Monday, July 9, 2018

Truck Driver Pay


Truck drivers of the 18 wheel trucks on our highways are paid a lot more than most in-town box-truck delivery drivers, but UPS and FedEx Driver pay is higher. Data based off of GlassDoor shows that the average UPS driver earns $30 an hour, while the average FedEx truck driver earns $23 an hour. The total compensation for a FedEx driver is $45,900 a year, while UPS pays their drivers significantly more at $74,000 a year on average.

The average salary for a mailman was $51,390 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $46,990 and $55,530 annually, and the lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,470. Some mailmen earn more by working overtime, depending on the season and mail volume.

Large Rig 18 wheel Student truck drivers earn $41,000 a year on average. CDL truck drivers can expect to earn $66,000 a year on average. OTR CDL truck drivers earn the most, with salaries averaging $82,000 a year. Team truck drivers earn an average of $71,000 each per year.

Truck Driving Per Mile Salary. Truck drivers that are paid per mile see varying wages depending on their experience, the region they work in and the company they are employed with. A majority of trucking companies pay between $0.28 and $0.40 cents per mile according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Types of Driving

Solo OTR Driver – Solo truck drivers make up a large percentage of the workforce. Their earnings vary depending on the available bonuses offered by their carrier. That’s why having the option to choose your carrier is such a great benefit! Drivers average $45,000 their first year!

Team OTR Driver – Working in a pair means you can clock longer distances. When there are two truck drivers, the work can be switched off while one driver rests or relaxes. Because both drivers are compensated for the combined mileage, there’s typically more money to be had. Teams can average up to $100,000-$150,000 a year!

Dedicated Driver – A driver who makes runs and deliveries for a single company (such as Walmart or Home Depot) is called a dedicated driver. They have a specified run or route for their dedicated company where they transport only the company’s materials. Dedicated drivers can average $45,000 to $65,000!

Trainer – After you’ve spent a few years on the road, you can apply to positions to train new drivers. You could then earn truck driver trainer pay and can average $60,000-$80,000 a year!  Gaining enough knowledge and experience to train new drivers can really make a difference in pay!

Owner-Operator – If you like the idea of running your own business instead of working for an employer, consider becoming an owner-operator once you have adequate experience working for a carrier. Owner-operators can earn a greater rate-per-mile by cutting out the middleman and signing contracts directly with companies. As an owner-operator, you could eventually have your own fleet of drivers! Owner-operators can earn $100,000 plus a year!


Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader


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