Truck Driver Salary - How Much Can Commercial Drivers Earn?

Skilled truck driver salaries were at their peak demand from 2020 through 2022. During this time, truck driver pay spiked and many trucking companies offered driver wage increases and some even offered sign-on bonuses. In the years 2023 and 2024, lower freight shipping prices curbed some of that demand, but the American Trucking Associations show that salaries for existing truck drivers have continued to rise. The demand for skilled drivers is still high. Top earning company truck drivers now make as much as $100,000 per year and enjoy benefits like performance and safety bonuses (for example, Roehl offers accident-free pay). 

The trucking industry is a great place to find a career. Truck drivers deliver the goods and raw inputs our economy needs to manufacturers, warehouses, businesses and stores around the country. As a truck driver, you can see places that you never dreamed you'd see, and all while performing a service that is valued and valuable. 

As truck driver salaries went up, standards for entering the trucking industry tightened. In 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enacted Entry Level Driver Training regulations that sought to standardize and raise minimum requirements for CDL holders. 

This legislation required people seeking their CDL to take a mandatory theory and behind the wheel training from approved training providers. The result is a more consistent training experience which leads to a safer trucking industry and safer drivers on the roads. Roehl Transport is a registered training provider on the Training Provider Registry (TPR) and the company provides performance and safety pay incentives. For example, drivers working for Roehl Transport earned $3.8 million in safety incentives in 2023. 

When you're entering the trucking industry, choosing the right company matters. Here's what you should know. 

How Much Can You Earn as a Truck Driver?

There are many things that draw hardworking people to the trucking industry. Some come for the freedom of the open road. Others come because they want to see new places. Many come for the high earning potential. Skilled truck drivers are in high demand and are thus well-compensated for their services.

Many top-earning truck drivers make as much as $100,000 per year and enjoy benefits like referral bonuses, performance bonuses and safety bonuses (accident-free pay). If you're hoping to start your career as a truck driver, here's what you can look forward to.

Note: All Salaries Updated 10/2024. Roehl driver earnings are based on an average of actual Roehl drivers with at least one year of experience.

Types of Trucks

There are several types of commercial vehicles in the trucking industry. The type of truck you drive can affect your schedule and earning potential. The Roehl averages are based on the average of actual Roehl drivers with at least one year of experience.

Dry Van Trucking Jobs

Dry vans are the most common types of trucks you find on the road, consisting of 53-foot trailers attached to a semi truck. Dry vans transport non-perishable goods that are not temperature-regulated. 

Dry van drivers often have full loads and lots of opportunities for work. Dry van trucking jobs are popular among drivers who prefer driving without monitoring freight (refrigerated) or securing or tarping loads (flatbed). There's always a lot of work for dry van truck drivers, so you'll have your pick of different positions if this is the route you go. 

• National: $605 per week
• Roehl: $1,250 per week
• Earning potential: Top earners can make over $100,000 annually

Flatbed Trucking Jobs

Flatbed trucks typically haul open-air trailers with no walls or doors. These trailers are useful for hauling extra-heavy cargo that must be loaded by crane or forklift. The cargo must be properly balanced on the trailer to ensure a safe ride. Often, flatbed trucks are used to haul pipes, lumber, mobile homes, and whole shipping containers. 

Flatbed trucking has great earning potential for the right driver, and some trucking companies like Roehl will also provide and pay for cargo/load securement training.

• National: $1,231 per week
• Roehl: $1,395 per week
• Earning potential: Top earners can make up to $100,000 annually

Reefer Trucking Jobs

Drivers of refrigerated trucks, also called reefer trucks, haul important products like cheese, frozen foods and other temperature-controlled goods around the United States. They may drive across the country with their goods and be gone for many days at a time.

These trucks haul trailers that can operate at extreme temperatures with powerful climate-control systems that maintain a consistent temperature no matter the conditions outside. Refrigerated truck drivers haul goods ranging from cheese and milk to fresh flowers to temperature-sensitive chemicals. At Roehl, our refrigerated trailers are whisper-quiet. As a refrigerated truck driver, you'll have an in-demand job and need special training to operate the refrigerator equipment. This translates to high earning potential. 

• National: $1,191 per week
• Roehl: $1,340 per week
• Earning potential: Top earners can make over $100,000 annually

Curtainside Trucking Jobs

Curtainside trucks haul trailers that have a rigid framework, metal roof, and tarps on either side. Curtainside trucks are used to haul moisture-sensitive machinery, shipments of steel and iron, palette-mounted goods, and anything that can be loaded from the side or back of the trailer. 

Curtainside truck drivers have the best mix of van and flatbed because drivers are able to secure and protect the customer’s freight with much less physical demand than traditional tarping. Arrive at the customer, load the freight, secure the freight, slide the curtains closed, and away you go. 

Curtainside trucks are also very flexible because they can be unloaded from the back and sides. This makes the trailer very flexible for customers. 

• National average: $662 per week
• Roehl averages: $1,395 per week
• Earning potential: Top earners can make over $100,000 annually

Tanker Trucking Jobs

Tanker trucks haul liquids and gasses, including hazardous chemicals, across long distances. These tankers play an essential role in many industries. Tanker trucks haul fire suppression chemicals, fuel to refill service stations, and even hazardous materials for various industries. Tanker truck drivers are often gone for days at a time, then come home for days at a time.

