How Much Do Truck Drivers Make? A Complete Guide to CDL Driver Pay

At a Glance

What the Data Says — Industry Benchmarks

The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at $58,640, based on May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. That’s approximately $1,127 per week. The bottom 10% of drivers earned less than $40,140 per year; the top 10% earned more than $79,380.

These figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, which surveys approximately 179,000 business establishments across the country twice per year. Employers report actual wages paid to their workers by occupation, and the BLS aggregates six semiannual survey panels (three years of data) to produce national and state-level estimates. Because the data comes directly from payroll reports rather than job postings or self-reported salaries, BLS figures are widely considered the most reliable benchmark for what U.S. workers in a given occupation actually earn.

ZipRecruiter’s 2026 figures show how much the definition of “truck driver” changes the number. Zip’s general truck driver data — a category that includes light-duty and non-CDL positions — averages $1,083 per week. Their CDL truck driver data averages $1,406 per week ($73,147 per year), and OTR-specific positions average $1,573 per week.

The spread across these benchmarks is instructive. The BLS reflects reported earnings from working drivers; ZipRecruiter reflects job posting data, which runs higher because it is weighted toward positions being actively recruited. And the category matters as much as the source — “truck driver” averages that include non-CDL delivery work sit hundreds of dollars a week below CDL-A figures. None of these numbers tells you what you’d actually make in a specific fleet, with a specific pay structure, running a specific number of miles per week. That context is what this guide covers.

How Truck Drivers Get Paid — The Pay Structures

Trucking pay is more complex than a single number. Most discussions of driver pay focus on gross weekly or annual earnings, but those figures mean very different things depending on how the pay is structured. There are seven distinct compensation models in commercial trucking, and understanding them is the first step to evaluating what a job offer is actually worth.

At Roehl, activity pay includes:

• Intermediate Stops
• Tarping and Untarping (flatbed)
• Hand Load or Unload (95% of van loads are no-touch)
• Detention Time
• Layover Day
• New York City and Long Island premium ($75 per load; less than 1% of Roehl freight goes there)
• Canada Pay
• Placard Load Premium
• Refrigerated Modular Unload
• Secondary Load

Per diem rates: IRS Publication 463 — Travel Expenses (special transportation-industry rates set annually; current rates per IRS Notice 2025-54).

What Actually Determines Your Weekly Paycheck

The pay structure sets the framework. These six factors help determine what ends up in your account each week:

• Miles driven. On any mileage-based plan, this is the most controllable variable. More miles driven per week means more gross pay. How a company calculates miles also makes a big difference. If a company calculates miles using the old HHG method, drivers come up short. Roehl uses full address-to-address practical route mileage. National OTR drivers at Roehl aim for 2,300–2,600 miles/week; HOMEtime PLUS drivers target 2,800 miles/week when out.
• Pay structure. A Dynamic Pay Plan can outperform a flat CPM because it takes into account a driver’s time and performance..
• Fleet type. OTR drivers may run more miles per week than a regional truck driver because they have more options before they are routed home.Regional drivers earn slightly less per week but home every week. Local/home daily drivers can earn comparably to regional on strong fleets while being home every night.
• Freight type. Flatbed pays more than refrigerated, which pays more than van OTR — because each requires progressively more skill and physical work.
• Experience level. Most carriers, including Roehl, have pay scales that increase with experience. A driver in year one earns less than a driver with five years - both in performance and usually in pay scale. As of July 2026, Roehl drivers with at least one year on the job are averaging $1,400 a week (nearly $73,000 a year). It's also important to know that the top 50% of Roehl drivers average $1,580 per week (over $82,000 a year).
• Endorsements. Hazmat, tanker, and doubles/triples endorsements open higher-paying freight lanes and dedicated positions not available to drivers without them.

CDL Truck Driver Pay at Roehl — Real Numbers by Fleet Type

As of July 2026, Roehl drivers with at least one year on the job are averaging $1,400 a week (nearly $73,000 a year). It's also important to know that the top 50% of Roehl drivers average $1,580 per week (over $82,000 a year).

Here’s how that breaks down by fleet type.

CDL Training Pay — Get Your CDL™ Program

Roehl’s Get Your CDL™ program is how many Roehl drivers start their careers. You’re hired as a full-time employee on day one — training to obtain your CDL is part of the job. The pay progression across the three phases is:

• Phase 1 — CDL Training (3 weeks at a Roehl terminal): $616/week. Roehl covers lodging and most meals. No tuition.
• Phase 2 — On-the-Road Training (at least 19 days with a Certified Driver Trainer): Daily rate while running live freight.
• Phase 3 — First Miles in Your Own Truck (approximately one month): Mileage pay based on the fleet the driver is in. Fleet Training Manager checks in regularly during this phase.

As a new truck driver, it’s important to know that your physical abilities and stamina to drive will build over time. You’ll also learn how to maximize your earnings through communication and effective use of your time. At Roehl, you’ll have a team that will fully support you.

