Working in the trucking industry can be quite lucrative; the right job will result in higher pay rates, in a shorter period of time.
Regardless of age or your experience in the industry, the right job is going to result in more earnings and better benefits as a driver. These are among the top paying driving jobs, when you are looking for a career in the trucking industry.
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1. Liquid Hauling
Gas, chemicals, and other hazardous materials are dangerous to be around; further, they require immense skill for you to drive and haul them.
For this reason, working in this industry, you are going to earn more, and depending on the type of hazardous material, and company that you work for, the pay rate can be rather expensive.
The median salary for a liquid hazmat driver is $54,000 and a reported upper pay of $120,000.
2. Oversized Loads
Driving double wide trucks, and over load trucks will also result in a higher pay rate. Not only do you need a special license, special training is also required for the job. In turn, you will need to learn how to drive certain trucks, and will be paid more for this skill.
An income of $100K+ is feasible if you work your butt off and are willing to sacrifice your personal and family time.
3. Ice Road Trucking
Due to the conditions and dangerous road conditions, you can earn quite a bit in this field. In a few short months you can earn anywhere from $20K up to $75K, working only part of the year.
4. Specialty Car Haulers
Transporting cars that are damaged or need to be delivered to customers, is also a high paying job. If you deliver specialty, luxurious cars, you can earn even more when working in this field.
The median pay for a transport driver is $73,000, a reported high income of $120,000. The starting salary is around $60,000 for a driver with little experience in hauling cars.
5. Dump Truck Driving
Transporting and working in the dump trucking industry is also a high paying job. You can find jobs in various locations, internationally, and you can work for small local companies, earning a high pay rate as well.
6. Mining Industry
Deliveries, pick up, and other work in the mining industry is quite lucrative as well. You can work for small companies, or work as a contractor in this field as well.
7. Team Driving
The long driving distance, and working with other drivers, can also pay a higher rate. The burn out in this field is typically a problem, as you drive long distances, and will sometimes be limited in the amount you can drive, and where you can drive, by federal and state regulations.s
8. Owner Operator Truck Driver
Owning your own trucking business means being responsible for all the operational expenses, however, being your own boss can be rewarding.
Independent truckers and owners can make close to $200,000 a year depending on the miles driven, type of delivery, customer satisfaction, etc.
9. Recruiter
yIn some instances, working for a trucking company, as opposed to being a driver, will earn you more money. If you recruit in the field, you are going to earn more, especially if you bring in great drivers.
10. Instructor
Working in a trucking school may also allow you to earn some money. Not only do you stay in one location, and work with students, you don’t have to do the long hours, or dangerous roads, and can earn rather well.
Depending on the job, benefits, and company, earnings will vary. These are a few of the top paid positions in the trucking industry. Also, acquiring your CDL, specifically Class A, allows you to have an edge over others.
Thinking about going to trucking school? This article will give you an idea of tuition costs.
Check out our ultimate guide on truckers’ salary.
Thanks for making it clear that truckers can make $100k+ if they work their butts off. I would want to hire a trucker who is that determined. I know they will do a good job so they can make more money.
At year 13 you’re making over $70k.
What were you making year 1?
How about year 5?
Try CREngland ,
I’m looking for a job in to oversize loads
Are there any trucking companies that allow you to be home every night? I’m in southern California.
Ya, it’s called Eurotruck! Truck driving game simulator…..But, seriously, there probably are. General LTL freight driver (ABF Freight, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Estes Freight, XPO Logistics), Concrete mixer would definitely be one, portable toilet delivery/pickup, turf delivery, construction delivery (pre-fabricated trusses), supermarket delivery (Stater Bros.) but you may have to put in some years before you’re actually home at night. Home Depot & Lowe’s home/project delivery may be another. Just think of anything you’ve seen being delivered in your lifetime by a truck…. and go ask the driver about their job the next time you have the opportunity. You just may open up a world of opportunities! Good Luck
The article is forgetting about Food Service Delivery drivers with a Class A license. It is very lucrative working for a food service delivery company. Working at McLane here in SoCal I’ve averaged 120k a couple of years. Other years, I’ve averaged around 90k. Definitely good money. The only downside is that your going to earn every penny of that as the work is very physical. Keeps you in shape though. No need for a gym membership and you won’t have that sought after trucker belly. LOL!
Can you teach me and show me direction to make 120/yr. Does it take all of your time? How to get started? And how long does it take?
Any connections or sources in Colorado?
