All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial drivers license (CDL). It costs about $180,000 per year to run a commercial truck. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website has a list of these violations. "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. What does the average trucking company pay per mile? Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Why is that? Alabama $40,580 / $19.27hr Alaska $ 57,630 / $27.04 hr (Drivers don't pay taxes) Arizona 45,430 $21.46 hr Arkansas $40,620 / $19.53 (Low wages, low cost of living) California $45,560 / $21.90 (Low wages, high cost of living, lots of jobs) These are all normal factors that play into the pay rates of truck driving. Delivery truck drivers had a median pay of $16.51 per hour in 2020, . Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. In the trucking . Truck driving school cost ranges anywhere from $425 to $10,000. The industry is short about 78,000 drivers, an improvement from last years 80,000-person gap estimate, the groups chief economist said. Truckers are getting big pay hikes, but there's still a shortage of drivers 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. The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile. 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 Commercial Truck Driver Salary in Tennessee | Salary.com 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. According to the United States Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 1.9 million truck drivers employed . 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). The COVID-19 pandemic created a volatile market that made contract a more viable option than private carriage for many fleets. Transportation Industry Objections "Higher starting bonuses are likely to become more commonplace," ATRI wrote. Truck Driver: salaries per region. Running your own truck is a lot of work, and you need to know what youre up against. Truck Driver Salary (March 2023) - Zippia Furthermore, a good starting salary for a truck driver can vary by state. With that in mind, a truck driver that has an average speed of 70 MPH can bring about $42 an hour. information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 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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Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers - Bureau of Labor Statistics Assuming a driver can obtain $2 per mile (including fuel), this would mean that the average carrier drops $30,000 . Intermodal: Drivers average $1,490 - $1,820 per week. 10 Trucking Industry Statistics and Facts US - 2023 Update . "This is only going to continue to expand across the industry, because it works well in so many other industries," he wrote. Some heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes. This amount is subject to variations, both up and down, depending on employment status, location, and training. For all of 2021, the average owner-operator spent $45,605 on fuel. Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. For those who are just starting out, the average entry-level salary in Wilmington, DE is $47,000. Drivers can get endorsements to their CDL that show their ability to drive a specialized type of vehicle. 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. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays. Fleet size plays a big role in fuel costs. Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs to minimize downtime. 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 continuing trend will keep wages competitive and have fleets seeking ways to make the job of truck driving more attractive. In this article: From what I've seen .30-.45 is good for new drivers or is that a bit high? Keep in mind that the per diem rate for January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021, was $66 per day. The American Transportation Research Institute's latest trucking costs data suggest last year was good for carriers, but maybe not so much for drivers. Since its founding in the 1950s, Schwans has grown from a humble ice cream delivery service to one of the nations largest food delivery company. But many trucking companies will only pay this rate to drivers with experience in the industry. $51 k. $59 k. $67 k. $51,519. $48,750 . At 2,500 miles per week, you may earn between $675 ($35,100/year) and $725 ($37,700/year) each week. Cookie Policy | 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. Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty. The average TanTara driver earns between 27%-30%. Here Are The Five Most In Demand Cities Right Now: Here are the five companies hiring the most now: Here are some examples of how much a truck driver salaries can based on different industries: The retail industry pays truck drivers an average salary of $58,554, The lowest paying industry for truck drivers is the construction industry. Many owner-operators routinely work with the same company, and many lease their trucks through a carrier in hopes of being their own boss. 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. Primary auto coverages are expected to increase between 5% and 15% in 2021, Nuest said. "Truck lease and purchase costs are expected to remain constant over the coming year," ATRI said, noting a "tumultuous" buying period in the latter part of 2020. Use this information and wage comparisons to make your case for better pay rates. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensatedannual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. The average truck driver's pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. 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. The trucking industry may also mention limiting overhead costs and encouraging efficiency. The average truck driver's salary in the US is $60,175. 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. What is the highest paying truck driver job? 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. On average, drivers (with some experience) are paid between $0.28 and $0.40 per mile. In the very least, know what youre getting into. A major trucking firm is offering the biggest raises in its 60-year history to attract and retain drivers. But many trucking companies will only pay this rate to drivers with experience in the industry. Visual ability. But the vast majority still pay by the mile. Divide this amount by the number of hours in the workweek. 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. Build a reputation as a good 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. You pretty much have to earn a lower rate until you are able to be experienced enough to call the shots. Plus, earning by mile might not always pay if theres certain days where traffic or road conditions are unfavorable. 1 Year Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts. Driving for many consecutive hours can be tiring, and some drivers must load and unload cargo. When negotiating rates with a company, stick to the facts. . Is it possible to earn $100K a year driving trucks or will I earn a measly salary? For example, rookie drivers earn significantly less than experienced drivers with a proven record. Find a company that pays fair rates. An alternative to getting paid an annual salary is to be paid per mile driven. The median cost of trucking school is $3,500. Throughout the U.S., the average salary for a truck driver is roughly $60,326 per year, which boils down to $29.0 per hour. Salaries below this are outliers. GP Transco truck drivers also report happiness with the transparency and support the company provides. 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. Without your consent employers will not be able to contact with job offers, would you like to opt-in now? Truck driver salary in Missouri CareerExplorer Data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that most companies pay between 28 and 40 cents per mile. About 259,900 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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. 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. Drivers may receive bonuses for hauling hazardous freight, such as propane or other explosive materials. Ups truck driver salary in Troy, OH - Check average ups truck driver After completing truck-driving school and being hired by a company, drivers normally receive several weeks of on-the-job training. Sharing the road with oncoming traffic is always a hazard for them. The key is to find an employer (if you want to be a company driver) that pays a fair rate. Trucking operational costs in 6 charts | Transport Dive 20 % below national average Updated in 2021. Its difficult to determine how much truckers make per year because theyre paid by the mile not hourly or on a salary basis. 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. Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with similar occupations. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face. 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. Most drivers will get between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. Since rates vary with income levels, comparing gross pay rates is the fairest method of determining your hourly rate. Jamie Tharpe Trucking: CDL Class A Driver Position - Full Time Hiring Area: New Orleans, LA Perks for this Class A CDL Position Ful Time Position:-$1,500 per week on average -Plenty of freight, run as many miles are you want to -Average 2500 miles per week but able to get 3200-3400 -Out 12 days and home every other weekend for 2 days 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. If youre a rookie driver and a carrier is trying to push you into becoming an owner-operator and leasing through them, think twice about working for them. Hearing ability. If youre thinking of getting into the trucking industry, you may be wondering how much you will be paid per mile. This model works well for the trucking industry at least it did for many decades. In addition, companies like Air Products and Praxair report highly competitive wages for truck drivers. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Max Farrell, co-founder and CEO of WorkHound, said fleets are offering more premium insurance packages as a draw for drivers, such as 100% preventable coverage, plus vision, dental and life insurance. The highest paying companies for truck drivers are W. R. Grace & Co and Walmart according to our most recent salary estimates. Should I Be a Company Driver or an Owner Operator? They must have a commercial drivers license (CDL). Even if weather or traffic slows them down and extends their working day, they get paid the same. About the Company JK is Increasing Minimum Company Driver Pay to. Additionally, truck drivers make more than the average salary in Newark, NJ, New York, NY, Salem, NH, Richmond, KY, and Philadelphia, PA. On a more broad level, truck driver salaries are highest in Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. How much do CDL drivers make per mile? - Zippia This amount includes base wages, incentive compensation, per diem, accessorial pay, workers comp, health insurance and retirement benefits. To determine pay per hour, take the number of miles per trip times the pay rate. Keeping your record clean and having a professional attitude will pay off in the long run. The average pay for dedicated drivers can range from $0.40 to $0.64 per mile. How much does a truck driver get paid? - floreseagle.youramys.com What will road life be likeis it worth it? But that doesnt mean that you cant earn a great living doing what you love. Location impacts how much a truck driver can expect to make. Reduced costs in several line items contributed to the drop after the freight boom in 2018, as outlined in many of the charts below. Here is how you know. 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. State salaries in the U.S. tend to be all over the map literally. How else would new cars get to dealerships without tacking on, Read More How Much Do Car Hauling Jobs Pay?Continue, The median tow truck driver salary varies greatly due to company, location, industry, experience and benefits. However, the flip side is that a driver who speeds through a routine check could miss a problem. A good starting salary for a truck driver is $39,000 in the United States. Keep up with the story. Truck Driver Salary - How Much Can Commercial Drivers Earn? - Roehl.Jobs Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent. This is the equivalent of $4,669/week or $20,235/month. Jason Ickert on LinkedIn: For some owner-operators, it looks like the This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. The bottom 10% of truck drivers earned a median of $25,740, while the top 10% brought home a median of $61,150. 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. 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. Truck driver United States Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by ovosquad, Mar 26, 2018. During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving. Or will my trucker salary support my family? The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. In 2018 according to Bureau of Labor, the average salary for truck drivers is $ $43,680. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. Federal regulations require a driver to have at least 20/40 vision with a 70-degree field of vision in each eye and the ability to distinguish the colors on a traffic light. The overall average salary for a truck driver is around $60,000. The salary for a truck driver can vary depending on the years of experience that a person has, from entry level to senior level. Interested? The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. 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. Trucking Firm Gives up to 33% Raise, First-Year Drivers Can - Insider Average Income Per Mile Foe Owner Operator Semi Truck Driver Jim Stinson And the leading carriers are incorporating driver feedback into decision-making, according to Farrell. That translates into average weekly pay ranging from $560 to $1,200. 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). The pay per mile model is considered piecework pay. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives. Fuel was fleets' second highest line-item cost in 2019, after driver wages. Pay rates in the trucking industry vary greatly, and the rate youre paid per mile may be very different from your trucker friends. 10 Highest Truck Driver Salaries by State in 2021 Truck driver pay per mile affects the total annual income. Per Diem Tax Rates for Owner-Operators As of October 1, 2021, the per diem tax deduction rate is $69 per full day and $51.75 per partial day. 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. Despite the insurance cost trend, ATRI's data shows a drop in insurance costs from 2018 to 2019, which the institute described as "the most surprising cost center decrease.". Coronavirus-related safety measures didn't impact insurance premiums much, Nuest said. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average truck driver salary/pay as $47,680 per year. If the haul, or trip, equals out to 800 miles then the driver will make $640. Changes to tort reform at the state level could also help level out insurance costs. 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. For an experienced driver, the per-hour pay rates increase significantly. If youre a seasoned driver, you have earning potential you can earn as much as 60 cents per mile, according to TruckDriverSalary.com. Truck Driver Salary: Averages & Weekly Pay - Swift Transportation For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. Owner-operators make significantly more per mile, but they also have higher expenses. Drivers learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate trucking. 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. Walmart is currently offering truck drivers a starting pay of $95,000 per year with opportunities to be at $110,000 by the year's end. The pay rate you receive each month after that will be based on your performance, with a guaranteed base percentage rate of 25%. Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. But they dont necessarily earn a significant amount more. 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. As a Class A CDL truck driver, you will have plenty of freight and you can get up to 3200 . Wages typically start from $28,020 and go up to $71,300. class type, city and state, number of hours of training. 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. How Much Do Truck Drivers Make? - Werner Enterprises How do you do it? 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. Remember, just because you gross over $150,000 per year, that doesnt mean all of that money is going into your pocket. "The 'innovative' response has been to offer healthcare at the same price while carriers 'absorb' the difference," Farrell said in an email. In addition to the above driver pay amounts, don't forget about the value of a comprehensive truck driver benefits package. At that time, the Department of Transportation did not exist, and neither did Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm (visited March 03, 2023). Here are the 10 worst states, plus D.C., for truck driver states: So, youve entered trucking with the intention of earning as much as $100,000 each year. 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. Mileage rates vary according to the drivers experience, the type of load, and the length of each trip. However, that doesnt take into account drivers who might not work full-time or compare the differences between independent drivers and company drivers. In comparison, Amazon is ranging between $50,000-$60,000 on average, and Sysco is averaging around $80,000. States have the right to refuse to issue a CDL to anyone who has had a CDL suspended by another state. The answer also lies in the history of the transportation industry and labor laws. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them. ATRI's newest study, "An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2021 Update," shows the average trucking costs per mile fell 3.1% in 2020 to $1.646 from $1.699. For a look at the business trends affecting other industries, see the Dive Outlook on 2021. INFOGRAPHIC: The Cost of Operating a Truck - SONAR The highest-paid trucking company is Walmart. Truck driver salary varies from different factors: truck drivers experience, reputation, knowledge and much more. We have researched the job market for this profession in detail and derived average values. Average income per mile: $.85 to $1 per mile Truck driver salary in United States - Indeed How to Calculate Cost Per Mile in Box Truck Business - YouTube Divide this amount by the number of hours in the workweek. 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. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. 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%. https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any Trucking's average operational costs per mile vary year to year, based on several line items, including driver wages, equipment costs, tolls and fuel. Among other things, these drivers are responsible for insurance and vehicle upkeep operating costs for a tractor-trailer average $1.38 per mile. The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Still, costs are up significantly over the last decade, ATRI said in its report. Trucking rates per mile 2023 Method The Real Cost of Trucking - Per Mile Operating Cost of a Commercial Truck Calculate Your Own Cost-Per-Mile: The Cost of Trucking $1.38 The average per mile operating cost for the trucking industry $180,000 The average total yearly cost of operating a commercial truck The largest operating expense is diesel fuel. How much are you spending on fuel compared to other owner-operators There are three primary factors that determine a driver's percentage amount.