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Do Truck Drivers Make Good Money?

Jul 12, 2023 Share
cargo delivery driver courier sitting in truck

If you’re wondering how much money truck drivers make, and are considering either becoming a truck driver for the first time, or want to find a job with a new company, you’ve come to the right place!

Today we’ll discuss how much money truck drivers can make (hint: they can make very good money) and we’ll show you how to find a new job as a truck driver, whether you’re already licensed or not.

You see, FindYourJobNow.com has connections with employers who are currently hiring truck drivers of all certification levels and are looking to hire immediately. And, as you’ll see, some of these employers are willing to pay quite well, as truck drivers are in big demand.

In fact, truck drivers are in such high demand that the American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates that the industry may need about 160,000 drivers by 2028.[1]

We’ll show you how to get a job as a truck driver in a moment. But before we do, let’s discuss whether or not truck drivers make good money, and we’ll also show you some of the highest paying jobs in trucking.

Ready?

First off, yes. Truck drivers can make very good money. In fact, depending on experience and certifications, some truck drivers can make upwards of $125,000 a year. Of course, pay will vary by company, where you operate, what you operate, the loads you carry and your driving record.

All things considered, the average salary range for truck drivers is between $52,518 and $126,882.[2] Of course, this is just a range, with some drivers making less, and others making more.

For example, a private fleet driver makes an average of $37,100 a year, while owner operators average about $323,870.

But in between these two ends of the spectrum are many different types of truck driving jobs. Some of the highest paying jobs in trucking include specialty vehicle haulers. These drivers transport high-end vehicles like Ferraris or race cars and earn an average of $78,490 a year.

Long-range team drivers make even better money. These truck drivers, as the name implies, work as a team. Two drivers, one truck. The goal of team drivers is to deliver loads long distances as fast as possible, and they can earn an average of $101,079 a year. This job, however, can be quite grueling with teams driving up to 22 hours a day.

More specialized truck drivers like liquid/tanker and hazmat truck drivers can make great money too, but without having to drive as much as team drivers. Tanker drivers earn an average of $90,894, with hazmat drivers earning $70,475.

These are just a small example of what kind of jobs in truck driving are available, and how much on average you could earn in each specialty.

Now, here’s how to get a job as a truck driver if you’re already a CDL holder:

*Note, if you don’t already have your CDL, visit SchoolMatchPro.com and they’ll connect you to a truck driving school so you can get moving asap!

To find your new job as a truck driver, all you have to do is go to FindYourJobNow.com and enter “Truck Driver” in the Job Description search bar, and where you want to be based out of in the Location search bar…

Hit enter, and there you go!

You’ll see all the truck driver jobs available based on your input. You can even get more specific and enter “Hazmat Driver” for example, and that’ll give you the current job opportunities too.

But if the job you want isn’t available yet, you can sign up for free truck driver job alerts. Just click the “Get Free Job Alerts” button and you’ll be emailed truck driver job opportunities that match your preferences, the moment they become available.

Keep on truckin!

[1] Seeking solutions for trucker shortage – Floor Covering News (fcnews.net)

[2] 10 Highest Paying Trucking Salaries of 2023 (cloudtrucks.com)