Car Hauling Driver Salaries

Good, experienced car haulers don't come cheap. I wouldn't go for less than $120k/ yr. Trouble is, rates suck, since so many flooded into this space in the last 15 years or so.

 

Pretty much if you good at flatbed then your going to make more money doing what you are good at. Auto carriers is no differnt then anything else at the end of the year they all pay the same

 

Hi Peter, good carhaulers are a unique breed. It's one thing to 'do it for a while' (or) until you 'get tired of it' or crunch your first roof and get scared off.

Unfortunately, most anyone can walk in your office and claim to be a carhauler. Be careful when hiring a carhauler.

Salary or commission rates vary. (20 - 30 percent) of hauling revenue based on experience and ability to contribute. What I mean by that is many drivers come with a following of dealers, brokers and customers that can greatly enhance your revenue. For instance; a driver who can dispatch himself, is honest, keeps the truck loaded and communicates well is worth 30 percent. A driver who simply loads / unloads / drives the truck with little experience is a twenty percenter.

(getting your hands on one with years of experience who can keep the truck loaded on his own is a precious commodity) I actually have seen very few who worked for others.

Hope the info helps / my best to you.

 

I agree with Emmett123, Its hard to get a good experienced carhauler I have close to 10yrs doing it with the same company.. And I have dealers that call me to say they have a load of cars for me I then let my company no (lol) I have dealers that wont let the other drivers haul there cars and If im booked they wait until they can get me... Im leaving the company at the end of this month due to moving out of state.. The owner of the company wrote a letter of recommendation for me and a bunch of the dealers I haul for said If I need a reference feel free to give out there number..

To bad your In PA and Im moving to FL..lol But I would just do your home work on the driver you hire. And if you find one that has yrs of experience and comes recommended treat him right give him a nice truck and pay him good..

 

I retired from carhauling 10 years ago ....Good carhaulers don't come cheap....I was making 50 K in the late seventies when freight and tank drivers were lucky if they made 30 K....$2500.00 weeks were the norm for me the last few years before I retired.. Carhaulers are a different breed because the driver is handed a mixed load of cars and he is totally on his own to know how to make it fit and haul with NO damage..It's almost like the driver owns the truck because He is the one responsible for EVERYTHING after being dispatched....Loading ( in all kinds of nasty weather ) inspecting the units.....dodging the trees and low bridges and finally at the dealer being the company's PR man.....The driver is usually the ONLY person from his company that the customer ever sees....Don't expect to find two good carhaulers and expect them to run team.....I wouldn't...........A great EXPERIENCED carhauler would cost about 125K per year and would expect good benefits.....ANYONE can hook on a freight box and blunder from point A too point B....That's why they are a dime a dozen and Swift and England can " train " them for a few weeks and turn them lose......Great carhaulers have YEARS of experience and knowlege

 

Sorry - Off Topic.

Hey Tex - Long time no speak Ol' Buddy - How ya bin ?

 

My Opinion;

I worked for an O/O before and after doing the math, I don't see how a driver with a lot of experience driving your one truck and you the owner can profit at the same time. It's hard enough for you the O/O to make a living doing all the work yourself. A lot of un-learned drivers see working for an O/O as an opportunity to have more freedom, a nicer, faster truck etc;

After the thrill has worn off and they realize they aren't making that much, they will move on. I'm just telling you to be careful with your expectations. Learning how to haul cars takes time and hiring a new car hauler with minimum experience can cost you and your insurance dearly. I'm an experienced car hauler of 10 yrs and if I can't make $90K - $100K a year as a company driver, something's wrong.

I don't think you will be willing to pay an experienced car hauler that much and expect to still make a profit.

 

I agree with all of the above.