Steven’s Transport
Oilfield jobs are easy to get …watch a YouTube video to learn how to do the job and tell them you have experience doing it…..they all lie to you from day 1…just give them a little in return…I have 14 years experience in the oilfield and have not found 1 company who treats their employees as an asset ….one thing for sure you will find is the land of broken dreams and promises …part time work between fracs and closures every fiscal year …no holidays or weekends off and none are family oriented
In Kansas City, Missouri, The Sygma Network hires good heathly drivers. The work is tough to say the least, but the benefits are great. If you want to be home several days a week and not out on the road for 6 to 8 weeks at a time, then check them out. I have been with them for over 13 years. I am off 3 days a week and last year I made a little over $70k.
Hi my friend
I ‘ve just found your comment
I live in New york city I was getting ready to do the writing exam then vivid 19 happened everything closed.
However I m still in just a matter of time ,please can you tell me how would do to speed up thing and also changing the state with my young family.
Thanks a lot a good luck in your life.
Dot Foods is the best company I have ever worked for. I averaged 80,000 miles per year but my schedule is 4 days on 4 days off. They have a 7 and 2 schedule and also a six and three schedule. They have DC’s all over the nation but there still a family business. Absolutely no Union everything is taken care of in house.
How can i get employeed by them
I from Nigeria..
I’m a truck driver and I’m looking for a company i will drive for in any country of the word
Don’t go to PAM Transport no matter what you do.. !
Very bad pay
Will stick you team driving with horrible students that don’t know how to drive and we’ll get you hurt
Horrible driver managers and dispatchers..
Home time is almost non-existent doesn’t matter how long you work they want you to stay on the road…
Tons of paperwork to keep track of… If you lose any copies you might not get paid…
You’re definitely just the number nobody cares about you..
The managers and dispatches are all miserable too..
You’re right I worked for PAM and that’s how they roll. Back in 2013 I had new drivers just getting their trucks asking me questions – questions that I thought the trainer should have told or taught them and then it depends on the attitude of the trainer. Dispatchers can be fickle, it depends on who you get. I got on with one of PAM’s subsidiaries in 2008. At the orientation the gal said this is a “training company”. They do train a lot of drivers.
I’m a contractor for Fedex ground and I run teams. my top team this year will make over 100k each. We pay .62cpm split with Sunday mondays off as well as major holidays. We do have dedicated routes as well in Houston Austin ft worth and Dallas. We pay very well and most of my driver have been with me 5 plus years oldest driver I have has been with me 15yrs.
Where are you located. Are you hiring. I’m in Bullhead City AZ
I’m in Ft Worth. Are you hiring? What kind of dedicated route do you have? Home everyday?
How can I get in contact with you and your Clinton?
Dear sir, I am very interested in working with your company yet I have only a classD CDL. I hope you offer training etc and will contact me @Nathan Smith on Facebook! Please feel free to Direct Message!!!
.62 split and you claim $100k per year each driver. Must be counting on drivers that can’t do math. They would each have to drive 300,000 a year each. Stop with the bullshit
They would have to drive 325K yr (892.8571 per day) @ .62 split LOL sounds like pretty hard running for a team everyday.
Your math is flawed. The team drove 322.000 miles @$0.62 com = $200.000 or $100.000 each as stated in the comment. Still hard work but entirely doable at those rates.
The math doesnt make sense. 62×300000 is 186000 equals 93000 each. But 31 cents a mile would be 31k per 100k miles so if the tuck goes 300k mi each driver makes 93k a year. So its doable but very hard on truck
How often do you hire I have about a year and half experience currently working thanks Patrick 541 371 3633
Watch out the contractors are liars and thieves they do not care for you but only the money. PS. YOU WILL BE WORKING WEEKENDS AND ALL HOLIDAYS!
UPS PAYS BETTER AND TREATS THE DRIVERS BETTER!
Quick question I am new. How long before I can qualify to drive for Fedex?
im on the older side 40 years Class C zero points never had a accident never missed a day of work in 20 years?
Any drivers need to that of San Antonio
I meant to say do you need any drivers out of San Antonio
Hi I graduate from Fortis Institute-Forty Fort PA in September. I’d be interested in know the 100,000 per team member? And also, Do y’all have long haul runs from North to south.. I’d like to come back to Texas when graduate.
I’m having a hell of a time trying to find a trucking school that will let me apply with 2 DUIs, they are 7 and 10 yrs old, but Swift ,CRST,Warren Knight have all denied me. Anybody know ? I live in Arizona but willing to go to school anywhere as long as they pay for room and board !
I also have two DUI’s. 15 years old. Clean driver record of 15 years and can’t get my cdl still.
Any help out there?
