Trucking is a great career if you want to get paid well and enjoy the open road. It’s also a good option for people who want to work independently and don’t mind being away from home for long periods of time. Truckers are always needed to haul goods across the country, so there’s never a shortage of work out there—provided you can pass all that training!
CDL drivers are in high demand
As the economy improves, so does the need for qualified truck drivers. The demand for CDL drivers is expected to grow by 13% over the next decade, according to a 2014 report from the American Trucking Association (ATA). There are not enough truckers to meet this growing demand, however. According to ATA President and CEO Bill Graves, “The industry will be short an estimated 485,000 drivers by 2022 unless changes are made in how we educate and train new drivers.”
CDL drivers make a lot of money.
CDL drivers are the backbone of the economy. They transport goods, services, and people all over the country. As a result, they make tons of money: on average, CDL drivers make $50,000 per year. But it’s not just that they make a lot of money; they also tend to get paid more than other occupations with similar experience. The median salary for a truck driver is around $50k per year; that’s significantly higher than most jobs—including some white-collar jobs like a data scientist ($75k) or paralegal ($37k).
The reason why there’s such high demand for CDL drivers is simple: there are lots of opportunities for them! Every time you go online shopping or buy something from Amazon Prime (which has free shipping), someone needs to deliver it somewhere else in order to get it into your hands as fast as possible—and those people will be driving trucks across America doing just that every day!
The pay for CDL drivers can vary a lot.
Your pay for CDL drivers can vary a lot.
- The type of trucking company you work for will affect your pay. Some companies are small, with only one truck that drives a short distance every day. Others are big and have many trucks driving far distances each day. The size of the company will determine how much they can pay you since they’ll need to make money off their employees’ labor in order to stay afloat.
- The type of cargo you haul will also affect your pay as a CDL driver. Whether it’s refrigerated food on its way from the farm or consumer goods on their way back to a store, every load has its own set rate that the company charges customers for shipping (or “truckload” rates). Generally speaking, the more valuable the cargo is (and therefore the higher quality), the more money you’ll make as an employee at that particular company; but there are other factors involved in calculating freight pricing and your wages won’t necessarily align perfectly with this rule all of the time either!
- Your experience as an employee can also affect how much money you’ll earn through driving jobs: if someone doesn’t know what they’re doing yet then maybe not so much; but if someone has been doing this job long enough then probably pretty well because now they know everything there is about it so who knows? Maybe even better than everyone else too! It depends on things like experience level though which varies across individuals based upon how many years’ worth of experience each individual may have had thus far throughout their careers.
Factors that affect how much CDL drivers earn
Depending on many factors, the amount of money you make as a CDL driver can vary. For example, the location where you drive is one of the most important factors that will affect how much you earn. If you live in New York City, there is a higher demand for trucks to transport goods throughout the city and its surrounding areas than if you lived in rural Montana.
The type of trucking company that employs you also affect how much money you can make as a CDL driver. Large trucking companies pay their employees more than small ones because they have more opportunities for drivers to get paid by driving different loads and working longer hours; however, these large companies usually require that their drivers work full-time schedules (rather than part-time). On the other hand, small trucking companies may not require as much time from their employees but do tend to offer lower wages due to having fewer resources available for them at any given time.
Finally, cargo type should also be considered as it affects how much money one may earn while working as a professional long-haul driver – such as transporting livestock or other perishable items – versus transporting nonperishable items like cars or even cargo containers containing consumer goods like electronics or furniture pieces manufactured overseas before being shipped into America’s borders for sale here locally among consumers within our own country’s borders.”
With the right amount of experience, you can really make a lot of money as a CDL driver
Experience is the most important factor in determining how much you will earn as a CDL driver. The more you do, the more money you can make. This is because experience is gained by doing the job and learning from others who have done it before you.
Depending on the type of trucking company, drivers can make anywhere from $30,000 a year to well over $60,000.
- The average pay for a CDL driver: $50,000 per year
- The average pay for a company truck driver: $60,000 per year
- The average pay for an owner/operator: $80,000 per year
Drivers who haul high-value cargo and those with the skills to handle specialized equipment or cargo can command higher wages than others.
Drivers who haul high-value cargo and those with the skills to handle specialized equipment or cargo can command higher wages than others. For example, you could earn $40,000 annually working as a bus driver for an amusement park.
If you’re interested in working for a freight hauling company that specializes in moving highly valuable products, like artwork or gold bullion, then you’ll likely make much more than other drivers.
Owner/operators earn significantly more than company-employed drivers because they also receive income from leasing their trucks to freight companies or from owning their own firms.
The owner/operator model has been growing in popularity as more drivers decide to take a chance on trucking for themselves. The owner/operator model includes the driver, who owns his or her own truck and drives it for freight companies, but also includes those who lease their trucks out to other companies.
Owners and operators are able to earn significantly more money than company-employed drivers because they also receive income from leasing their trucks to freight companies or from owning their own firms. If you’re considering becoming an owner operator, keep in mind that there are extra expenses involved with owning your own truck including maintenance costs, fuel consumption fees and insurance rates. Additionally, as with any business venture, there is risk involved (e.g., accidents).
Truckers who work for companies that move certain types of goods can earn substantially more than the average trucker.
Companies that move high-value cargo, specialized equipment, and cargo, or certain types of goods can pay truckers far more than the average trucker.
For example:
- Companies that transport hazardous materials can often offer very good pay to their drivers. These companies are required by law to pay their drivers enough money so that they don’t have an incentive to steal or tamper with the shipments they’re transporting.
- Specialized trucks may include refrigeration units or flatbeds. Drivers who operate these specialized trucks usually earn more than those who drive straight trucks or tankers.
Trucking jobs pay around the national average per year
If you want to be a truck driver, you’ll likely earn between $40,000 and $60,000 per year.
Truck drivers in the US make an average of $52,000 per year.
In the UK, truck drivers earn an average of £30,000 annually.
In Australia and New Zealand, the salary range for drivers is between AU$50k-$70k (New Zealand) or AU$80k-$90k (Australia). Finally Canada offers trucking jobs that pay around C$60k on average each year.
How much does a Truck Driver make in the United States?
Top companies for Truck Drivers in the United States
Truck drivers are an essential part of the U.S. economy, responsible for transporting goods across the country quickly and safely. As such, truck drivers can make a good living if they find the right company to work with. To help truckers find lucrative employment opportunities, here are some of the top companies for truck drivers in the United States.
Swift Transportation is one of America’s largest transportation companies and offers CDL jobs with competitive pay and benefits packages. Drivers can choose to take long-haul trips or shorter regional runs and can make up to $75,000 annually depending on their experience level and routes traveled. Other perks include generous bonuses, paid vacations, flexible scheduling options, and access to modern equipment for safety purposes.
UPS Freight is another great option for experienced truckers who want a reliable job in freight delivery services with steady hours. UPS Freight drivers can earn up to $75,000 per year, including a $5,000 sign-on bonus and generous benefits packages. Drivers will enjoy flexible schedules, access to modern equipment like tractors equipped with backup cameras, and a team of professionals who help them grow their careers.
For more information about driving opportunities with UPS Freight, visit or call 1-877-873-6379.
Truck driving school costs and CDL fees
Truck driving school costs and CDL fees are often one of the first considerations when it comes to embarking on a career as a professional commercial truck driver. A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required in order to operate large trucks and buses, and acquiring this license comes with its own set of associated costs. Understanding these costs is essential for anyone who wants to know how much CDL drivers make per year.
The cost of attending a truck driving school varies depending on the institution chosen and can range from $3,000-$10,000 or more. Additionally, there will be expenses related to taking the necessary tests in order to get your CDL. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), there are two tests that a prospective CDL operator must pass: the knowledge exam and the skills exam, which costs approximately $50 to $150 per test.
