Types of Truck Driving Jobs
There are numerous types of truck driving jobs, and the first thing you should know as a professional is that when you are driving a truck, you are more than just a truck driver. You are subject to the rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. As a Class A CDL holding commercial vehicle operator, you are driving a Class 8 truck and pulling a specific trailer. The most common types of trailers are dry van and flatbed. However, refrigerated (or reefer), tanker and automobile (car/truck/other vehicle) hauling are other specialized types of trucking jobs with high earning potential. As of May 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers average $57,760 per year. As you consider what type of truck driving jobs are best for you, let us help you with a quick guide to types of CDL jobs.
Get Started With Roehl Transport
Roehl Transport truck drivers deliver the goods and raw inputs our economy needs to manufacturers, warehouses, businesses and stores around the country. As a Roehl driver, you can see places that you never dreamed you'd see, and all while performing a service that is valued and valuable, for a company that is investing in you.
Types of Equipment / Divisions
This next section has wage data from ZipRecruiter.com. Roehl average earnings are based on an average of actual Roehl drivers with at least one year of experience.
Dry Van Trucking Jobs
- Average dry van Annual Wages: $22,000 - $36,000
- Roehl National Dry Van Fleet average annual wage: $65,000
A dry van truck is a boxed trailer commonly measuring 53 feet in length and secured with a locking back door. The typical freight hauled in a dry van trailer is general merchandise that is transported by pallets. You will find both less than truckload and full truckload freight in dry van trucking positions. At Roehl Transport, we offer dry van truckload services to our extensive customer base across the United States, and most of our dry van freight is based east of Interstate 35.
Dry van trucks are the most common type of trucking services provided, so there are many dry van employment opportunities for skilled drivers. Dry van truckload services can involve over-the-road (OTR) long distance van driving jobs, regional dry van truck driving jobs or local van trucking jobs that bring drivers home at daily or nightly.
Demand for dry van services has increased with the rise of e-commerce, which has contributed to the national shortage of truck drivers. E-commerce has also changed the type of routes and the length of routes that drivers must cross to fulfill orders. Today, drivers make shorter long-distance hauls than in the past, and more frequent hauls (see how Roehl’s Dynamic Pay Plan better rewards drivers for their time & performance).
Some of this can be seen in the numbers from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), which shows an increase from 897,370 truck transportation drivers in 2022 to 917,010 in 2023. Meanwhile, drivers shuttling goods from merchant wholesalers increased from 99,680 in 2022 to 100,690 in 2023.
Flatbed Trucking Jobs
- Average flatbed annual pay: $64,000
- Roehl National Flatbed Fleet average annual pay: $72,500
Flatbed trailers are the open-sided trailers (open deck) you see transporting heavy equipment, oversized freight and other materials that are typically loaded from the side. Flatbed trucking jobs require drivers to secure (tarp and strap) cargo to maintain its security. The design of a flatbed trailer allows for shipments to be loaded in a variety of methods, such as by a crane or forklift. Flatbed truck drivers often deliver to job sites and can be compensated for securement work they do.
This is why successful flatbed drivers obtain additional skills like tarping and load securement - to increase their flexibility and maximize their value to their company. Not all flatbed loads require tarping, but drivers who are able to do it can haul more goods and take on more work. The more skills drivers acquire, the more opportunities they have. This can lead to higher pay.
Refrigerated Trucking Jobs
- Average refrigerated truck driver annual pay: $60,500
- Roehl average annual pay: $69,600
A refrigerated trucking job involves transporting temperature-controlled freight. Refrigerated truck drivers monitor the temperature of their loads regularly to ensure the freight is compliant. In addition, a reefer trailer has a specialized engine and coolant system that keeps the trailer compartment at a set temperature. Roehl uses modern refrigerated trailers that are quiet, energy efficient and always connected to our system so we can also remotely monitor the loads.
Depending on the type of freight a refrigerated truck driver is hauling, they may need to meet strict deadlines because of the temperature-sensitive goods they transport. They may also need special training to operate and maintain refrigerator equipment to ensure that their loads maintain a consistent temperature throughout their journey. Reefer trucks are designed to control the temperature of their goods no matter what the temperature outside, and it takes a skilled driver to protect their cargo - especially in extreme weather conditions.
Tanker Trucking Jobs
- Average tanker annual pay: $59,600
- Roehl average annual pay: Not Applicable
Tanker truck drivers obtain a specialized endorsement on their CDLs in order to transport this type of freight. You will have to pass the tank endorsement, which requires you to take a test at the local DMV. This test ensures that you are familiar with and can safely transport tanker freight using a commercial truck. A tanker truck driver is hired to transport chemicals, liquids, gasses, and other substances that must be moved by tank trailer.