I’ve got a friend that has an old DUI, and as a small carrier myself, I told him my insurance company will not allow me to hire anyone with a DUI. I had submitted a driver who had a DUI in 1975, and they said no. However, he applied at Schneider and was hired right away. I think Kevins was about 15 years ago. He had character witnesses from church, had been leading AA groups, and sponsored many people through AA as an addiction counselor. He says he’s been a non-drinker for over 10 years. The larger companies don’t pay as much, and treat drivers poorly, but as they are self insured, and any warm body will do. I think as long as your last 10 years are clean, they will give you a chance. Their turn over rate is over 100% for a reason. But if you think of it as payment for your past sins as well as education, after you’ve worked safely, and always swallow your pride at the customers, with an exlimparary clean driving and customer service record, you should then be able to write your on ticket. Good Luck.
I have been driving approximately 25 years and I have a perfectly clean record and anyone who has DUIs or any drug offenses can get hired but be aware that they will abuse you because they know it is very hard for you to go somewhere else, I have seen this many times. I wish you good luck in all you do.
Sounds like a great opportunity.
Are you offering contractor work in Wyoming?
Lol. Can you really blame them? You want free room and board and you have 2 DUI’s? What else do you want with it pull down service?
C1 trucking littlrock
ESD in Decatur Alabama
Try Pam Transport. They have lower standards and treat drivers accordingly.
Come down here to Texas oil fields they will train and hire you
Good luck, my friend.
TWO DUI’s? That ridiculous and unacceptable for any reputable trucking company. Their insurance company will never clear you, no matter how bad they need you! Clean your driving record up, and keep it clean. You better hurry because once the self driving trucks come online, it’s going to decimate the trucking industry. I figure we all got about 10 years max before all hell breaks out….
Roadmaster driving school would probably take you with 2 DWIs 7 years old or more. They have locations in Memphis Atlanta Columbus Ohio and I think somewhere in California.
Swift has their main headquarters in phoenix. They pay for room and board and offer free* training(if you stay 1 or 2 years).
In southeast conn the dump truck driving jobs pay horrible and I mean horrible and then up towards new haven and Bridgeport Hartford area it’s 7 to 8 dollars difference in southeast ct the companies should be ashamed of themselves to offer so low money and I mean low poverty level type of pay between Putnam ct and old lyme ct .
I am what the industry calls over experienced. I deserve the best that the best has to offer. The problem is the industry can’t afford the best so they train new drivers preferably no education because they stay around longer at a cheaper pay. I have the cradentials that take at least 30 years of various experience to achieve. But all I can get is the average job with average pay. Anyone in the Arklatex area that can afford me? The company I work for is closing it’s doors, so I am looking for a job that will have me home nightly with the pay I beserve. Burttn@gmail.com
I hear you brother but it’s driving not rocket science, i.e. normal highway dry van, or reefer drivers are expendable.
You might consider buying a tractor and hauling sand, etc. I know of a company here in NE TX that is paying O/O’s very well.
What company?
Do you have the name of this well paying company?
I hear that,I got 16 years exp,close to2 million miles accident free all I can find is the avg job! It’s funny when the recruiters try and blow some up my @#$,1100 that’s what you can make it’s the best out their!lol
UPS.. Free training, health insurance, holidays, PENSION…and $ Lots of overtime. Home every day. I made $114 k my last year. Co-worker was on his way to making $130K for the year as of September. Easy to make $100k Hourly rate about $33.00 Problem??? It takes years to make your way though the ranks. I’m retired on a pension living the good life in south Florida. Just saying.
are ups Hiring in the florence or sumter south Carolina area
Conway Freight/XPO LOGISTICS start at 21.85 top at 26.56 (pay varies by region) will put you through a smith system approved driving class (3 months 12 hour days only 8 of which are payed) and will not chare a dime for your cdl. Will be required to obtain hazmat, doubles/triples, and tankers endorsements. The only thing you will pay for is the hazardous materials background check and the written tests through the DMV. You will also have to work the dock but it will be at driver pay.
One of thee best paying careers in the trucking industry is Cryogenics hauling! Me and my wife haul liquid helium 48 states!! We’ve been doin this for close to 10 years and we’ve always averaged 180000.00 a year!! Cryogenics industry is hurting for good drivers!! We work 7 days and 2 days off!! The pay and the home time is unrivaled!!
Do they hire new drivers, or help with cdl? If so who can I contact? 180 a year together? Thanks a bunch for your post, it is extremely helpful to get as much info as possible. Your the best!
If you don’t have your cdl, contact your local Department of Labor and ask them about getting your cdl through the Workforce Investment Act.