OTR National Fleet Pay — Van, Refrigerated, Flatbed

OTR national fleet drivers run 48 states and sometimes Canada, averaging 2,300–2,600 miles per week with flexible home time — typically 3 days home after 11–14 days out, with the option to stay out longer for more home time upon return. Across all three OTR freight types at Roehl, flatbed earns the most:

Flatbed consistently earns the highest averages among OTR fleet types — but also involves the most physical work (tarping, cargo securement, loading oversight). Refrigerated drivers earn on average more than van because of temperature-control complexity. Roehl provides on-the-job cargo securement training for drivers new to flatbed.

Regional Fleet Pay — Home Weekly

Regional fleet drivers operate within a defined geographic area, averaging 2,100–2,300 miles per week, and get 48 hours of home time every week. The defined operating area means more predictable routes, more familiar customers, and more consistent schedules — with a modest tradeoff in weekly pay compared to OTR.

HOMEtime PLUS™ Fleet Pay

HOMEtime PLUS™ fleets are structured differently from OTR or regional. They offer extended, predictable home time cycles with high mileage goals when driving. The 7/7 fleet in particular is designed as a part-time trucking job — not because the work is less demanding, but because you’re only working half the year.

The 7/7 fleet’s annual range reflects the fact that drivers work 26 weeks year - effectively a part-time driving job. On a per-working-week basis, the range is $1,340–$1,890/week — competitive with regional driving while getting 26 weeks of home time per year. These fleets are typically hiring near Roehl’s terminals or drop yards.

Dedicated Fleet Pay

Dedicated fleets run consistent routes for specific customers or operations, often with more frequently home time when compared to National OTR fleets.. A sample from Roehl’s current dedicated positions:

Local and Home Daily Fleet Pay

Many people searching for a local truck driving job may overlook home daily driving jobs. Roehl has both local trucking jobs (typically near customers, terminals or drop yards) and home daily fleets along routes with many customers and lots of freight.

Owner-Operator Compensation— Gross vs. Net

Roehl’s owner-operator flatbed division averages approximately $3,660 per week in gross revenue — equivalent to over $190,000 per year gross, while dry van owner operators are averaging $3,345 a week (over $170,000 per year). These numbers are real. But gross and net are very different for an owner-operator.

From the gross revenue, owner-operators cover their own fuel, equipment payment or lease, commercial insurance, permits, tires, and maintenance, so they subject those expenses from the gross revenue to get their net revenue. Net income for owner-operators varies widely based on operating discipline, and how much support a company offers owner operators can make a big difference.

Owner-operator leasing programs, like Roehl’s Business Owner Support System (B.O.S.S.™), provide discounts on fuel, tires, parts, and maintenance that can meaningfully reduce operating costs compared to running completely independently.

How Pay & Miles are Calculated - Why the Old Models Fall Flat & CPM Comparisons Mislead

Most trucking companies pay using an old flat cents per mile rate model . Roehl’s repeatedly been recognized for innovation in driver pay (Innovation is one of Roehl’s values). Here’s how Roehl’s pay works differently in three ways that matter significantly to weekly take-home pay:

• Address-to-address practical route miles. Roehl pays for more of the miles you actually drive. The practical route using full address-to-address method generates roughly 5–8% more compensated miles than the HHG mileage method that most trucking companies still use. At 2,400 miles per week, that’s approximately 120–190 additional compensated miles per week — equivalent to $84–$133 extra at a $0.70 CPM rate, every single week. Using HHG/short miles is an old model that leaves drivers coming up, well, short.
• Dynamic Pay Plans. Instead of a flat cents per mile pay plan like most other trucking companies, Roehl’s Dynamic Pay Plans better reward drivers for their time and performance. Roehl’s Dynamic Pay Plans feature a higher rate per mile on shorter hauls because Roehl also considers the time involved, not just the miles driven. Companies using the tired, old model of a flat CPM are simply not evolving to deliver driver success.
• Accident-free pay. Instead of waiting for a quarterly (or even worse, an annual) safety bonus, Roehl Transport rewards truck drivers for their safe performance as they drive. Roehl drivers earn accident-free pay with every mile they drive. (In 2025, Roehl Transport drivers earned $3.3 million in safety incentives. Learn more by reading this article Roehl Transport Drivers Earn Safety Incentives.)

The practical result: when comparing weekly pay between carriers, ask not just what the CPM rate is, or even what the average weekly miles are. Also ask what the company is doing for drivers and why. Roehl Transport is built on values, like Safety, Innovation & Delivering Success. Roehl was founded by a truck driver with a single truck, and Roehl’s CEO is also a truck driver. From innovative ways to better calculate miles to evolving pay plans to rewarding performance and even per diem and wellness programs, Roehl Transport is an industry leader.

