Top 10 Highest Paid Trucking Jobs
Have you given any thought to switching careers and pursuing a job as a truck driver? Or maybe you are already a truck driver and want to find ways to earn more money? If so, you might be wondering what the highest-paying trucking jobs are, and which trucking companies pay the most money to work for them, too. In this post, we’ll talk about the top 10 most lucrative CDL jobs.
Our list of the highest-paying jobs for truckers is below. The pay rate for a given trucking job can vary, depending on location or trucking company. The list below is just a general guide to what jobs tend to pay more than others.
Tanker Hauler
These drivers are real transportation experts who have to move a lot of different gasses and liquids. These drivers must have a CDL permitting them to do their job, carefully load and unload the material they are transporting.
They must also have it to make frequent safety checks, keep good records, and last but not least, keep all safety rules in mind at all times. According to ZipRecruiter, tanker haulers are one of the highest-paying trucking jobs. Top earners can make over $90,000 a year.
Hazmat Truck Driver
Like transporting unstable liquids, transporting hazardous materials is another way to earn more money as a truck driver. A hazmat truck driver has to make sure that toxic materials are transported safely. Hazmat truck drivers follow very strict rules to protect the public’s health and safety.
Apart from having a CDL, this group of haulers has been approved and trained to dispose of and deliver dangerous materials. They can earn over $80,000 per year, as per Salary.com.
Oversized Load Hauler
These people are licensed and trained to move big things like heavy machinery or anything more than 8.5 feet wide. When a truck is more than 12 feet wide, it may need one or two pilot cars in the front and/or back. People who work as truckers often make a lot of money. That’s because they have to deal with more difficult and strict rules when they transport big loads.
Based on what is being transported and how often you are on the road, oversized load truckers can make up to $175,500, ZipRecruiter says. However, most drivers of oversized loads will make about $55,000 a year.
Ice Road Truck Driver
People who work as ice road truckers make the most money when it comes to trucking jobs. They get paid based on how long they work or how much they make per season. Ice road truck drivers have to drive their trucks over pure ice during the winter months. It’s clear that it’s a very dangerous job, but as a result, it also pays very well.
Despite the fact that ice road truckers can make up to $250,000 a season, it is more common for them to make in the range of $60,000 per season. Please keep in mind that this payment is often for only two months of work. Meaning you can keep working as a truck driver for the rest of the year if you want to make even more money.
Owner Operator Driver
They want to be their own boss and start their own trucking company. In the end, a lot of money could be made. Even though there are a lot of big costs to think about, you’re likely to still make more money than most drivers when it’s all said and done.
You are also highly probable to spend a lot less time in the field, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing. In fact, according to Indeed.com, owner-operators make an average of $294,000 a year, which is a lot of money for sure!
Private Fleets
It’s not the only company that owns its own trucks. If you want to earn a lot of money as a truck driver, you should check out this job. They pay a company truck driver between $70,000 and $85,000 a year.
Walmart’s private fleet requires that you have a clean driving record (no accidents, no moving violations, no serious violations, etc.), and that you have a clean criminal background check. This is true for any high-paying driving job. The expectations are higher than at most businesses, but in return, they pay a higher salary than most people make.
Specialty Car Haulers
There are a few carriers who are very good at transporting very valuable, old cars. The trailers are all closed up. It takes a very patient driver and one who is very careful when handling the high-dollar goods to get the job done. The pay averages at $65,000 per year.
Dump Trucks – Mining Industry
People who work for mining companies that use “behemoth dump trucks” get paid a lot of money for their work. Some mines in Australia, for example, hire truckers who make more than $100,000 a year in wages.
Team Driving
Some teams make a lot of money, up to $90,500 annually. Because it’s one of the highest-paying trucking jobs, it’s often thought that working as a team is the best way to become rich as a truck driver.
One of the problems with teams is that the drivers often get tired and can’t keep up with the hectic, stressful schedule for long periods of time. Even though the schedule is legal, the drivers can’t keep up with the schedule for long periods of time.
They always have a good deal for workers, like a high rate of pay and many miles. However, loading delays and bad weather cut down on the number of miles that teams could drive, so they didn’t go as far. It can be very good for a husband and wife to work together if both people drive.
They can live on the road for a long time if they need to, and they don’t have to go home at a certain time. It all comes down to the ability of the trucking firm they work for to schedule their loads efficiently.
Union Drivers
People who work for a union make more money than other truck drivers. All drivers who work are paid at the same rate by the unions. If you work for a union, you usually get raises that go up with the cost of living. This means that your pay is higher than that of the average truck driver, who doesn’t get raises that go up with the cost of living.
5 Highest-Paying Trucking Companies
As offered, here is a quick look at the top five trucking companies in 2022 that will pay the most. Keep in mind that the category of truck driver you are can have a big impact on your base pay rate.
- Hogan Transportation ~ $83,876 per year
- Epes Transport ~ $83,921 per year
- Wal-Mart ~ $86,000 per year
- Sysco ~ $87,204 per year
- GP Transco ~ $90,000 per year
Conclusion
This information should help you decide whether or not to start a career in trucks or get new endorsements that will allow you to transport loads that pay well, now that you know more about the highest-paying jobs and the best trucking companies. It doesn’t matter what stage of your trucking career you’re at. We’re glad we could help point you in the right direction.
Geoff is a freelance writer with 20+ years of experience in driving trucks and buses, dispatching, supervising, and training commercial driving teams. His expertise is writing topics on the transportation and trucking industry, and information technology trends.
I like that you mentioned how the pay rate for a given trucking job could vary, depending on location or trucking company. I was chatting with my friend earlier and I heard that his uncle was actually a truck driver. From what I’ve heard before, it seems there are a lot of CDLA jobs nowadays, which sounds pretty nice for trucking professionals.