(Google Workforce Investment Act.)
I’m getting my cdl through them. I was laid off in Texas and moved to Iowa and applied at the local office. I just did my DOT physical and drug test. I am supposed to start school next week if all goes well.
I’m in. What is the company’s name?
I’m a recently retired USMC Officer that has a great clearance and clean record. How do you get into the cryogenics field once you get your CDL?
Mike
I hauled liquid Nitrogen as part of my last job. Now that that yard is closed I’m going to pull HAZMAT.
But I’m beginning to think that the pay is not up where it needs to be. This company is offering gross 1200, and no type of bonuses. Should I keep looking?
Do you own your own truck or is that company drivers who do you drive for how many miles a week how much per mile
Hi i am 49 and been drving trucks all my life i have 30 years verfiable driving no accidents great driving record could you send me the company you haul for info thankyou
Hey what company do you guys haul for??…
I am a recent cdl graduate with my twic, hazmat, tanker and double/triple enhanced license.Does the Cryogenics industry hire recent grads and if so where would I apply. I have a clean and good driving record and clean back ground. Thank you for sharing.
Hey bud – who is it that you actually work for?
Hi what company is that and do you have to have Hazmat, I been with crst and have close to 20,000 miles OTR mountains winter all over country in almost six months but these companies do not pay well and DM issues. Im just now getting into the industry since last year and having problems with employment because DOT wanting up to 10 years and companies wanting stable history.
What company do you work for?
Where is the nearest terminal to corpus Christi, tx
How can you work 7 days with 2 days off and is that a combined salary between you and your wife or is it individually. Do you get good benefits because right now a good pension is what everybody needs.
Having 2 log books always helps
I’ve done some short jobs , Oregon Aramark 53′ van, small propane truck delivering to RV’S in Yuma also drove lowboy delivering equipment for paving contractor Yuma, bottom dump build hwy
Lake View Oregon, bottom dump in Texas hauling rock, and saltwater Tanker for gas field work in Texas , also drove water truck for water well driller
in Oregon but don’t have to recent experience
have Twic card, current hazmat, passport,Tanker
doubles Triples endorsements would like to drive
a fuel tanker but don’t know of any that would give me a try.
You might want to mention grocery delivery. In the KC area $44k is the bare minimum in one particular outfit and that can be made working 4 1/2 days a week. Up to 6 figures can be made if you make yourself available. Great benefits too, including paid vacation, paid holidays, you get paid odometer miles, and a 401k plan that the company pays into for you even if you do not or match up to 6%.
What companies? Any in the Midwest?
Any suggestions on companies to contact?
I made a little over 40k (not including cash tips) my first year with peapod grocery delivery in Baltimore / DC area. Very demanding job but no CDL required. Home delivery is a great way to get your driving career a good jump start
That ice road trucking position sounds good…to be able to make that much, in what I assume are the winter months. I can find something else closer to home the rest of the year, if need be.
I’m contemplating to work for another company in Alaska, as an ice road trucker. I have worked with moving companies the past few years, as an owner-operator….enjoy it. But once the year goes on, the jobs slow down a bit, and as I’m from the NE, I can definitely handle some harsh winter weather. That’s the good thing about working for yourself…..if business is slow, you can take on another job that pays more for the slow period.
Better wait on that ice road trucker thing I just left alaska the jobs are far and few between you should wait untill the price of oil go’s back up last winter we starved and the company’s there won’t hire you to run the haul road unless you have experience on the haul road,good luck
Great info here on the different drivers and what’s required of them. You’ve definitely provided a good break down of what each type of driving job entails.
I would like to know how can I join the workforce . that pays for the cdl training
no other company will train you and start you at a higher pay rate than Schneider
That’s crap I work for schneider and there pay sucks. Luckily I didnt choose them for the money, I chose them for there safety record.
Scheider will get their attorney involved in hiring process and both recruiters and directors will call you a liable asset to company and say that you will steal a truck all before orientation and before back ground check, other stories bad from Schneider management to CEO.
I’ve done a little research and swift or CR England will finance your training with $0 down but it ends up being around $3,400. I am yet to find a company that will actually get you your license for free. Lots of companies say free training or paid training but that’s the training they give you once you already have your license
There is no company the will “Give” you a cdl for “FREE” …Schools cost money, there are many companies that have sponsored schools…you can work in exchange for schooling or take a local course in your homevtown….
Thats not true. Oilfield companies usually put you through training free.
I have worked in the oilfields for over 3 years, I have never known anyone to pay for cdl training. You do not have to go to a school to get a cdl.
