Truck Driver Salaries
Filed under: Truck Driving Jobs, trucking
The United States trucking industry hauls more than nine billion tons of the country’s freight every year. That works out to be over 64 percent of the nation’s cargo. How important is trucking to American consumers? The number of communities that solely depend on trucking for the delivery of their merchandise is a staggering seventy (70) percent!
If the American truckers decided to go on strike, this country would be doomed. Within a matter of days store shelves would be empty, and all the necessities that we, the consumers, take for granted would be gone. Within a week’s time, we would have the appearance of a third world country. It’s true what they say . . . “Without Trucks . . . America STOPS!”
The trucking industry brings in a yearly revenue estimated at slightly over 255 billion dollars. Common carriers yearly revenue is estimated at nearly 98 billion. This is no easy task, since the operating ratio for these trucking companies is estimated at approximately 95.2 percent, meaning that for every dollar in revenue, it costs the trucking company 95.2 cents to operate. This gives them a profit of only 4.8 cents per dollar. There are a lot of miles being driven!
On the average, an over the road trucker will run 100,000 miles per year. That is the same as driving around the Earth four times! As an over the road driver for 21 years, accumulating approximately 2,220,000 miles, it is the same as having driven around our planet slightly more than 89 times. I know professional drivers who have accomplished five million miles in their careers . . . that is 200.75 times around the Earth! Amazing when you think about it.
What can a driver expect to make in salary for all these miles? The average company driver now earns between $32,400 and $42,300 . . . depending on the size of the company. The majority of owner operators gross salaries ranging between $100,000 and $150,000 per year, but with an average operating cost of 50%, their net income averages $50,000 to $75,000 . . . if they’re lucky.
If a company “promises” that you will earn $60,000 per year or more as a company driver, be very leery. It just does not happen in the real world. The over all average per year . . . $35,000 gross. Is this worth all the stress and headaches that come with over the road trucking? Is it worth being away from your family for long periods of time? These are questions you will have to ask yourself and contemplate with your loved ones.
Trucking is an enormous asset to our country and our way of life. The general public does not understand this. As a driver, you play a major role in keeping our “way of life” going. Don’t forget that when you are traveling around the Earth.
About the Author:
Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of the first and original: Truth About Trucking, as well as How to Guarantee a “Perfect” Move. An expert in motor carrier transportation, he assists new drivers entering into truck driving careers by exposing the scams of the trucking industry. Please visit www.truthabouttrucking.com today, to learn more.
company driver, over the road trucking, trucking, trucking companies, trucking industry
January 13th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Hmmmm, I have been driving for about a year and though the art of driving is a hoot all the rest of it is crap. Ahmmmm lots of pro bono labor, which averaging out leaves me earing about 3 dollars an hour before taxes.
What would be interesting is to drop those trailers and bobtail for a couple of weeks to wake this government and people up.
January 13th, 2008 at 3:19 am
We’ve been saying that for awhile. Without trucks this country would come to a dead hault.
What’s really sad, is that now, not only do the trucking companies give it to the driver as an employee, but the schools gives it to them before they even become drivers. Double whammy
There are some good companies however, and some good schools too. Just have to be wise.
March 8th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I was an OTR driver for three years until the romance wore off, I started driving local for low wages but still averaged more take home pay with out all the cost of living expences! Even now as a local O/O hauling fuel I do well. I like this web site it feels right to me!
March 8th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Larry,
Thanks for all your comments and input.
Just read on a blog today that many Owner Operators are having a tough time with the fuel prices.
How are you doing with that?
Allen
March 9th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Hello Allen, well I am managing to thrive by just running mostly local and usually no more than 130 miles from our terminal. We get a surchg. on fuel with our hauled loads and it helps some. I am a gas hauler leased to a co. and I parked my truck 3 mo. ago after paying it off! However, myself and my wife have decided to obtain our own Operating Authority, we’re buying our own tanker trl and going to operate that way for awhile. I prefer to haul fuel after 3 yrs of OTR, it pays well is quality work and I am off 2 days aweek! And can make a living. Sorry if I took awhile to get back on this question but I did’nt know I had been asked. Anyway, I have ordered your materials and it is truly a breath of fresh air to hear truth spoken on our beloved Industry! I Love the trucks. The industry needs to learn how to treat people but that aside it’s been a good career. Thanks.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I hear ya’. I have made a good living with trucking but not after a whole lot of hard-knocks!! This material is for those newbies out there. I want it to work for them, if that is what they want to do….they just shouldn’t have to go through what the “old-timers” have suffered and now know to be true.
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