Wondering what the average income of truck drivers is? A job in trucking might be quite rewarding for those seeking a new career path or financial security. Few careers can provide such a financial lifeline and allow you to achieve financial stability as soon as a truck driver’s salary while requiring no post-secondary education beyond a CDL degree from a truck driving school.
Some companies will even pay you for training and offer sign-up bonuses. How many other professions can you do all this without upfront training costs?
Overview of a Truck Driver
A truck driver earns their income by driving a truck and moving products and commodities over territory. They are usually hired for long hours, and their pay is very low and are not allowed to leave the factory until it’s finished, which often means they work all night. They provide a vital service to an industrialized society.
Although trucking isn’t for everyone, it may be a terrific way to work and live for others. However, to truly enjoy your job, you need to enjoy the “lifestyle” on the road, as trucking is more of a lifestyle than a regular job.
How Much Truck Drivers Make a Week
It is customary for prospective truck drivers to spend their first year as off-road drivers in the trucking sector (OTRs). This allows individuals to obtain vital field experience, leading to new job prospects.
A new OTR driver can earn about $ 58,000 a year from scratch. The average hourly rate for a new truck driver is about $ 28 per hour.
The benefit of tracking is that your pay may steadily rise as you acquire experience behind the wheel. Drivers can quickly achieve an annual salary of $ 65,000 by spending some time behind the wheel, and you can earn more than $ 100,000 in certain positions as a fleet manager or other business leader.
According to a 2018 BLS report (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May), the average driver’s salary is $ 43,680 a year, or about $ 21 an hour.
In 2022 the truck driver is a highly skilled and vital workforce. The average salary for a truck driver in the United States is $80,496 per year updated at April 4, 2022, and this number has been increasing over time as more trucks are being replaced by cars and other vehicles.
Truck drivers have impacted society in many ways, including providing goods and services to people across the country, helping reduce traffic congestion, and saving energy costs for businesses.
Truck drivers’ average salary per kilometer is 28 to 40 cents per mile. Most drivers travel between 2,000 and 3,000 miles a week, which means that the average weekly salary ranges from $ 560 to $ 1,200. If you drove all 52 weeks of the year at these prices, you would earn between $ 29,120 and $ 62,400.
Factors Affecting Truck Driver Salaries
This is because they are affected by several different factors, including:
Mileage
You may normally make more money if you are prepared to travel great distances. Missions with shorter driving distances are often more suitable and often lead to lower salaries.
Drivers having a commercial driver’s license (CDL) make more money than those who do not.
Topographical location
The location of a business or organization has a minor influence on its success, but it is important to consider the surrounding area. The more prosperous and competitive an economy is, the more likely it will attract businesses that can extend their reach into new markets.
In addition, successful companies often have strong roots in certain geographic areas conducive to their operations- whether its research and development facilities located in universities or headquarters close to major metropolitan areas.
Experience
The rate of turnover in the truck industry is enormous. It can be said that the turnover rate in the truck industry is two to three times higher than that of other industries.
Bonuses
Different companies offer various bonuses. You can find them under the “Bonus” tab on the main confirmation page when you make your payment. Some of these bonuses include discounts, cashback, and other benefits that can be added to your payment.
Specialized role
Whether they’re on the open market or in a government contract, Truck drivers are often employed in a specialized role. This means they have specific skills and knowledge that make them advantageous for certain tasks. For example, truck drivers hired as team drivers may be able to drive all around the country while their colleagues drive only within their convoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical pay for a truck driver?
Most drivers drive between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers every week on average, which equates to an average weekly salary of $560 to $1,200. You’d make between $29,120 and $62,400 if you drove for 52 weeks a year at those costs.
What does a truck driver make?
According to the BLS, the pay isn’t bad: truck drivers earn an average annual salary of $ 59,000, $4,000 more than the average salary for all jobs.
Can you get rich driving a truck?
Only approximately 10% of truck drivers earn more than $58,000 per year. You might think the time spent is worth it, but it often doesn’t bring a big paycheck.
Why are truck drivers so well paid?
Unlike other high-paying professions, truck drivers are generally paid a fixed price per mile, not how long they work. You may have already noticed that some companies are paying more due to the high demand for Class A truck drivers due to the constant shortage of truck drivers.
How many hours do truck drivers work?
Depending on applicable working time regulations, a truck driver may be on the road: No more than 11 hours a day driving and no more than 14 hours during a working day. A weekly average of no more than 70 hours is required. They can resume after 34 hours of continuous rest if the weekly limit is attained.
Is the truck driver a good profession?
Driving a truck can also bring you a lot of money. A person with a good driving record can earn upwards of $ 59,000 a year, while a novice driver can earn up to $40,000 a year. As you start to gain experience, your salary will increase, and some truckers earn as much as $85,000 a year.
Conclusion
A profession in road transportation may be quite rewarding. Many people are eagerly waiting for the right time to join a road transportation profession. With ever-changing industry trends and advancements in technology, it is now more important than ever that you get started on your career in this field.
The best way to achieve success as an individual road Transportation professional is by being proactive and keeping up with the latest changes in the industry.
It is soon worthwhile to join the training program now. And as you invest your time, get CDL approval, and more training, you have an open field for growth and opportunities.
I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.