Beyond the Paycheck — Total Compensation

Weekly pay is the most visible number, but it’s not the complete picture of what a trucking job is worth. At Roehl, company drivers receive:

Benefits Package

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Life Insurance — Basic and Supplemental
• Short-Term Income Protection (STIP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• 401(k) with Profit-Sharing Contributions — described as one of the top contributions among US trucking companies
• Vacation and Holiday Pay
• Voluntary Benefits
• Company Discounts
• A robust health and wellness program

Additional Income Opportunities

• Driver Trainer incentives: Roehl has many opportunities for drivers to grow, including becoming a Certified Driver Trainer.As of July 2026, Roehl Certified Driver Trainers with at least one year on the job are averaging an extra $10,900 a year in trainer pay!
• Driver Referral Program: $1,500 for each experienced CDL driver successfully referred to Roehl. No limit on referrals or total rewards.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Truck Driver Pay

How much do truck drivers make per week?

It varies widely by fleet type, pay structure, and experience. Industry-wide, ZipRecruiter’s July 2026 data puts the CDL truck driver average at $1,406/week; the BLS median works out to about $1,127/week.

Roehl drivers make between $1,000-$2,200 a week, depending on the type of trailer pulled, how often a driver goes home and even where the driver lives.

How much do truck drivers make per year?

The BLS median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is $58,640/year as of May 2025. Top earners exceed $79,380/year.

As of July 2026, Roehl drivers with at least one year on the job are averaging $1,400 a week (nearly $73,000 a year). It's also important to know that the top 50% of Roehl drivers average $1,580 per week (over $82,000 a year).

Top earners at Roehl make more than $100,000 a year. Owner-operators gross significantly more but net income after expenses typically lands in the $80,000–$130,000 range.

How much do truck drivers make per mile?

OTR CPM rates at most major carriers run $0.45 to $0.75 per mile for experienced company drivers, with flatbed and specialized freight reaching $0.85 or higher. But CPM alone doesn’t determine take-home — it depends on weekly miles run, how mileage is calculated (HHG vs. practical vs. address-to-address), and whether activity pay is included. Roehl uses address-to-address practical route miles, which typically compensates 5–8% more miles than the HHG method most carriers still use, and Roehl drivers have Dynamic Pay Plans that better reward them for their time and performance.

How much do truck drivers make in their first year?

How much a driver earns during their first year depends on many factors, including how quickly someone builds stamina & learns the job, how much they go home and the type of trailer being pulled. Industry-wide, first-year company drivers typically earn between $45,000 and $65,000.

For those just starting out in trucking, Roehl offers on-the-job training to get a CDL-A. During CDL training through Roehl’s Get Your CDL™ program, drivers earn $616/week for three weeks. For those who recently obtained their CDL from a truck driving school (or from Roehl’s Get Your CDL program), they earn a daily rate while out with a Certified Truck Driver Trainer. Once a driver has their own truck, they will earn based on the fleet the driver is in, and they are on their way to $70k+!

What type of trucking pays the most?

Among OTR company fleets, flatbed consistently earns the highest average pay — at Roehl, the Flatbed OTR fleet averages $1,495/week with a top 50% of $1,695/week. Refrigerated drivers earn more than dry van drivers. Typically, the longer a driver stays out working, the more the driver can make.

How much do OTR truck drivers make?

Industry-wide, ZipRecruiter’s OTR truck driver data averages $1,573/week — about $81,820/year — as of May 2026. At Roehl, OTR national fleet averages are: Van OTR $1,305/week (top 50%: $1,450), Refrigerated OTR $1,425/week (top 50%: $1,570), Flatbed OTR $1,495,/week (top 50%: $1,695).

How much do local truck drivers make?

Local CDL-A driving jobs typically pay less per week than OTR because drivers run fewer miles. However, at Roehl, local and home daily fleet drivers earn regional driver pay rates rather than the reduced amounts that most companies pay for local work. As of July 2026, Roehl home daily fleet averages range from $1,000-$2,200/week depending on fleet type and location.

How much do flatbed truck drivers make?

Flatbed is consistently the highest-paying OTR freight category because of the additional skills and physical work required — cargo securement, tarping, loading oversight. At Roehl, the Flatbed OTR fleet averages $1,495/week, with the top 50% averaging $1,695/week and a ceiling near $2,500. Industry-wide, flatbed averages run 10–15% higher than van OTR.

How much do owner-operator truck drivers make?

Owner-operators gross significantly more than company drivers, but the gross figure includes all operating expenses. At Roehl, flatbed owner-operators average approximately $3,660/week gross — equivalent to over $190,000/year gross. After fuel, insurance, equipment, permits, and maintenance — which typically total $100,000–$150,000/year for a single-truck operation — net income usually falls in the $80,000–$130,000 range depending on operating efficiency.

What is a Dynamic Pay Plan?

Roehl’s Dynamic Pay Plans feature a higher rate per mile on shorter hauls because Roehl also considers the time involved, not just the miles driven. As a result, Roehl’s Dynamic Pay Plans better reward drivers for their time and performance.

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