The place you reside in significantly influences your career while looking for a trucking job. It affects not just the geographical places you will be traveling through and the weather you will experience but also the accessibility of employment, possible income, and cost of living.
Check out our list of the top cities for truck driving jobs below if you are considering moving or are open to it if it offers greater possibilities. This might help you reduce your list of options for your next step and increase your professional contentment as a truck driver.
Top Routes
Florida is perhaps the finest state for CDL drivers since some of the most popular routes begin there. Orlando, Florida, and Lakeland, Florida, are two of the greatest locations for truck drivers to reside in, based on routes.
Excellent beginning points for trips that go north along the East Coast or west to California are these two Central Florida locales. They make excellent local roads inside Florida as well.
There are many fantastic stopping places in Florida and also on routes to or from it, which is another factor contributing to its ranking as one of the greatest states for truck drivers. If you are traveling a long distance, there are plenty of spots to stop & break up your journey.
Best Weather/Driving Conditions
In addition to Florida, which has excellent driving conditions, California and Texas also have excellent driving conditions. Houston, Texas, and Dallas, Texas, two large cities with great driving conditions, may be at the top of your list. If you would like a smaller city, Odessa, Texas, can be a place to look at.
Although driving in California is often chosen owing to the state’s typically excellent road conditions, several truck drivers are discouraged by the state’s high cost of living and the gridlock in Los Angeles and San Francisco. While these are undoubtedly important variables to consider, Sacramento, California, is an excellent option if you want to enjoy all the advantages of California’s climate with fewer drawbacks.
Availability of Jobs
Atlanta, Georgia, and Indianapolis, Indiana, according to data by SpareFoot and Indeed, have the greatest truck driving jobs available nationwide. This firmly establishes the two regions as among the greatest locations for starting a trucking company and finding a trucking career.
Dallas and Houston, previously mentioned because of their climate, are ranked third and fourth in employment availability. Charlotte, North Carolina, completes the top 5. If you want to relocate but are concerned that you will not be able to find a trucking job there, research these areas first.
Average Salary
The average wage is also included in the report from Sparefoot and Indeed. Atlanta is at the top of the list, with an average pay of $64,000. Chicago, Illinois, is in second place.
As you would have expected, as the cost of living increases, the average pay also tends to increase. These two elements are interrelated. Thus it is important to think about both of them while choosing. Make sure to look at Phoenix, Arizona, and Memphis, Tennessee, two other places with high average incomes.
Cost of Living
There is no established method to formally calculate the cost of living since many variables are involved. Average housing prices and average rent may be considered when determining the cost of living.
A wonderful place to look is Kansas City, Missouri, which offers decent average pay and a cheaper cost of living than other major cities. When thinking about the cost of living, another city to add to your list is Columbus, Ohio.
All of these elements should be considered when choosing a location to call home as you prepare for your career in the trucking business. Depending on what is essential to you, you may rate certain variables higher than others. Check out our CDL training course if you are just starting in the trucking industry and need some training.
