The Complete Guide To A Career In Trucking
Choosing A Truck Company: Evaluating Pay & Benefits
Always keep in mind that the best way to evaluate what company to go with isn't necessarily by which one pays the most at first glance, but which will be the best overall fit and give you the best chance for success.
That said, there are a lot of different ways to evaluate driver pay, from sign-on bonuses to per diem pay to home time, etc. Some companies have also started to give guaranteed weekly or weekend pay as added incentive to lure drivers.
Please also read our epic 8-part series: Choosing A Truck Driving Job
How do truck drivers typically get paid?
Most over-the-road & regional drivers will be paid cents-per-mile (CPM) driven.
Local routes will typically pay per hour, dedicated routes will also pay for driver unload, etc. Some companies even pay a percentage of what they are getting for the load.
Wiki - Truck Driver Pay & Salary, Extra Pay Types
Most over-the-road (OTR)/long-haul truck drivers will get paid cents-per-mile. (CPM). Typically, this is how most over-the-road (OTL) drivers get paid, and CPM pay falls into several categories.
Article - Why Drivers Are Paid By The Mile
From a company’s standpoint, it’s all about eliminating surplus labor, and thus “overhead” costs in labor. For most companies the driver is the extension of the machine - the truck. The driver doesn’t move without the truck, and the truck doesn’t move without the driver.
How much do new truck drivers make?
First-year drivers will generally make in the $35,000 range for the first year while they learn the ropes and try to avoid mistakes.
Average salary in the industry is around $42,000, and many drivers report $55-$60,000 per year, which is probably near the top for OTR dry van operators.
Forum - Truck Driving Salary: My First Year Breakdown
I just finished my first year and this entire year I have been writing down the details of every single paycheck. You can notice many patterns. Take a look!!! During training, I made 350-450$. I did not write this down but I did include it in my first years total income.
Forum - Average starting pay, years one through three?
General consensus tends to be around $30,000 first year, maybe around $40,000-$50,000 beyond that. It really does depend on who you work for and how much you work. At my first company I was able to make ~$1100 every week, but that was always running up against my legal hours and never going home.
What company pays new drivers the best salary?
Many companies will have certain age & experience requirements, but there are many more who will hire drivers with freshly laminated CDL's.
A breakdown of various trucking companies with their hiring requirements, benefits, pay, & perks.
Forum - Which types of/Companies pay the best for new drivers?
That first year of being a solo driver is of vital importance to the future of your career. I do not recommend that you seek the highest paying company during that year, but that you actively find a place that you think will meet your needs
What other kinds of pay options are available for new truck drivers?
Wiki - Truck Driver Pay & Salary, Extra Pay Types
Aside from their regular salary, there are many other extras, perks, or compensation, that drivers can earn on top of their salary, which vary by company. All trucking companies and types of driving jobs will be different.
Wiki - Per Diem Pay For Truck Drivers
"Per Diem", as it relates to how trucking companies pay their drivers, is a portion of their salary paid to the driver un-taxed, technically as a meal and expense reimbursement.
What kinds of benefits or perks should I look for in a company?
Again, it comes down to what the best fit is for each individual driver. Salary, home time, bonuses, & extra pay will vary from company to company.
A breakdown of various trucking companies with their hiring requirements, benefits, pay, & perks.
Forum - Favorite trucking companies
Every company has their strengths and weaknesses. Every driver has their priorities. It's up to the driver to find that company that fits their needs. Example: Prime's strength is their starting pay. But their downside is the lack of hometime. Meanwhile, Roehl's strength is their Hometime, but they don't pay as well as Prime.
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