Welcome to the TruckersReport Ultimate Industry Guide for 2011 - everything you need to get started in trucking or advance your existing career. Here we've listed the salaries you can expect across the country, the best states for earning, fuel prices, which companies are hiring, local CDL institutions and more.
Average Trucking Salaries By State
It's interesting to note that there is very little correlation between average state earnings and trucker's salaries - for instance, Alaska and Hawaii are among the lowest earning states for truckers, but both are in the top ten highest for general earnings. Similarly, the average Mississippian household only brings in $36,650 (the lowest in the country), but it's the top place for truckers who average $68,000 a year.
| State | Wages (per year) |
State | Wages (per year) |
State | Wages (per year) |
State | Wages (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $40,000 | Kansas | $48,000 | Ohio | $50,000 | Missouri | $55,000 |
| Alaska | $42,000 | Oklahoma | $48,000 | Florida | $50,000 | Vermont | $55,000 |
| Wisconsin | $44,000 | South Carolina | $48,000 | Arkansas | $51,000 | Connecticut | $55,000 |
| Idaho | $45,000 | North Carolina | $48,000 | Montana | $52,000 | Illinois | $56,000 |
| Nebraska | $45,000 | Louisiana | $49,000 | North Dakota | $52,000 | Indiana | $56,000 |
| Arizona | $46,000 | Michigan | $49,000 | Virginia | $53,000 | Alabama | $56,000 |
| Colarado | $46,000 | Maine | $49,000 | New Hampshire | $53,000 | West Virgin | $58,000 |
| Washington | $47,000 | Delaware | $49,000 | Rhode Island | $53,000 | Massachusetts | $59,000 |
| New Mexico | $47,000 | Oregon | $50,000 | New Jersey | $53,000 | Washington | $59,000 |
| South Dak | $47,000 | Texas | $50,000 | Maryland | $53,000 | New York | $60,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,000 | Minnesota | $50,000 | Kentucky | $54,000 | Wyoming | $61,000 |
| Nevada | $48,000 | Iowa | $50,000 | Georgia | $54,000 | Mississipi | $68,000 |
| Utah | $48,000 | Tennessee | $50,000 | California | $55,000 |
Click here to view a breakdown of the top ten states
Data compiled, with thanks, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National Average Salaries by Speciality
| Average US national Salaries of full-time drivers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat haulers | $34,000 | Household goods drivers | $54,000 |
| Vocational drivers | $35,000 | Local drivers | $55,000 |
| Dry van | $44,000 | Tanker drivers | $55,000 |
| Reefer drivers | $46,000 | Auto haulers | $59,000 |
| Team drivers | $51,000 | Flat bed | $60,000 |
| Interstate drivers | $53,000 | Regional drivers | $67,000 |
| Dry bulk pneumatic | $53,000 | LTL drivers | $84,000 |
Data compiled from Indeed.com
Break Down of Best States for Truck Driver Earnings
Below is a breakdown of the best states for earning a living with trucking jobs based on national averages. Click on each tab to see salary details, companies hiring in the state and institutes offering commercial license training.
Also included are links direct to the recruitment portal of each company (in addition to CDL training websites, where possible).
Mississippi Average Salary: $68,000
Average Salary: $68,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.46
Mild - $3.59
Premium - $3.59
Diesel - $3.78
Trucking Schools in Mississippi:
East Central Cc Truck Driving Training (601-635-2111)
East Mississippi Community
College (662-243-1949)
Holmes
Cc Truck Driver Training (662-472-2312)
NW Mississippi Community College, Olive Branch (662-895-7600)
NW Mississippi Community College, Senatobia (662-562-3200)
Itawamba Community College (601-680-8509)
Companies Hiring in Mississippi:
Dillon Transport (Recruitment: 601-787-3010)
Pay details: $1000 per week average
Average Miles per Week: 2,500
Notes: Minimum 2 years of experience. Pays weekly.
Celadon Trucking (Recruitment: 800-729-9770)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Check for team hire in Mississippi. Minimum 9 months of experience.
