How Much Can You Really Earn As A Truck Driver?

Truck Drivers Salary

Truck drivers transport furniture, food, packages, clothing, lumber, and other freight to companies, individuals, and businesses. They should follow all applicable traffic laws and keep a log of any traffic problems they encounter and their activities. They may need to follow routes set by their employer or their own plan routes. Their salaries depend on the type of vehicles they drive and on their job titles.

Qualifications

Truck drivers generally have a high school diploma, although heavy truckers also have 2 years of relevant work experience. They need a valid driver’s license from their state. Drivers/sales workers and light-truck drivers receive training on the job both on the road with a driver-coach who rides with a new recruit and the classroom. Heavy-truck drivers also require a commercial driver’s license, which needs passing a driving and knowledge test. They also may get endorsements for transporting hazardous materials and driving specialized trucks.

Heavy-Truck Drivers

Heavy-truck drivers handle vehicles with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds per GVW (gross vehicle weight). They drive across the country or between cities and might be away from home for several days at a time. According to the BLS, they earned a mean of $39,830 per year or $19.15 per hour, as of May 2011. The lowest-paid ten percent made less than $24,880 per year or $11.96 per hour, while the top-earning ten percent received $58,440 per year or $28.10 per hour.

Their biggest employer was truck transportation, with more than a third of the 895,670 positions. They paid $22.79 per hour or $47,400 per annum. However, their highest-paying industries were Motion Picture and Video Industries, with mean wages of $34.88 per hour or $72,550 per annum.

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Delivery Truck Drivers

Delivery truck drivers, also called light-truck drivers, operate vehicles with less than 26,000 pounds per GVW (gross vehicle weight). In a single working day, they typically drive to multiple destinations in a local area or a city, transporting freight from a distribution center to homes and businesses.

In 2019, their salaries rose to beyond $31.06 per hour, or $64,600 per year, and fell below $14.70 per hour, or $30,570 per year. Median wages ran $18.52 per hour or $38,520 per annum. More than 27.17 percent of the 923,050 jobs were in courier and express delivery services. They also provided the top average pay at $26.01 per hour or $54,110 per year.

How Much Do Truck Drivers Make

Drivers/sales workers operate light trucks on established routes to deliver freight, sell new products to existing customers, and solicit new clients. They also accept payment for goods. In 2011, they earned a mean of $13.22 per hour or $27,490 per year. However, the lowest-paid 10 percent made under $8.01 per hour, or $16,650 per year, while the best-paid 10 percent received over $21.98 per hour or $45,720 per year.

Their biggest employers were limited-service eating places, which provided 30 percent of the jobs and paid a mean $9.52 per hour, or $19,800 per year. The best pay was in petroleum and coal products manufacturing, averaging $20.60 per hour, or $42,850 per year.

Careers in Europe: An entry-level Heavy Truck Driver with less than one year experience can expect to make an average total remuneration (includes bonus, tips, and overtime pay) of £25,090. An early career Heavy Truck Driver with 1-5 years of experience makes an average total compensation of £27,360. A mid-career Heavy Truck Driver with 5-10 years of experience makes an average total compensation of £26,839. An experienced Heavy Truck Driver with 10-20 years of experience earns an average total compensation of £28,674. In their late-career (20 plus years ), employees make an average total compensation of £27,719.

Careers in Asia: An early career Heavy / Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver with 1-5 years of experience makes an average total compensation (includes bonus, tips, and overtime pay) of S$2,200 (Singapore). A mid-career Heavy / Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver with 5-10 years of experience makes an average total compensation of S$19,400.

Occupational Outlook

The BLS predicts that the U.S. economy will add jobs at an average rate of fourteen percent from 2010 to 2020. By contrast, heavy truck drivers are projected to experience a twenty-one percent job growth rate and excellent employment prospects.

Delivery truck driving jobs are expected to grow at a rate of fifteen percent, while the combined driver and sales positions are estimated to increase by only ten percent. Because they do not involve prolonged periods away from home, candidates looking for light trucks and sales-driving jobs are expected to face fierce competition.

2020 Salary Information for Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers

According to the U.S. BLS, delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers earned a median annual salary of  $34,730  in May 2019. On the low end, delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers earned a 10th percentile salary of $21,580, meaning 90 percent earned more than this amount. The 90th percentile salary is $65,400, meaning 10 percent earn more. In 2019, 1,449,100 people were employed in the U.S. as delivery truck drivers (1) and driver/sales workers.