• National average: $1,145 per week
• Roehl does not have any tanker positions.
• Earning potential: Top earners can make over $100,000 annually

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2.2 million truck drivers employed in 2023 earned a median annual wage of $54,320. BLS also reports that the average hourly wage for a truck driver is $26.12 per hour. Earning potential depends a lot on load types, company, experience, and other factors, so there is a great deal of variation.

If you're just starting out in the industry, you can expect to earn less at first, and more as you gain experience & stamina, and as you build your skillset. Inexperienced drivers with larger trucking companies, such as Roehl may have more earning potential because they have more options. 

As of November 2024, Roehl drivers with at least one year on the job are averaging $1,360 a week (almost $70,700 a year). It's also important to know that the top 50% of Roehl drivers average $1,540 per week ($80k a year).

Factors That Affect Earnings

There are many factors that affect earnings.

CDL Class Types

CDL licenses come in three class types (class A, B and C), depending on the weight of the vehicle and the cargo. Your CDL class type will affect the kind of truck you drive. Give thought to the type of vehicle you'd like to drive (described above), then choose your class type accordingly.

Endorsements

Along with your vehicle class type, you can also get endorsements that allow you to transport special types of cargo or drive special kinds of vehicles. Endorsements help maximize your earning potential by putting you in a class of drivers that have special skills.

For example, drivers who transport hazardous materials require a special endorsement that not all drivers have. This endorsement puts you in a more exclusive class of drivers that warrants higher pay. 

The more endorsements you have, the more flexibility you have. You're able to drive more vehicles and can do more with your career. Be careful, though - some companies have better opportunities for these special endorsements than others. 

Freight Type

Not all drivers can haul all kinds of freight. When you haul an in-demand freight type that requires a special endorsement, then you can earn more money.

Experience

Experience makes a big difference to your earning potential. As with any industry, less experienced employees start at the lower end of the pay scale. Rates rise after six months or one year of experience and continue to rise as the driver gains experience. This is especially true if you continue to display safe driving habits. Some companies, like Roehl Transport, have operationalized safety and reward drivers with accident-free pay as they drive (no waiting for a quarterly or annual safety bonus).

Regional Pay Disparities 

Companies in different parts of the country pay their drivers different rates. Typically, trucking companies in the east and northern regions of the United States pay more than companies out west. Not everyone considers relocating for their job, but if you are looking for a move, do your homework. Find out how much companies pay in the region where you're moving. Rates can vary state by state, so you could dramatically increase your pay by moving to the right location. 

Miles

Many, many trucking companies still pay HHG (also known as short-route miles). At Roehl, you’re paid on the practical route from the starting address to the ending address – a more accurate reflection of the miles you’ve actually driven. Roehl was one of the first companies to pay practical route miles and we remain the innovator with address-to-address mileage calculations.

Route Optimization and Technology

Route optimization technology helps drivers find the most efficient routes for making deliveries and pick-ups. This technology keeps getting more sophisticated. Drivers and companies that stay up to date with these technologies can maximize driver efficiency to make the most money possible. 

How Much Can You Drive Per Day Driving a Commercial Truck?

Since truck drivers are paid by the mile, one of the first questions new drivers ask is, “How much can I drive in one day?”

This is a complicated question. Time spent at the loading dock, traffic complications, speed limits, and state and federal regulations limiting how many hours a driver can work all play a role in how much distance a driver can cover.

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) does not limit how many miles a truck driver can drive in a single day, but they do limit the amount of time a driver can drive per day. This limit? 11 hours. Commercial truck drivers (those that carry property, not passengers) may drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. In addition to this rule by the FMCSA, there are others related to driving time. Read more here: Summary of Hours-of-Service Regulations.

Solo Versus Team Truck Driving Jobs

Team truck drivers have a higher earning potential than solo drivers. Solo drivers have to stop for rest, and their miles are limited by the Hours of Service regulations. Drivers that team up with a partner can keep a truck moving. As one driver is behind the wheel, the other driver can rest, sleep, and relax. An experienced driver who works as a part of a team makes an average salary of $90,312, depending on their experience, what kind of vehicle they're driving and more. While the company does have some team drivers, Roehl Transport’s freight is optimized for solo drivers.

Truck Driver Salary

Roehl Transport has long been a trucking company  that pays well, so you can be well compensated, if you are a safe driver who manages your time on the road. All Roehl drivers have the opportunity to increase their earnings and Roehl wants to help you do so. Roehl is built on values, like Safety & being Driver Driven.

As one of the best trucking companies to work for, here are some ways that you can earn more money through bonuses and hard work.

• Referral Bonuses
• Performance Bonuses
• Becoming a driver trainer
• Benefits. Excellent medical and dental benefits, as well as other benefits including life insurance, 401k, profit sharing and more.

Consider Roehl Transport - One More Benefit of Driving a Truck: Job Security

Although changes in the trucking industry have impacted the demand for new drivers, drivers are still in high demand and short supply. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the industry will be short 174,000 drivers by 2026. When you're an experienced, skilled & safe truck driver, you can quickly find a job no matter where you move.

As of November 2024, Roehl drivers with at least one year on the job are averaging $1,360 a week (almost $70,700 a year). It's also important to know that the top 50% of Roehl drivers average $1,540 per week ($80k a year).

So just how much money can you make when you drive a truck for Roehl Transport? The National Transportation Institute certifies top-paying trucking companies and Roehl has been on the list for years. 

Are you ready to earn money while performing a valuable service? Do you want to be a part of the crucial system that moves goods and services around our nation? Get your start with Roehl.