Typically, truck drivers are paid for the amount of miles they have driven. The more experience a driver has, the more money he/she will make per mile driven (up to a certain point). Drivers can also make additional money for hauling hazardous loads, as well as performing various tasks such as loading or unloading cargo.
Truck Driver Pay
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the annual average pay of a heavy tractor-trailer truck driver in 2023 was $55,990, with the top 10 percent making $76,780 or more.
Some Top Paying Companies
Ultimately a driver must make good decisions in regards to the company they choose to work for, type of route they drive, and whether or not they want to work as part of a driving team.
How Much Time Can Truck Drivers Work?
Drivers may not work more than 14 straight hours. Of the 14 hours only 11 hours can be spent driving. The remaining three hours are spent doing other work, such as performing pre-trip inspections, cargo securement, unloading, etc.
Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty. Also, drivers are limited to driving no more than 60 hours within 7 days or 70 hours within 8 days. They must take 34 hours off before starting another 7 or 8 day run.
All of this activity must be accurately documented in the driver's logbook. Being able to effectively maximize this limited amount of time is crucial to a drive's revenue stream.
Common Truck Driver Job Benefits
Truck drivers can enjoy a wide range of benefits including:
- Health
- Life
- Dental
- Vision
- 401k retirement
- Sign-on Bonus
These benefits offerings vary from company to company. So be sure to inquire about their benefit packages before making a commitment. Some plans are better than others. Browse the different companies on CDL Job Now.
Reference