Table of Contents
The CDL truck driving profession has long since gone from invisible to key to ensuring the reliable delivery of goods around the world. In the era of constant supply chain disruptions, CDL A jobs have become not only conspicuous but also a critical component of our economy, especially in North America.
But if you’re wondering, “How much does a truck driver make?’ Our dive into the topic today will help you understand the socio economic importance of this profession and how various factors can affect a CDL A truck driver’s salary. Detailed in numbers, the leading transportation company HMD Trucking talks about the earnings of trucking drivers on its website.
Factors Affecting CDL A Truck Driver Salary
CDL A truck driver salary is not standard across the United States. It depends on a variety of internal and external factors. Let’s take a look at the main ones:
- Location: Where you are can make a big difference. Western and southern United States companies often offer lower wages than others in different parts of the country. Regardless of the state they are based in or work in, there is a minimal difference in wages for long-term route (OTR) drivers.
- Routes: Your wages are affected by the type of route you work on. Long-term, regional, and local route drivers often see varying levels of pay. The long hours spent away from home for long-term route drivers can lead to higher pay. Local drivers make less money than regional ones since they have fewer opportunities to return home per week.
- Type of trailer: Pay is also influenced by the type of trailer used. For example, dry truck drivers earn less than refrigerated truck drivers who, in turn, earn less than flatbed trailer drivers.
- Experience: A well-trained driver makes all the difference in terms of performance and safety. Less experienced drivers typically take home lower paychecks than those with years of experience. Insurance costs more for companies that work with inexperienced drivers, which is partly because of this.
- Company Size: The larger the company you work for, generally, greater your salary. As a worker at a small company, your salary could be higher than those at larger companies. Companies with less complexity often improve faster to match the market, resulting in higher salaries for drivers. In addition to stability in workload and seasoned management staff, large carriers may have other advantages too.
CDL A Truck Driver Salary: What to Expect
Knowing the major factors affecting CDL A truck driver salaries, you may be wondering, “What is the median income for this profession?” HMD Trucking has researched this question and according to Indeed’s estimates (keep in mind these are just estimates and can change from week to week or month to month), the median income for a truck driver in the U.S. is as follows (including the 11-hour driving limit):
- $28.05 per hour.
- $320 per day.
- $1,544 per week.
- $5,780 per month.
- $84,377 per year.
Your salary may include extra benefits and bonuses influenced by both internal policies and external factors.
Wage per Mile (CPM)
Truck drivers consider payment per mile traveled to be a fair compensation for their work. But cents per mile (CPM) can differ based on the facets indicated previously.
Statista estimates the median CPM for truck drivers in 2020 to be $0.57 per mile.
Where truck drivers earn the most in the U.S. (by state)
We’ve already talked about how some areas of the country are more lucrative for truck drivers than others. Let’s take a look at their ranking by state, based on CPM and annual income.
Best States for Truck Drivers
Seek Capital, a financial firm that has assisted over 500 companies in starting or expanding their businesses, has given the following data and charts concentrated on the trucking industry. Remember that the demand for qualified truck drivers has never been so high and their earnings better due to the pandemic, even though this data is from 2019.
According to the data, earning $50,000 per year in Nevada is 20% higher than the average salary outside of trucking in that state, but that same salary is 25% lower than the average per capita salary in Connecticut.
Truck Driver Salary by Route Type
A truck driver’s salary depends on the type of routes he or she works on and how much the company pays for those routes. Route classifications are usually categorized into groups: Local, which typically involves driving within one region of the United States, and Regional, which covers primarily one area, such as the Midwest or Northeast corridor.
Payment for OTR (Over-the-Road) Routes
Drivers who specialize in interstate transportation focus on long-distance freight, primarily between states and sometimes across borders. According to recent estimates and extrapolations, the average annual salary for an OTR truck driver in the United States is around $70,000.
Payment for Regional Routes
Truckers who run freight along regional routes earn slightly less than OTR drivers. According to ZipRecruiter, the average regional truck driver salary is $89,250 per year or $1,716 per week. Regional truck drivers make between $0.60 and $0.70 per mile.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the compensation and benefits that CDL A drivers can expect is crucial for those considering a career in the trucking industry. The world of trucking offers a wide range of opportunities, and HMD Trucking’s experience bears this out. The potential to earn a good income is certainly one of the attractions.
As we have already established in this article, truck driver salary is affected by factors such as experience, route type, and credentials. It is very important to clearly understand how these factors can affect your income and what you can expect depending on the route you choose.