How Much Do Truck Drivers Really Make?
We’ve all seen semi-trucks on the highway as they transport goods across the country. Some of us have even thought about it as a career for ourselves. The first questions to come to our minds as we muse is, “How much do truck drivers make?” and “Do truck drivers get paid well?”
Higher Than Average Salary
Truck drivers make an average base salary of $63,058 per year, according to Indeed.com. The mean salary in America is $56,318 as of May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about $6,700 a year less than the average truck driver. If you go by median wages of $20.17 an hour, or $38,726, truck drivers can make about 40% more a year.
The short answer is, yes, being a truck driver pays well. So how do you get paid better after becoming a truck driver? Here are a few answers we found.
Drivers Licenses Diversity Means More Money
Most truckers have a Class C Commercial Driver’s License. Adding an A or B license opens up new possibilities for people hauling and driving a wider range of vehicles like dump trucks. More skills mean more paying opportunities.
More Experience Means More Pay
Experience counts, and truck drivers earn about $59,456 a year with less than a year’s experience, while drivers with more than 10 years earn $71,499, according to Indeed.com. Some drivers can make salaries into the six-figure range driving for specific companies.
Trucking Certifications and Endorsements Create Earning Opportunities
The biggest way to up your pay is with endorsements and/or certifications. The following endorsements all require exams, and some require driving tests. Check with your state licensing authority for the specifics where you live.
T: Double and Triple Trailers – Most trucking is one tractor and one trailer. But with this certification, you can haul even more. The more you can haul, the more money you can earn.
N: Tank Endorsement – Tank certification allows you to haul liquids ranging from chemical ingredients to milk. Milk does a body, and a trucker’s paycheck, good,
P: Passengers – This endorsement lets you haul people in vehicles like buses and tram trailers.
S: School Bus – Similar to the P endorsement, this lets you carry children, noise and giggles.
H: Hazmat – This endorsement allows you to haul cargo that is potentially dangerous and must be handled with care.
X: Tank Vehicle with Hazmat – This certification allows you to haul dangerous liquids from liquified natural gas to caustic commercial chemicals that can cause physical harm or death. The greater the risk, the greater the reward, and this endorsement brings one of the biggest paychecks in trucking.
Cities and States that Pay Truckers More
States and cities can determine how much money a truckdriver makes. Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn.; and Houston are some of the top paying cities, according to Indeed.com
The best states to drive in are Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The worst paying states include Maine and Alabama.
Work for a Top Paying Company
Another way to make more money is to endeavor to get on with top paying companies. Salaries can vary wildly. Drivers for XPO Logistics make $142,000 a year, according to Indeed.com. Estes Express Lanes and UPS are other top-paying employers. Many companies also provide benefits like health insurance.
Be the Boss: Owner Operators
In general, owner/operators make more money but also have greater overhead by paying for their own rig and the associated costs. Whether or not this will allow you to make more money depends on your specific situation.
Owner operators can make up to $1.25 a mile vs. 65 cents per mile for regular drivers, or $156,000 per year versus $81,000, based on a 500-mile-a-day run, according to TruckersTraining.com.
Truck driving can be a great way to make a living, and offers many opportunities to increase earning power and working conditions with experience and continuing education. Those new to the craft have a lot of tricks and secrets to learn, but we’ll give you a good one to start you off. When you park your truck, find a safe place to leave it with good security, easy turnaround, and great food and clean lodging nearby. The best place we know that fits all these criteria is Vantage Truck Parking. Stop in and see us sometime soon.
