How much money can you make being a truck driver? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has published salary information for truck drivers. According to this data, the bottom ten percent of truck drivers earn less than $26,920 per year. As an entry-level truck driver, you will most likely fall into this category, which means you’ll make less than the median rate. That’s not to say, however, that you can’t earn more than the median rate. The average salary for a truck driver in the first year is $40 to 45k. This is a bit more than the starting pay if you’re a part-time truck driver, but you’ll be paid well.
Pay varies depending on experience, route, and company. Experienced drivers can earn more money by driving more miles. Drivers who have more experience tend to earn more money than new drivers. In addition, companies often reward their drivers with bonus payments when they refer new drivers. If you’re a new driver, consider applying for jobs with companies that offer referral bonuses. You’ll be able to earn up to $2,000 from this bonus over six months.
Is It Worth Being a Truck Driver?
You can earn a good living as a truck driver, even if you’re not very experienced. The benefits of working as a truck driver extend to your family. You get paid for hours you work, and you’ll have your own schedule. Not only that, you’ll be able to save money on your living expenses. And the open road is a great place to think and clear your mind.
You’ll need to be physically fit. Most trucking companies require that their employees go through training. However, some employers do not have such training programs and send inexperienced or underpaid drivers onto the road. If you have the right attitude, however, you can succeed in this field. Besides, it’s a rewarding career that allows you to drive large rigs and live in an 8-foot x 8-foot space.
You’ll be able to choose the type of truck you want to drive. There are many types of trucking jobs, including flatbed, tanker, van, refrigerated, and more. Truck drivers can also opt for team driving. Team drivers enjoy great pay and hefty sign-on bonuses. Some truck drivers opt to become owner-operators of their own trucks. In this case, many transportation companies offer programs to help drivers become owners of their own trucks. When a truck driver becomes a contractor, he enjoys more flexibility and freedom than a traditional employee.
What State Pays Truck Drivers the Most?
The average annual salary of a truck driver varies from state to state. North Dakota truck drivers earn the most, averaging $53,720. By comparison, the average truck driver salary in South Dakota is only $40,090. The highest-paid truck drivers are found in North Dakota, while the lowest-paid truckers live in South Dakota. You can view a full list of truck driver salaries in each state by clicking on the links below.
The best-paying states for truck drivers are primarily in the South and West, with Indiana the only exception. However, the average salary of truckers may not be as good as it seems when indexed against the state’s cost of living. Trucker salaries are also higher in more expensive areas than in lower-paying states, so take this into consideration when comparing the salaries of truck drivers in different states.
What state pays truck drivers the most? The average salary for a CDL truck driver in 2019 was $45,260. But while Alaska pays truck drivers the highest salaries, the average salary for truckers in Barnstable Town, Massachusetts, and Lewiston, Idaho are even higher. Truck drivers are paid hourly, by the number of miles they drive, and as a percentage of the total payment for a load.
Can You Make Good Money As a Truck Driver?
The trucking industry can be lucrative for the right person. With ten years of experience, a truck driver can earn upwards of $60k per year. Most truck drivers, however, retire before they hit the six figure mark. So, what is the secret to earning a good income as a truck driver? Here are a few tips. You can also consider relocating to another city to gain more experience. While you’ll probably make less money working for larger companies, this will give you valuable experience and open more doors for you.
The pay for truck driving is dependent on many factors, including location, route, size of truck, and hiring company. The greater the distance traveled, the more money you’ll earn per mile. Many companies award bonuses for reaching a certain mileage milestone. In addition, the longer you’ve been in the industry, the higher your rate per mile. It can be difficult to get started, but truck driving is one of the most lucrative careers today.
Why Do Truck Drivers Quit?
There are many reasons why truck drivers quit their jobs. Increasingly, it is the high turnover rate that drives the high costs of the industry. Until recently, the turnover rate for this industry was in the ninety percent range, and the numbers have stayed there for a while. Increasing turnover rates are not necessarily an indication of under-appreciation or underpayment. Rather, truck drivers are leaving the industry in search of better working conditions, pay, and benefits. Although truck driving was once a lucrative career choice, wages have not kept pace with the cost of living.
Many new drivers complain about low pay and the long hours they spend behind the wheel. In some metropolitan areas, truck drivers are paid less than veteran truck drivers. New hires have to cover greater distances in less time, and their truck’s large size and inertia can make it seem rude to other drivers. Money problems are one of the top reasons drivers quit, and the economy has made this even more problematic.
What is the Highest Paying Truck Driving Job?
One of the best-paying jobs in the trucking industry is driving an oversized load. This job requires high levels of concentration and patience. Oversized load drivers must drive carefully and maintain the road’s straightness. They must also share the road with oncoming traffic. Oversized load drivers are typically accompanied by a spotter and earn between $100,000 and $150,000 per year. They are the most sought-after truckers, as they make over $73,000 per year before bonuses.
Other high-paying trucking jobs include owner-operator trucking, over-the-road trucking, and hazardous materials trucking. Although the average salary for truck drivers is the highest of all truck driving jobs, the job also comes with higher upfront expenses. Start-up costs vary, but they usually exceed $3,000 in some cases. Those expenses must be factored into the salary. In addition, truck drivers must consider the cost of routine maintenance.
What Type of Truck Makes the Most Money?
If you want to become a truck driver, there are three major ways to make money. You can earn a good living by operating over-the-road trucks and delivering different kinds of products across the country. Depending on the company and the type of truck you drive, you can make more than $71,000 a year before bonuses. You can also work for Walmart, which offers the best pay for truck drivers – they make up to $71,500 annually before bonuses.
As with other careers, specialty truck driving has its advantages and disadvantages. Specialized drivers usually haul oversized loads and specialty products. They also haul hazardous materials such as chemicals. Specialized drivers often earn more than general truckers, but this comes with added responsibility. Keeping up with industry policies and new laws is crucial for drivers in any specialty. If you’re looking to make the most money possible as a truck driver, be sure to follow the rules of the industry. If you have a good driving record, you might be able to earn more. Besides specialized trucking, you can also earn more if you want to work in remote areas.
How Many Truck Drivers Get Killed Each Year?
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), around 625 truck drivers will die in workplace accidents in 2019. The number of fatalities in this industry will increase by 28% between 2009 and 2020. Compared to other professions, trucking is less dangerous than logging and fishing. In addition, truckers have a higher ground clearance and a higher weight than passenger vehicles. So, if you’re in the industry, you need to make sure you follow the rules of the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released preliminary data on traffic deaths for 2019. The figures indicate that the number of large truck occupant deaths rose by 2%, but overall fatalities are still at their highest level in three decades. Drivers of large trucks were responsible for almost one third of the road fatalities in 2018, according to the data. The rate was slightly lower in 2018, but it’s still higher than passenger car drivers.
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