How do you get an oilfield driving job? I’ve got 15 years experience.
that’s not the norm, most company will train you and help you get your cdl….but in exchange you have to agree to work for them for a time…that’s the norm…
Oil companies will not get you a cdl. They require you to have cdl experience while they will train you for the safety of working in the oil field.
True CDL not free nor is the schools but the trucking companies and recruiters will tell you anything just to get you to orientation and half don’t do their job. Most of your companies like CSRT, CR England, Stevens transport, swift, do not pay well and below industry standard for forty hour week, yes you need a place to start but its difficult and you see at around five months that you can not pay your bills on 250 a week or less.
England will provides schooling, lodging, and transportation if you sign a 9 month contract. The only out of pocket expense the student pays is the local license fee and food. If you break your contract you then have to pay the full ammount plus interest.
But cr England and others who “finance” your CDL training pay you less and also take out the cost of your CDL. You end up making $200-300 per week, have to take advances to survive and end up with no paycheck at the end if the day. Get your own financing through the school.
Well I went to the school and the President was fired here recently for what they were doing, and yes its more cost out your pocket for weeks they put you in a run down dirty hotel with bed bugs and so yes there is problems there and also they have a Federal civil suit they had to pay for all applicants for 5,000,000$ in 2015 for paying students .14 a mile. A good school is continental driving school in Dallas, TX
I’m currently attending continental and couldn’t speak highly enough soo far!!! Excellent place to go for sure!!!
Kip
Swift will pay for your training in full. But, you have to work for them for 26 months
They pay u for training what more do u want !!!!
while they train you with the agreement that you drive for them for .25 a mile for one plus years. That is not credibly respectful to say the least.
You can check with your local unemployment office a lot of states will offer programs for A class CDL free of charge
I realize you posted this six months ago but my company Carter Express will pay for your schooling and all you have to do is sign a 12 month contract. As long as you complete the contract you don’t pay a dime. And they start you out at a higher pay rate. Around 32 cents to start plus another 5 cents if you haul reefer trailers. It’s one of the best companies to start at.
Kllm
Start with a Class B and move up from there. Everyone wants to jump into something that bends in the middle before they know the front part……. Get to know the front part first.
Exactly what I did.Then I did get my Class A free.
Regardless of what people have said over the internet, I chose swift trucking school. I passed my first go around with no ap (academic probation). Right now I’m in orientation and I will be on the road starting tomorrow. Tuition was 3900 (they can finance that for you including hotel 500 stay for a total of 4400. If you don’t live close to the school) the school pepped me everything I needed to know and as I have found out, everything that has been told to me by my instructors, have been correct. I hope this helps for me it was a really awesome experience. Also out of 13 students I was 1 of two who passed the first time around.. Again I hope this helped, swift is also the largest trucking company in the USA.
I started off at Swift years ago, school was bullshit and they pay you crap. I broke my contract left after seven months, got a local job doubled my pay. They dont properly train new drivers. I can out drive any of their so call “instructors”. Don’t brag about working for swift you’ll get laughed at lol.
Sure
We’re
Insured
For
That
Many major OTR companies offer paid training as well as employment after graduation. Also, other companies offer tuition reimbursement & will provide “promise to hire” letters to help you to secure financing for independent cdl schools.
I started driving in early 2000 with Stevens Transport. Had to sign on for a year and they paid the training/school.
I’ve been driving With MVT Mesilla Valley Transport and they will train you at their school as well as give you a job. The school is 5 weeks longs as well as riding with a trainer for 60 thousand miles if you stay with them for a year they will refund your money back to you
If you are living in the USA then contact your One Stop Career Center to find out if you qualify for CDL training. https://www.careeronestop.org/localhelp/americanjobcenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx
Prime in misdouri
A lot of the truck driving schools have contracts with the big name carriers. THEY pay for your training. As soon as you complete the school portion. You’ll go to the company to start training with a trainer. (Minimum of two weeks). After that, you’ll have to stay there for a year with “no accidents “. Then your obligation to them is done and you can go anywhere. Either that, or you pay the schooling yourself. Which runs about $3000 and up.
That approach to getting into trucking by a contract to pay after graduation making average $300/week is not credible because the earnings is way bellow minimum wage at .30 per mile for one year or more in some cases, and if you get true that, you will qualify for a lease with option to buy and get scrued worst. Get your cdl with training from the unemployment office and hook up with a driver trainer (owner operator) for a while for your experience. These big companies used experience drivers like me for very little pay to sponsor their ability to keep buying new trucks while paying company drivers less than minimum wage.