Heartland Express (Recruitment: 800-441-4953)
Pay details: Starting around $0.40 per mile
Average Miles per Week: 2,200 to 2,500
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. Hires teams (for double mileage). Bonus for HAZMAT
Other Resources:
Mississippi Trucking Association
Wyoming Average Salary: $61,000
Average Salary: $61,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.27
Mild - $3.36
Premium - $3.45
Diesel - $3.84
Trucking Schools in Wyoming:
Sage Truck Driving School, Casper
(1-800-307-0242)
Sage Truck Driving School,
Cheyenne (1-800-307-0242)
Companies Hiring in Wyoming:
Giltner, Inc. (Recruitment: 877-445-8637)
Pay details: $1000 per week average
Average Miles per Week: 2,500
Notes: Minimum 2 years of experience. No DUI or felony.
Hunt Transportation (Recruitment: 888-228-9685)
Pay details: Between $0.39 and $0.42 per mile
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. Has rider programs. Debt-free company.
Swift Transportation (Recruitment: 866-902-0940)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week:1,500
Notes: No minimum experience. Lenient on DUI/Felony. One day home time for every six out.
Other Resources:
New York Average Salary: $60,000
Average Salary: $60,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.75
Mild - $3.87
Premium - $3.98
Diesel - $4.19
Trucking Schools in New York:
Advanced Truck Driving School, Levittown (516 735-0217)
All Star Driving School, Albany (518-459-4952)
Sunny Truck Driving School,
(718-353-6745)
Companies Hiring in New York:
Arrow Critical Supply Solutions (Recruitment: 516-487-0800)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: 2,500 to 3,500
Notes: Minimum 3 years of experience. Hires teams (estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 miles per week). Owner operators only.
George Hildebrandt Inc (Recruitment: 518-851-3022)
Pay details: Variable, pays weekly
Average Miles per Week: 1,800 to 2,600
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. Has rider programs. Debt-free company.
Swift Transportation (Recruitment: 866-902-0940)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: 1,800 to 2,600
Notes: Minimum 2 years of experience. 100% fuel surcharge to owner operators.
Other Resources:
Washington DC Average Salary: $59,000
Average Salary: $59,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.65
Mild - $3.77
Premium - $3.87
Diesel - $4.11
Trucking Schools in Washington DC:
Brentwood Commercial Driver's License Center (311-737-4404)
FFE (Recruitment: 1-800-569-9232)
Pay details: $0.31 and up. $0.38 for teams
Average Miles per Week: 2,500
Notes: No experience necessary - has driving school. Van and reefer haulage. Sign up bonus may apply.
Heartland Express (Recruitment: 800-441-4953)
Pay details: Starting around $0.40 per mile
Average Miles per Week: 2,200 to 2,500
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. HAZMAT preferred. Hires teams.
Other Resources:
Massachusetts Average Salary: $59,000
Average Salary: $59,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.50
Mild - $3.63
Premium - $3.74
Diesel - $3.98
Trucking Schools in Massachusetts:
Allied Career School, Methuen (603-685-0205)
Amaral Truck Driving School, Westport
(508-324-0551)
Companies Hiring in Massachusetts:
Eastern Freight Ways (Recruitment: 800-428-6193 ext. 234)
Pay details: $915 weekly average for flatbed plus benefits.
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Flatbed and vans. 95% of weekends off.
Heartland Express (Recruitment: 800-441-4953)
Pay details: Starting around $0.40 per mile
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. HAZMAT preferred. Hires teams.
Other Resources:
West Virginia Average Salary: $58,000
Average Salary: $58,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.48
Mild - $3.62
Premium - $3.75
Diesel - $3.82
Trucking Schools in West Virginia:
Boone Country Trucking School, Danville (304-85-5045)
Pia Trucking Program, Dunbar (304-766-7332)
Pia Trucking Program, Clarksburg (304-624-6666)
Companies Hiring in West Virginia:
RAM Nationwide, Inc (Recruitment: 513-821-0010)
Pay details: Around $0.37 per mile DOE
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Local fleets available. Minimum 2 years experience. No DUI or felony.
J&R Schugel, Inc (Recruitment: 800-359-0101)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: 2,200 to 2,500
Notes: Minimum six months of experience. Reefer and dry van. Home weekly.
