You might think that the Best Paying Driving Jobs CDL are those that involve hauling massive loads or traveling long distances. After all, you’re expected to spend quite a lot of time in the cab of your truck before you see any money. However, several variables can impact how much money you make as a CDL driver with your commercial license. You might have heard about the benefits of being a company driver and signing on with an organization like CRST or Swift.
These companies offer their drivers great pay and benefits in exchange for agreeing to work exclusively for them. While this may not be something that interests you right now, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort it takes to find one of these positions, it could pay off big time down the road. We’ll explore some of the factors that influence how much money you can expect to make as a CDL driver by looking at three different areas: region, company, and type of cargo hauled.
By the Numbers: The Best Paying Driving Jobs for CDL Drivers
First, let’s look at some numbers that show us the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a truck driver in the United States is $42,440.
The top 10% of CDL drivers earn around $66,000 per year, while the bottom 10% earn less than $25,000. While these numbers give us a good idea of the average pay for truck drivers, they don’t tell us much about the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers. The best paying driving jobs depend on several factors. We’ll explore some of the most important ones below.
Regional Variations
The first factor that impacts how much money you can expect to earn as a CDL driver is your region. The best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers are those that involve driving in the places where pay is highest. This is why it’s important to know where the best paying driving jobs are before you sign on with a company.
For example, the average annual salary for a truck driver in the Pacific region is $50,190, while the average annual salary for a truck driver in the South-Central region is $37,350. This brings us to our next factor, which is more important than region.
Company Variations
The best paying driving jobs are the ones that pay the most, and the company you choose to drive for will have a significant impact on how much money you make. This is why it’s so important to choose a company carefully when you first start as a CDL driver.
A quick look at some of the top trucking companies in the country shows us how much money you can expect to make with each one. For example, the average annual salary for a truck driver at J.B. Hunt is $72,000, while the average annual salary at CRST is $72,800.
Keep in mind that these numbers are averages, which means that some truck drivers at these companies make a lot more while others make a lot less. However, they do give us an idea of what the best paying driving jobs are.
Type of Cargo Hauled
Another factor that impacts how much money you can expect to make as a CDL driver is the type of cargo you haul. While this may seem like a minor detail, it’s very important. If you’re driving a refrigerated truck, for example, you can expect to make a lot more than if you’re simply hauling loose materials like sand or gravel.
Three types of freight are most profitable to haul: refrigerated, oversized, and dangerous. If you can find a company that allows you to haul one of these types of cargo, you can expect to make a lot more money than you would with a standard load.
Final Words
These are just a few of the factors that will impact how much money you can expect to make as a CDL driver. While you can’t control some factors like the current trucking industry and the economy as a whole, you can control a few important things. First, you can choose the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers by targeting the highest-paying regions.
Next, you can choose the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers by picking a company that pays its drivers well. Finally, you can increase your earnings by hauling the most profitable types of cargo and working as hard as you can.
The Best Paying Driving Jobs for CDL Drivers
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You might think that the best paying driving jobs are those that involve hauling massive loads or traveling long distances. After all, you’re expected to spend quite a lot of time in the cab of your truck before you see any money. However, several variables can impact how much money you make as a CDL driver with your commercial license. You might have heard about the benefits of being a company driver and signing on with an organization like CRST or Swift.
These companies offer their drivers great pay and benefits in exchange for agreeing to work exclusively for them. While this may not be something that interests you right now, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort it takes to find one of these positions, it could pay off big time down the road. We’ll explore some of the factors that influence how much money you can expect to make as a CDL driver by looking at three different areas: region, company, and type of cargo hauled.
By the Numbers: The Best Paying Driving Jobs for CDL Drivers
First, let’s look at some numbers that show us the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a truck driver in the United States is $42,440.
The top 10% of CDL drivers earn around $66,000 per year, while the bottom 10% earn less than $25,000. While these numbers give us a good idea of the average pay for truck drivers, they don’t tell us much about the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers. The best paying driving jobs depend on several factors. We’ll explore some of the most important ones below.
Regional Variations
The first factor that impacts how much money you can expect to earn as a CDL driver is your region. The best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers are those that involve driving in the places where pay is highest. This is why it’s important to know where the best paying driving jobs are before you sign on with a company.
For example, the average annual salary for a truck driver in the Pacific region is $50,190, while the average annual salary for a truck driver in the South-Central region is $37,350. This brings us to our next factor, which is more important than region.
Company Variations
The best paying driving jobs are the ones that pay the most, and the company you choose to drive for will have a significant impact on how much money you make. This is why it’s so important to choose a company carefully when you first start as a CDL driver.
A quick look at some of the top trucking companies in the country shows us how much money you can expect to make with each one. For example, the average annual salary for a truck driver at J.B. Hunt is $72,000, while the average annual salary at CRST is $72,800.
Keep in mind that these numbers are averages, which means that some truck drivers at these companies make a lot more while others make a lot less. However, they do give us an idea of what the best paying driving jobs are.
Type of Cargo Hauled
Another factor that impacts how much money you can expect to make as a CDL driver is the type of cargo you haul. While this may seem like a minor detail, it’s very important. If you’re driving a refrigerated truck, for example, you can expect to make a lot more than if you’re simply hauling loose materials like sand or gravel.
Three types of freight are most profitable to haul: refrigerated, oversized, and dangerous. If you can find a company that allows you to haul one of these types of cargo, you can expect to make a lot more money than you would with a standard load.
Final Words
These are just a few of the factors that will impact how much money you can expect to make as a CDL driver. While you can’t control some factors like the current trucking industry and the economy as a whole, you can control a few important things. First, you can choose the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers by targeting the highest-paying regions.
Next, you can choose the best paying driving jobs for CDL drivers by picking a company that pays its drivers well. Finally, you can increase your earnings by hauling the most profitable types of cargo and working as hard as you can.
References:
- Truck-Driving Jobs: Are They Headed for Rapid Elimination?
https://doi.org/10.1177/001979391985807 - Physiological workload evaluation of screw driving tasks in automobile assembly jobs
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169814101000312
