experience makes $60,326 a year on average, and a senior level accountant with 7-12 years of experience enjoys an average annual salary of $74,405. That translates into average weekly pay ranging from $560 to $1,200. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average truck driver salary/pay as $47,680 per year. Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States. Find A High Paying Truck Driver Job Near Me, To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC). During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving. Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Truck drivers can have their CDL suspended if they are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or are convicted of a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle. If you want to know why truck drivers do not receive hourly wages, the answer depends on whom you ask. A truck driver who own his own truck(s)can average $154,475 a year. While moving across state lines isnt achievable for everyone, it could make a huge difference in how much youre paid, as well as how far that money goes. Although you might not be able to make $100,000/year off the bat, but given the truck driver demand, and with experience, specialization, CDL training and the right company, you can make $80,000+ on a trucker salary. No part of this website may be copied without express written permission from Secrest Direct, Inc. Landstar Heavy Haul Jobs Landstar Independent Trucking Jobs, AEB Requirements Next on the Federal Regulations Docket, Lawsuit Abuse Reform Act for Owner-Operators, Electronic Identification for Commercial Motor Vehicles, Owner-Operators Facing Diesel Fuel Shortages. Average income per mile: $.85 to $1 per mile Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile . Consider contacting state and federal lawmakers and urging them to review the laws governing trucker pay. Large carriers also tend to operate newer trucks with better fuel efficiency, thus contributing to lower fuel costs. 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. On average, drivers (with some experience) are paid between $0.28 and $0.40 per mile. At Schneider, drivers can take advantage of: Health benefits. For an experienced independent truck driver, the rate per mile could be as high as 80 cents a mile. Experts anticipate continued upticks in driver wages and insurance premiums, but fuel costs may remain low. For an experienced driver, the per-hour pay rates increase significantly. As of Feb 22, 2023, the average annual pay for an Owner Operator Truck Driver in the United States is $242,826 a year. Here are nine of the highest-paying jobs in trucking you may consider. Even if you cant move, knowing where your states trucker salary stands in relation to others is key to understanding how well youre compensated. "Motor carriers are redesigning how theyre distributing work so that drivers can have consistent miles, but also have the ability to be home in bed every night," Farrell said, pointing to trends in more regional routes versus over-the-road and more drop-and-hook locations all part of "creating a more desirable job experience.". Industry averages for total driving labor expense per mile range from $0.49 to $0.83 ($0.67 per mile on average). Fleets have already locked in 2021 build slots for trucks and trailers, according to FTR, as carriers anticipate continued freight demand this year. Remember, pay in the trucking industry is heavily dependent on experience, location and the company you work for. "The 'innovative' response has been to offer healthcare at the same price while carriers 'absorb' the difference," Farrell said in an email. A high level of concentration and a great deal of patience is needed for this job. Because of the potential for traffic accidents, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Thinking about becoming a box truck driver, but not sure how much you can earn in this profession? What is the highest paying truck driver job? "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. Lower diesel prices continued through 2020, which will likely reflect in fleets' fuel costs in ATRI's next operational costs report. A flourishing spot market lured smaller carriers and owner operators into the industry, and these fleets often buy used equipment. Most drivers can average 2,000-3,000 miles in a 70-hour workweek. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. ATRI and Nuest said insurance premiums will continue to rise. Upon finishing their classes, drivers receive a certificate of completion. How Much Does Truck Driving School Cost? 1 Year More Information, Including Links to O*NET, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm, Report any incidents encountered on the road to a dispatcher, Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers, Inspect their trailers before and after the trip and record any defects they find, Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations, Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate people, Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order. Other things to factor into your earnings expectations . Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession About the Company JK is Increasing Minimum Company Driver Pay to. 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. Implementation of safety tech will help to moderate the insurance increases, according to ATRI and Nuest. Please select the number of verifiable months youve been driving professionally using your Class A CDL within the last 3 years. The three most common per mile pay rates are: Practical Mileage: This is calculated using the most efficient distance between the origin and the destination. And in a world full of traffic jams, delays and inspections, drivers are donating more of their time than they did in the past. Driving a truck can be a physically demanding job as well. Driver bonuses are not part of the wages or benefits calculation, but ATRI's data does indicate all types of bonuses (safety, starting and retention) increased from 2018 to 2019, with retention bonus values up more than 80%. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. In addition, some drivers have routes that include Mexico or Canada. These are the best of the best in the industry. Some long-distance drivers, especially owner-operators, are paid a share of the revenue from shipping. Also, awarded Top Driver Recruiting Office in the country. . Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. $67,501. Visual ability. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. "This is only going to continue to expand across the industry, because it works well in so many other industries," he wrote. Truckers pay for gas in two different ways. What Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Do, How to Become a Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver, Employment projections data for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 2021-31, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, Top Picks, One Screen, Multi-Screen, and Maps, Industry Finder from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Unfortunately, unless you have been driving for a long time and have a great driving reputation, theres not a lot of room for negotiating pay. Changes to tort reform at the state level could also help level out insurance costs. 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. 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. 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. On average, the salary for a truck driver working at GP Transco is $90,000. . What Is The Highest-paying Trucking Company. $58,425. In this case, the unit produced would be miles. And again, the numbers above are just estimated figures. Most transportation jobs revolved around transporting meat, milk, and grains from farms to markets. And is it beneficial? Oct 7, 2022. JK Moving Services has.. About the Job Monday to Saturday working week. More than 90% of respondents in ATRI's research said they offer health insurance, and nearly 90% provide paid vacation. "While these short-term approaches to manage cost increases appear to be stabilizing insurance costs, the long-term result is a potentially catastrophic increase in accrued carrier risk," ATRI wrote. Truck drivers make an average salary of $68,000 a year. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work. Salaries below this are outliers. The jobs that pay between $0.40 and $0.45 per mile are typically given to drivers with many years of experience and have exceptional driving skills. This comprehensive guide analyzes what you can make as truck driver in North America and how you can increase your income. Rookie wages are lower, typically between $0.27 and $0.29 per mile. ATRI noted the decrease in operational costs did not apply evenly across all sectors namely private truck costs, which increased from $2.73 in 2018 to $2.80 in 2019. I'd say a good starting number is 40. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website has a list of these violations. As of July 2021, trucking rates per mile remain steady. Skill is required beyond anything else. Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average. Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. For a look at the business trends affecting other industries, see the Dive Outlook on 2021. Carriers are betting on widespread vaccine distribution to give way to a stronger 2021, particularly for the transport sectors sluggish in 2020, such as food service and industrial. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations.