Do you hear the call of the open road? For many people, becoming a truck driver provides a chance to enjoy a life they’ve always dreamed of by traveling across the country, setting their own schedules, and making good money — all without needing to spend years and thousands of dollars on a college degree.
What do truck drivers do?
Truck drivers are certified operators of large commercial vehicles built for heavy loads, such as commercial trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and tractor-trailers. They transport freight across long distances, including state lines, and even into Canada and Mexico.
Truckers have several responsibilities:
- Operate vehicles
- Deliver freight
- Perform pre and post-trip maintenance checks
- Prepare reports on cargo loads
- Log hours
- Follow all safety and traffic regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires long-haul truck drivers to work no more than 14 hours straight. They are also limited to driving no more than 60 hours per week.
Truck drivers play an important role in the American economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than two million truck drivers in the U.S.
The White House reports that 72% of American goods are shipped by truck, and according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, truck drivers contributed $204.2 billion to U.S. GDP in 2021 alone.
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How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect truck drivers?
The trucking industry had a rough ride during and after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were considered essential workers at the time, when demand — and shipping rates — surged.
Coming off the heels of a years-long driver’s shortage, the trucking industry added 35,000 new jobs in 2021, but over half of these positions were self-employed “owner-operators,” who owned their own rigs and needed to build customer bases and consistently secure loads to haul in order to be profitable.
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As the pandemic eased, consumer demand fell, and so did shipping rates. Inflation surged, operating costs increased, and fuel prices topped $5 per gallon. It was simply too much for many small trucking businesses to handle, and as a result, according to DAT Analytics, 15,000 transportation companies shut down between 2022 and 2023.
However, the long-term outlook for the trucking industry is solid. The BLS projects the heavy-duty and tractor trailer industries, in particular, will expand by 4% over the next decade: That amounts to 241,000 new jobs needed each year to fill the seats of workers who have left the industry or exited the labor force entirely through retirement.
How much do truck drivers make?
Truck drivers are usually paid by miles driven. They are also eligible for bonuses. In addition, owner-operators often receive revenue shares.
The BLS reports that in 2023, the median salary for heavy-duty and tractor-trailer truckers was $54,320 per year or $26.12 per hour. That meant that half of all truck drivers made more than $54,320 while half made less. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,440, while the highest 10% earned more than $76,780.
Consider that the median salary for workers with only a high school diploma in general was $44,356, and truck drivers came out 22% ahead.
Compared to other transportation careers, commercial truck drivers earned 35% more than delivery truck drivers, whose median salary was just $39,950, and 12% more than bus drivers, who had a median salary of $48,230.
Indeed, which compiles its employment statistics based on salary surveys, reported that the average entry-level truck driver salary is $46,672 per year, while top truckers earn as much as $95,000 per year.
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Which truck drivers make the most money?
According to Indeed, the highest-earning truck driving careers are in specialized niches:
- Long-haul truck drivers: $78,302
- Specialty vehicle haulers, who transport race cars and luxury rides: $79,290
- Hazmat tankers: $85,690
- Owner-operators: $210,396
How do I become a truck driver?
Truck drivers are required to attend 40 hours of truck driving school and obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which typically takes between three weeks and two months — longer if they wish to be certified to transport hazardous materials.
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Truck driving schools provide students with hands-on experience driving a truck, covering road basics and skills like proper shifting techniques, backing up, turning, and parking.
The CDL test consists of a written exam and a driving test.
What are the 3 CDL Classes & Licenses?
- Class A CDL: This consists of any combination of vehicles (such as a tractor attached to a trailer) that has a gross combination weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds and a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds. These include semi, big-rig, and 18-wheel tractor-trailers, tankers, flatbeds, and livestock carriers. CDL Class A drivers are also permitted to operate Class B and Class C vehicles with the proper endorsements.
- Class B CDL: This license permits drivers to operate a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds, such as straight trucks, delivery trucks, furniture trucks, large buses like city buses, and dump trucks.
- Class C CDL: This is needed to operate vehicles designed for 16 or more people (including the driver) or to transport materials that are considered hazardous under federal law.
Students usually must cover the cost of their CDL training through loans or by paying out of pocket. The cost of CDL training ranges between $1,500 to $8,000, with $5,000 being the average.
Some companies even reimburse students for their tuition. The United States Truck Driving School, for instance, reimburses up to 100% of tuition expenses in return for contracting to drive for the company for a specified period of time after obtaining one's CDL.
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What benefits do truck drivers get?
There are many perks to a life on the road. First and foremost is the freedom of working outside an office as well as the opportunity to travel. Long-haul truckers enjoy a variety of North America’s stunning scenery on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis.
Many truck drivers don’t drive alone, either. In a survey of 500 owner-operators conducted by the freight marketplace Truckstop, 50% of respondents said they traveled with their pets. Having a furry friend in the hot shot brought them emotional support and helped to reduce loneliness.
Currently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) has no official ruling on pets in trucks, so it’s up to each carrier to determine whether or not pets are permitted. Most companies only allow dogs and limit ride-along animals to one per driver. Some have breed and weight restrictions (usually under 50 pounds) and may also require drivers to pay a deposit to cover the cost of cleaning the cab.
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Depending on the type of vehicle they operate and the distance traveled, many truckers are also eligible for IRS tax benefits. The IRS offers a per diem rate of $69 per day for truckers who operate a heavy vehicle and travel more than 50 miles from home. In addition, the IRS mandates that these truckers must receive their pay in a cents-per-mile structure.
After the pandemic, Congress attempted to provide refundable tax credits to CDL-A license truckers. The bipartisan Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act proposed providing a $7,500 tax credit to CDL-A license truckers who drove 1,900 hours per year. It also gave new truck drivers a $10,000 refundable tax credit.
The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee but did not receive a vote. It was reintroduced in March 2023, but there haven’t been any updates since.
Truck drivers are also eligible for early retirement benefits. They can begin receiving Social Security at age 62, although depending on the trucker’s income, doing so could also reduce their overall benefits.
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What are some drawbacks of being a truck driver?
Truck driving is a physically demanding career. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays, but the biggest downside to a career in trucking may be the time spent apart from your family, often in another state, away from home for days or even weeks at a time.
Truckers must also operate their vehicles through hazardous weather conditions like snow, rain, sleet, and black ice.
The BLS says that because of the potential for traffic accidents, truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries out of all the job occupations and also experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities.
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