. In the very least, know what youre getting into. CDL Grad, No Experience Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held about 2.1 million jobs in 2021. The projected numeric change in employment from 2021 to 2031. Depending on the company and with a safe driving record spanning several years, a driver can potentially earn upward of . Some companies are making the shift towards other compensation models, like hourly or even profit percentages. U.S. freight trucking: marginal cost per mile by region 2017-2020 Things like gas, maintenance, fuel taxes, permits, tolls, tires insurance and even coffee add up over time and can account for a serious chunk of your earnings. They travel with a team including a spotter so that their journey is safe from start to finish. What's a good average price per mile rate to pay OTR drivers/team drivers? DAT provides the most accurate information about current trucking rates per mile, giving owner operators and carriers the market data they need to negotiate better prices and build solid business relationships. Last Modified Date: Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31, Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. This web page is written by the staff of DUV, an Independent agent for Landstar Ranger. But the vast majority still pay by the mile. For those who are just starting out, the average entry-level salary in Wilmington, DE is $47,000. 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. . What's a good pay per mile rate? | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum The new year is a time to start planning budgets and setting financial targets. Trucking Rates Per Mile - DAT Commercial Truck Driver Salary in Tennessee | Salary.com . How much a trucker actually makes will depend on how theyre paid. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours that a long-haul truck driver may work. Drivers are expected to travel between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. Don't go less than that if you're brand new with no experience. Come visit the DUV/RKY Landstar recruiting agency located off Exit 93 of I-77 in Ohio. Driving a truck can be a physically demanding job as well. Operating costs in the trucking industry are about $1.38 per mile. To set a fair price for your flatbed truck services, you need to consider things like: The trailer type you need to carry a load $67,501. The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. Industrial workers received a set amount per piece or ton of material. If thats something that you have, then by all means, you should accept nothing less than $0.40. Driving for many consecutive hours can be tiring, and some drivers must load and unload cargo. 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. In CDL School Now Carriers also use driver benefits to recruit and retain drivers. This is the equivalent of $4,669/week or $20,235/month. They spend much of this time alone. An official website of the United States government We would. 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. Wages typically start from $28,020 and go up to $71,300. Truck driver salary in United States - Indeed How Much Does Truck Driving School Cost? Under this scheme, workers are paid a fixed rate for the unit produced regardless of how long it takes. How much does a truck driver get paid? - floreseagle.youramys.com Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States. Truck drivers earn an average yearly salary of $47,130. But if the wheels arent turning, drivers arent making money. Class A CDL Truck Driver - Home forty eight hours A normal truck driver makes anywhere from $25,740 per year up to $70,000 per year, with a median income of $39,520. The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. Full-time truck drivers can expect to spend up to 300 days a year . Jason Ickert on LinkedIn: For some owner-operators, it looks like the What is the highest paying truck driver job? All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. How do I pay myself as an owner operator? "This is only going to continue to expand across the industry, because it works well in so many other industries," he wrote. Fleets' lease and purchase costs declined 2.3% in 2019 after a strong year of truck purchases in 2018. All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial drivers license (CDL). How much do CDL drivers make per mile? - Zippia Why is that? 100k in 2021! Although such delays can reduce the drivers rate per hour, the rate per mile remains the same. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. They are also subject to random testing for drug or alcohol abuse. $76,050 . Hearing ability. Implementation of safety tech will help to moderate the insurance increases, according to ATRI and Nuest. Federal regulations do not allow people to become truck drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their ability to operate a truck. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. On the contrary, Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas offer the lowest truck driver salaries. Divide this amount by the number of hours in the workweek. Interestingly enough, truck drivers have the highest salaries in Wilmington, DE at about $70,911 per year. Thinking about becoming a box truck driver, but not sure how much you can earn in this profession? Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary. Truck drivers make $60,326 per year on average, or $29.0 per hour, in the United States. "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. For a look at the business trends affecting other industries, see the Dive Outlook on 2021. 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. With that in mind, a truck driver that has an average speed of 70 MPH can bring about $42 an hour. The tops earners average $300,000 and the lower 25% average $95,453. Even new drivers working for the same company can expect different pay rates based on where they live. 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. As a Class A CDL truck driver, you will have plenty of freight and you can get up to 3200 . 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. Prices depend on the type of CDL class type, city and state, number of hours of training, and whether you take it at a college or independent school. Other actions can result in a suspension after multiple violations. Truck driver salaries vary depending on region, type of equipment, and a driver's experience level. the United States! Many women doubt that reporting an incident will lead to consequences, the agency found. $51 k. $59 k. $67 k. $51,519. Multiple factors influence the pay system. Per mile wages are easier to track than hourly wages, but can be affected by the weather, traffic, speed limits, and other . JK Moving Services has.. About the Job Monday to Saturday working week. Are you thinking about becoming a professional truck driver? Truck drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) must have a hazardous materials endorsement (H). Industry averages for total driving labor expense per mile range from $0.49 to $0.83 ($0.67 per mile on average). Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. make sure you're on a federal government site. Truck driver pay per mile affects the total annual income. No matter the case, its important to remember that the average truck driver pay per mile will vary greatly depending on: With that said, you can get an idea of how much you should be making by looking at recent salary data from top employers and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Drivers must record their hours in a logbook. Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. 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. The trend toward private fleets converting to dedicated carriage is beginning to appear. There was very little regulatory oversight, and many jobs involved working long hours in unsafe conditions. "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.". Realize that you will not make top rates if you just graduated from trucking school. Nearly four decades later, many drivers believe this pay system is outdated and needs an overhaul. . 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. While successful owner-operators may earn upwards of $150,000 per year, only about $60,000-$80,000 is actual earnings. GP Transco truck drivers also report happiness with the transparency and support the company provides. Presidential Concession 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. For example, rookie drivers earn significantly less than experienced drivers with a proven record. $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. For instance, a rookie driver earning 28 cents per mile for a 2,500-mile trip would receive $700. Truck driver salary varies from different factors: truck drivers experience, reputation, knowledge and much more. Many fleets responding to a Morgan Stanley survey expect continued tight capacity, high demand and elevated rates this year. While many market factors are outside of fleets' control, firms can monitor and benchmark operational costs against industry averages. Students may attend either a private truck-driving school or a program at a community college that lasts between 3 and 6 months. You may hear dissatisfied drivers refer to unpaid tasks as donated time. Trucking companies insist that it is all part of the job, and the mileage rate covers a drivers downtime. The average pay per mile for OTR drivers is $0.44 - $0.58 per mile. Safe driving, minimal damages, and other professional driving habits save the company money. Many owner-operators routinely work with the same company, and many lease their trucks through a carrier in hopes of being their own boss. While we are part of the Landstar family, the views on this and the following pages are solely the views of the writers at DUV. During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving. 20 % below national average Updated in 2021. And is it beneficial? Can Truckers Earn Over $100K? - TruckersTraining The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. The highest paying companies for truck drivers are W. R. Grace & Co and Walmart according to our most recent salary estimates. The ongoing driver shortage has prompted fleets to raise pay for drivers, in hopes of enticing new talent to the workforce and retaining truckers already on the payrolls. Fleet size plays a big role in fuel costs. 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. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile . 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. In this case, the unit produced would be miles. 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. In 2018 according to Bureau of Labor, the average salary for truck drivers is $ $43,680. 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. Many of them work 60-70 hours a . However, the flip side is that a driver who speeds through a routine check could miss a problem. Owner-operators bring home about this much. "Once insurance carriers are realizing profits again, they will be able to stabilize rates," Nuest said. The pay per mile model is considered piecework pay. Nuest gave examples of cameras for coaching drivers, along with strong safety culture at trucking firms. The pay rate you receive each month after that will be based on your performance, with a guaranteed base percentage rate of 25%. The industry is short about 78,000 drivers, an improvement from last years 80,000-person gap estimate, the groups chief economist said. 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. Other things to factor into your earnings expectations . 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. The average truck driver's salary in the US is $60,175. The average for that is.48 to.75 cents a mile, up to 6,000 miles per week. The average salary for truck drivers in Missouri is around $47,130 per year. For instance, a rookie driver earning 28 cents per mile for a 2,500-mile trip would receive $700. What Is the Average Pay for a Truck Driver? CDL Compensation Rates - TDI Fleets are also adding flexible policies, such as allowing pets or family members on the road, Farrell said. However, many companies offer regular pay increases every few months during your first year as a driver. 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. Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. 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. CDL Class A truck drivers- top pay! Easy apply and fast orientation Without guidelines to determine safe driving times, many drivers stayed on the road for 24 hours at a time to transport goods. Many variables go into answering, "what is the average pay for a truck driver?" Keep reading to find out how you can join the ranks of the many truck drivers who are in demand and well compensated. Reportedly, a 3-month season can potentially have someone earning more than $120,000 a year. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or control signals and switches in the rail yard. In 1938, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) into law. A major trucking firm is offering the biggest raises in its 60-year history to attract and retain drivers. I'd say a good starting number is 40. Divide this amount by the number of hours in the workweek. But that doesnt mean that you cant earn a great living doing what you love. The need for truck drivers should rise as households and businesses increase their spending and their demand for goods. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. Build a reputation as a good driver. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. $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) The continuing trend will keep wages competitive and have fleets seeking ways to make the job of truck driving more attractive. Gross pay is the total wage you earn, without deducting health care expenses, federal income tax, or social security and Medicare tax. Jim Stinson Some heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes. From what I've seen .30-.45 is good for new drivers or is that a bit high? 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. Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. Let Transport Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. Regional truckload dry van drivers with their hazmat endorsement will start at 55 cents per mile and average $1,350 in five days, with an estimated annual compensation of $70,200 per year . However, the lawmakers did not adjust the FLSA provisions, accordingly, leaving drivers still earning per-mile rates. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400. How much does a truck driver get paid? - faq.dcmusic.ca Truck Driver Salary - How Much Can Commercial Drivers Earn? - Roehl.Jobs Salaries typically start from $28,020 and go up to $71,300. The average for drivers with their careers in full swing is around $45,000 to $60,000 annually. Should I Be a Company Driver or an Owner Operator? The average salary for truck drivers is $59,684, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. 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. Experienced drivers start at 28% for their first month of employment. 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. , Webinar Drivers learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate trucking. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. We have researched the job market for this profession in detail and derived average values. The median overall annual salary for a heavy and tractor-trailer driver was $59,683 in 2019. "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. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400. Driver pay became the responsibility of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). Getting this endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test and a background check. Truck driver salary in Aliquippa, PA - Check average truck driver Each year, the American Transportation Research Institute collects cost data from TL, LTL and specialized fleets and compiles the finding into a report the most recent of which was published in Q4 2020. On average, the salary for a truck driver working at GP Transco is $90,000. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2021 to 2031. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. Even if weather or traffic slows them down and extends their working day, they get paid the same. Drivers may receive bonuses for hauling hazardous freight, such as propane or other explosive materials. Even if youre already in the business, you may want to find out if your pay rate is fair, or below average. For example, if you live in Delaware you should be paid close to $70,901 per year. 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. In 2020, the Northeast was the . 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. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $48,310 in May 2021. However, the costs of maintaining that truck can be so high that after everything gets put into account for that-you pretty much can cut that earning potential in half. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work. The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. Compensation is rather low for rookie drivers, but pay rates usually increase after 6 months to 1 year. Average income per mile: $.85 to $1 per mile 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. And the leading carriers are incorporating driver feedback into decision-making, according to Farrell. The industry average rate per mile typically varies between $1.50 and $2.50 per mile, although you will find exceptions outside those ranges. Or will my trucker salary support my family? Flatbed Percentage Pay Program for Drivers | TanTara Transportation Salary: $45,000 to $60,000. In fact, it can take 10 years of experience to start earning about $60k annually. In salaried terms, the average maximum pay . How much are you spending on fuel compared to other owner-operators Truck Driver - Local Class A - Average $1857 per week - Penske The average owner-operator . I Need CDL Training The average pay for dedicated drivers can range from $0.40 to $0.64 per mile. The average truck driver's pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. If youre just getting started, you can expect to be paid less than someone with a few years of experience, but many companies will offer pay raises every 4-6 months as you progress through your first year as a driver. This statistic depicts the average total marginal cost per mile for freight trucking in the United Sates from 2017 to 2020, broken down by region. About the Company JK is Increasing Minimum Company Driver Pay to. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400. Average Income Per Mile Foe Owner Operator Semi Truck Driver An alternative to getting paid an annual salary is to be paid per mile driven. 10 Trucking Industry Statistics and Facts US - 2023 Update A good starting salary for a truck driver is $39,000 in the United States. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Due to the danger of the job and high risk, ice road truckers have the ability to earn an entire years salary in just a couple months time. And in a world full of traffic jams, delays and inspections, drivers are donating more of their time than they did in the past. Truck Driver Salary (March 2023) - Zippia In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each states websites where these data may be retrieved. 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. The highest-paying trucking company is GP Transco. 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). Also, awarded Top Driver Recruiting Office in the country. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. 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. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. The average salary for a Truck Driver is $81,631 per year in United States. We have researched the job market for this profession in detail and derived average values. 8 Types of Truck Driver Pay | System Transport Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Keeping your record clean and having a professional attitude will pay off in the long run. Reefer rates are averaging $3.19 per mile, with the lowest rates being the Northeast at $2.47 per mile. Most truck drivers are paid on a cents-per-mile basis. What will road life be likeis it worth it? Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip. Among other things, these drivers are responsible for insurance and vehicle upkeep operating costs for a tractor-trailer average $1.38 per mile.