Some of the chemicals and liquids hauled by tanker trucks are hazardous. Jobs that require a HAZMAT endorsement are in especially high demand, which can mean higher take-home pay for the driver. If you're interested in tanker trucking jobs, take as much training as possible to increase your earning potential.
Solo Versus Team Truck Driving Jobs
- Solo average annual pay: $81,250
- Team truck average annual pay: $90,300
If you are a solo truck driver, you are someone who drives alone. You do all the driving yourself, and do not have a co-driver. That does not mean you are alone though! You should have the support of a team that includes dispatchers/fleet managers, freight planners, maintenance support staff, office administrators, and others.
Team truck drivers work in pairs. You can be hired with a team driver, or at many companies, you’ll have one assigned to you. The way team driving jobs work is that both drivers are CDL holders and you share the driving duties. Often, this is done to maximize the number of miles that a truck can be driven. You and your co-driver work in shifts and the truck only slows down for fueling up and to load/unload freight.
There are trucking companies that will force drivers into becoming a team, however that is not the case at Roehl Transport. While Roehl has some teams, the majority of them are teaming because they want to operate together. Roehl’s customer base and freight flows do not support typical teaming operations.. Another thing some trucking companies will do is take two new drivers and put them together to be “team drivers” while they are training. At Roehl, if you are with a trainer, you are not team driving. When you are driving, your Driver Trainer is in the passenger seat coaching. When your trainer is driving, you are in the passenger seat observing.
If you are considering being a team truck driver, you should know that team driving isn't for everyone. If you don't get along with your partner, team driving can be miserable. Team driving also takes away your control over schedules and other factors. Know yourself and your preferences before signing up for team truck driving.
Trends and Changes in the Trucking Industry
The trucking industry is always changing, whether due to technology changes, legislative changes, or changes in consumer behavior. Below are some trends that impact today's drivers.
Increased need for tanker drivers with HAZMAT endorsement. Shifts in the energy sector have increased the need for tanker drivers with a HAZMAT endorsement. Barriers to entry into this particular sector are high. This endorsement - more than some others - requires drivers to meet high standards and have spotless driving records. If you're able to meet these requirements, you could harness the high earning potential in this industry.
Tighter requirements for entry level drivers earning their CDL. In February 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) tightened their requirements for entry level drivers earning their CDL. Now, drivers earning their CDL are required to take a combination of theory and behind the wheel training from approved training providers. For more information, see this article ELDT & CDL Training.
Getting Hired for Class A CDL Trucking Jobs
Roehl is one of the most respected trucking companies in the country because Roehl is built on values, like being Driver Driven, Doing the Right Thing and our cornerstone value of Safety. Roehl Transport was founded by a driver, and CEO Rick Roehl still maintains his CDL and gets behind the wheel to pull loads to stay close to the work our driving teammates do for our customers. Roehl’s long been known as the Take Home More, Be Home More Carrier, and benefits for Roehl drivers include:
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- Innovative Pay Packages. Roehl’s pay plans have repeatedly been honored with CCJ’s Innovator Awards, most recently for our Dynamic Pay Plans that better reward drivers for their time and performance. Roehl also offers Practical Route Mileage with Address-to-Address Mileage calculations (this means that Roehl drivers get paid the practical route miles from pick-up address to destination address rather than from city center to city center – so they are getting paid for more of the miles they actually drive). Along with Accident-Free Pay this (In 2023, Roehl Transport drivers earned $3.8 million in safety incentives. Learn more by reading this article Roehl Transport Drivers Earn Safety Incentives., all adds up to one of the best pay packages in trucking. As of August 2024, Roehl drivers with at least one year on the job are averaging $1,330 a week (almost $70,000 a year). It's also important to know that the top 50% of Roehl drivers average $1,515 per week (nearly $79k a year).
- Industry Leading Home Time. From flexible home time in national fleets to regional and dedicated fleets with weekly home time (many that get drivers home on the weekends) to local trucking jobs and home daily options to even part time truck driving jobs, Roehl Transport is a leader in getting drivers home.
- Pet & Rider Programs. Roehl is a pet friendly trucking company, and Roehl’s Passenger Policy means you can bring someone else to ride along in the truck with you.
- Comprehensive & Affordable Benefits. As a member of TeamRoehl, you'll enjoy access to a robust lineup of employee benefit options. Whatever stage of life you’re in, it’s likely we have something that supports your particular needs.
We are regularly hiring truck drivers at Roehl Transport. Search our truck driving jobs, resources for recent truck driving school graduates, on-the-job paid CDL training and so much more to find the dry van trucking jobs, refrigerated truck driving jobs and flatbed trucking jobs you seek. We also hire truck drivers for dedicated trucking routes. Visit Roehl.Jobs to apply for a truck driving job today.
This page was updated on: 10/17/2024