Truck Drivers

Wages of truck drivers vary according to their employer, size of the truck they drive, product being hauled, geographical region, and other factors. Drivers who are employed by for-hire carriers have higher earnings than those who work independently or for private carriers.

Pay rates for over-the-road truck drivers are often figured using a cents-per-mile rate. Most companies pay between 30 and 50 cents per mile, but large companies usually pay higher rates to attract good drivers. For example, in April 2020, the average salary for drivers employed by J.B. Hunt was $65,512, as reported by TruckDriversSalary.com.

Tractor-trailer drivers usually have the highest earnings; average hourly pay generally increases with the size of the truck. Drivers in many southern and mid-Atlantic states have lower earnings than those in the Northeast and West. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that median hourly earnings of heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers were $21.76 ($45,260 annually) in May 2019. Wages ranged from less than $14.01 to more than $32.13 an hour (or from $29,130 to $66,840 a year for full-time work). Median hourly earnings of light or delivery services truck drivers were $16.70 ($34,730 annually), and wages ranged from less than $10.13 to more than $31.44 an hour (or $21,060 to $65,400 a year). Median hourly earnings of driver/sales workers, including commission, were $12.43 ($25,860 annually), and wages ranged from less than $8.68 to more than $23.54 an hour (or $18,060 to $48,970 a year).

In addition to their wages, the majority of truck drivers receive benefits, many of which are determined by agreements between their unions and company management. The benefits may include health insurance coverage, pension plans, paid vacation days, and work uniforms.