Other Resources:
Alabama Average Salary: $56,000
Average Salary: $56,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.46
Mild - $3.60
Premium - $3.74
Diesel - $3.81
Trucking Schools in Alabama:
Alabama Drivers Academy, Eastaboga
(888-703-7483)
Alabama Drivers Academy, Theodore
(888-414-7483)
John M Patterson State Technical College, Montgomery (334-288-1080)
Bevill State Community College, Sumiton
(800-648-3271)
Companies Hiring in Alabama:
Ceva Ground (Recruitment: 888-862-4593)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: 2,500 (5,000 for teams)
Notes: Van owner operators only. Must have HAZMAT. Hires teams.
YRC Glen Moore, Inc (Recruitment: 888-468-3748)
Pay details: Company driver variable. Owner operator around $0.92 per mile
Average Miles per Week: 2,500 (5,500 for teams)
Notes: No experience necessary. Sign on bonus may apply.
Melton Truck Lines (Recruitment: 877-462-3528)
Pay details: Starts at $0.34
Average Miles per Week: 2,200 to 2,500
Notes: Offers flatbed experience. Paid orientation. Rider programs for spouse, children and pets.
Other Resources:
Indiana Average Salary: $56,000
Average Salary: $56,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.60
Mild - $3.69
Premium - $3.80
Diesel - $3.93
Trucking Schools in Indiana:
Commercial Driver Training Consultants, Indianapolis (317-545-6852)
Companies Hiring in Indiana:
Hornady Transportation LLC (Recruitment: 800-441-4271)
Pay details: $0.39 to $0.42 per mile
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: $2,000 sign on bonus may apply. Orientation pay. Minimum 6 months of experience. No teams.
FFE (Recruitment: 1-800-569-9232)
Pay details: $0.31 and up. $0.38 for teams
Average Miles per Week: 2,500
Notes: No experience necessary - has driving school. Van and reefer haulage. Sign up bonus may apply.
Shaffer Trucking (Recruitment: 800-998-2221)
Pay details: $0.37 to $0.43
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Minimum 6 months experience. Must live within 50 miles of Indianapolis. Hires teams and owner operators.
Other Resources:
Illinois Average Salary: $56,000
Average Salary: $56,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.65
Mild - $3.68
Premium - $3.89
Diesel - $3.92
Trucking Schools in Illinois:
Star Truck Driving School, four sites
in Illinois (630-236-7200)
John Wood Community
College, Quincy (217-641-4309)
Illinois Valley Community
College, Oglesby (815-224-2720)
Companies Hiring in Illinois:
Core Carrier Corporation (Recruitment: 888-454-2673)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: 2,400 to 2,800
Notes: $1,800 sign on bonus may apply. Orientation pay. Minimum one year of experience. No teams.
J&R Schugel, Inc (Recruitment: 800-359-0101)
Pay details:Variable
Average Miles per Week: 2,200 to 2,500
Notes: Minimum six months of experience. Reefer and dry van. Home weekly.
Heartland Express (Recruitment: 800-441-4953)
Pay details: Starting around $0.40 per mile
Average Miles per Week: Variable
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. HAZMAT preferred. Hires teams.
Other Resources:
Connecticut Average Salary: $55,000
Average Salary: $55,000
Fuel Prices:
Regular - $3.75
Mild - $3.86
Premium - $3.98
Diesel - $4.12
Trucking Schools in Connecticut:
Allstate Commercial Driver Training,
Shelton (203-922-8252)
AB
CDL Driver Training Center, Waterford (866-354-4048)
Companies Hiring in Connecticut:
George Hildebrandt Inc (Recruitment: 518-851-3022)
Pay details: Variable, pays weekly
Average Miles per Week: 1,800 to 2,600
Notes: Minimum one year of experience. Has rider programs. Debt-free company.
Swift Transportation (Recruitment: 866-902-0940)
Pay details: Variable
Average Miles per Week: 1,800 to 2,600
Notes: Minimum 2 years of experience. 100% fuel surcharge to owner operators.
FFE (Recruitment: 1-800-569-9232)
Pay details: $0.31 and up. $0.38 for teams
Average Miles per Week: 2,500
Notes: No experience necessary - has driving school. Van and reefer haulage. Sign up bonus may apply.
Other Resources: