Truck drivers are an important and demanding profession that is sure to pay well. Long distances, increased concentration, complex loads and more are the challenges drivers face in their work.
According to 2022 data from the American Trucking Association, trucks moved more than 72% of all freight domestically. At the same time, gross revenue totaled $940.8 billion.
Of course, drivers want a decent reward for their hard work. So, let’s find out how much truck drivers get paid and what the salary in this industry depends on in 2024.
How Much Money Do Truckers Make? What Affects the Amount of Labor Remuneration?
Truck driving income in the USA depends on many factors. A willingness to travel to remote locations or work with a certain amount of risk are just some ways in which you can earn above-average wages. However, the minimum wage in the trucking industry can vary by as much as 35%.
Factors That Make up a Truck Driver’s Salary
- Staff
Often, companies in the West and South of the U.S. offer lower earnings for drivers than in other parts of the country. But OTR truck drivers’ salary (long haul trucking) is usually independent of the state where they work.
- Type of trailer and type of cargo
A tanker truck driver will always earn more than a dry van driver. This is because transporting hazardous and toxic materials must be done with more care and vigilance.
- Route
Average OTR salary is always higher than the average local truck driver salary OTR (Over-the-Road) drivers usually spend several weeks on the road and are therefore able to earn higher remuneration.
- Driving experience
Truckers with little experience always earn less than those with years of experience. This is sometimes due to the insurance that companies take out when hiring novice drivers.
- Operating Model
The operating model greatly affects the level of pay. An Owner-Operator earns four times as much as a Team Truck Driver and eleven times as much as a Private Fleet Driver.
- CDL vs. Non-CDL income
Average CDL truck driver wages per hour, depending on employment level, range from $17.07 to $48.80, while most Non-CDL wages currently range from $10.34 to $25.72 across all states.
- Method of payment
Truck drivers who are paid per mile by companies can earn more the further they drive.
The potential income depends a lot on the employer as well. Working for a small company can bring more truck drivers earnings than a similar position in a large company. However, only large companies provide stability of earnings.
Also, the amount of pay can be influenced by additional training or switching to teamwork. For drivers working in pairs, pay depends on the rate of the most experienced member of the team.
External Factors That Determine How Much Money Truckers Make
In addition to the variables that directly determine each driver’s remuneration, there are external factors that indirectly affect earnings. More often than not, all of these factors cause time loss and delivery schedule slippage in one way or another and, therefore, risk lower earnings.
These can include:
- Border crossing
Waiting at border crossings or customs can only increase truck drivers’ earnings if you are paid by the hour. In all other cases, such forced downtime reduces a driver’s earnings.
- Traffic
Truck drivers often have fourteen hours of free traffic to travel interstate. However, in California and New York, they usually idle in traffic longer than the estimated delivery time.
- Weighing the shipment
Working with small carriers involves drivers taking full control of the load. This means they need to check the load twice: before they leave on a trip and when they arrive at their destination.
- Security checks
Before setting off on a journey, the driver must carry out security checks to ensure that the load is in perfect condition. This is especially important for hazardous materials trucks and tanker trucks.
- DOT Inspections
DOT agents will sometimes inspect a load before departure and upon arrival to make sure it matches the information on the manifest.
- Unloading and loading
Waiting to load or unload a vehicle also results in lost traffic.
- Repairs
Sometimes, a driver may need to stop for repairs. Such forced downtime can affect truck driver earnings.
There is a high probability of other unforeseen circumstances occurring on a journey, such as bad weather conditions or a deterioration in health. Such factors can also play a significant role in any driver’s final salary.
How Much Money Truck Drivers Make per Year
According to Indeed, as of 23 July 2024, the average earnings of truck drivers in the USA make $104,068 per year (minimum – $47,647, maximum – $227,299).
If you’re wondering how much money truck drivers make a week, Indeed’s statistics give the following data:
- national average: $1,904
- minimum trucker pay: $872
- maximum: $4,159
However, minimum wages can vary greatly from state to state.
The data on trucking salaries is presented in an introductory manner, as it was collected only from Indeed users.
In 2024, the best states for truck drivers by average annual salary, according to Zippia, are:
- Kentucky – $68,557
- Pennsylvania – $68,232
- Indiana – $67,338
- Delaware – $70,901
- Mississippi – $66,365
- Ohio – $65,665
- Oklahoma – $67,261
- Rhode Island – $70,834
- Wisconsin – $66,857
- Arkansas – $65,794
Let’s understand how trucking salaries vary depending on the type of trailer and the type of cargo being transported.
| Trailer type | Average annual salary |
| Truck driver for transporting dangerous goods | $37,216 |
| Driver with long-combination vehicles | $43,925 |
| Tank Driver | $49,063 |
| Flatbed truck driver | $64,017 |
| Dry van driver | $31,466 |
| Reefer driver | $78,621 |
| Truck driver for transporting oversized cargo | $73,147 |
The average income of truck driver per year, depending on the type of route:
| Freight route type | Annual salary of a truck driver |
| OTR Driver | $81,820 |
| Regional Truck Driver | $75,877 |
| Local truck driver | $63,02 |
| International driver | $38,995 |
Depending on the CDL class, driver pay per year also varies. For example, the average annual average class A driver salary is $78,621.
Operating models also have a huge impact on driver pay per year:
- Owner-Operator: $228,575
- Lease Operator: $63,066
- Team Truck Driver: $90,312
- Solo Truck Driver: $81,249
- Private Fleet Driver: $29,992
It can be concluded that the highest paid truck drivers are Owner-Operator. Some of these drivers earn, on average, more than $300,000 per year.
How Much Money Truck Drivers Make per Mile
Truck drivers are not usually paid an hourly wage like other professions, although this is also used for local work. Truck drivers are paid on a cent per mile (CPM) basis. Most drivers drive approximately 2,000 to 3,000 miles per week.
This practice is common throughout the trucking industry because pay per mile makes it easy to calculate wages.
How much truck drivers get paid per mile depends not only on the type of trailer and type of load, but also on the operating model of the driver.
Trucking pay rates per mile of driving range from $0.48 to $0.95. According to Indeed, the average CDL driver pay in the USA comes to approximately $104,068 per year. This equates to a rate of $0.66 per mile based on an average mileage of about 3,000 miles per week.
How to Make More Money as a Truck Driver
If you’ve been wondering how much money you can make with a Cdl, then you’ll probably be wondering how you can make more money working in the trucking industry.
There are five proven ways to increase your income as a truck driver:
- Add CDL permit endorsements
Having various CDL endorsements can significantly increase your salary. It will also expand your job opportunities and improve your experience. You will be able to choose between loads in favor of those that pay more.
- Gain experience
This applies to all industries, including the trucking industry. Learn, take your time, gain experience, and higher earnings will not be far behind.
- Build a good reputation
You may refuse to work with you if you have an unclean driving record. A bad reputation won’t bring in high earnings.
- Build positive relationships
The more people in your field of work you know, the more opportunities you can get. Building relationships and a good reputation can directly impact your income.
- Plan your routes
Effective route planning allows you to find the most profitable shipments to and from your destinations, so you don’t have to go back ‘empty’ and lose out on earning opportunities. This is especially true for Owner-Operators, whose work is more independent.
You can maximize your bonuses or increase your truckload, drive more miles, or work as a team.
But that’s not all. You can take it a step further and turn a simple job into a steady source of growing income by becoming an independent Owner-Operator.
How Much Money Truck Drivers Make at Hugo Hunter
Hugo Hunter is a logistics company with many years of experience. We provide trucking services throughout the United States. Our business is focused on safety, honesty, and a good reputation.
We offer our contractors reasonable work schedules and a bonus system, and help them develop and improve as professional drivers.
We don’t just want to generate revenue from trucking. Hugo Hunter’s goal is to help you make good money by partnering with us. Our priority is to take care of our drivers. We understand their hard work, so we guarantee high pay rates and growth opportunities.
Join our team of professionals to experience all the benefits of working with Hugo Hunter.
Becoming Your Own Boss as an Independent Contractor!