Driving any commercial truck is a way of life for many Americans, but it is a serious occupation where you profit off miles logged, not time spent on the road. This could make any trucker wonder, how much money do I make per mile traveled? In doing a little research I found some answers to this question and determined a way we can check the numbers on our own.
What is the average truck driver pay per mile in 2019? This question’s answer is determined by the big 3 factors of experience, location, and the company paying the truck driver. On average, a truck driver is paid $0.40 per mile.
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL | AVERAGE PAY PER MILE RANGE |
| Rookie Wages (Little to no experience) | $0.27 – $0.29 |
| Some to Moderate Experience (At least 6 months to 1 year of experience) | $0.30 – $0.40 |
| Very Experienced (Many years & records of exceptional driving skill) | $0.41 – $0.50 |
More information on the chart above can be found here.
This $0.40 number describes ALL commercial truck drivers though, which can be misleading. The effects of each of the three factors are important to understand and will be discussed to indicate the wide range of pay per mile numbers that truckers receive.
Understanding How the Big 3 Factors Apply to Truck Driver Pay Per Mile
Experience
Truck drivers are typically paid anywhere between a range of $0.27 and $0.50 per mile. The factor of experience is easiest to understand by dividing the above range into sub-ranges that can be labeled within different levels of experience. These sub-ranges can be seen and explained further via the chart in the last section.
“The jobs that pay between $0.40 and $0.45 per mile are typically given to drivers with many years of experience and have exceptional driving skills.”
The quote directly above sums up the value of experience in the trucking industry very nicely. The skill and experience are how drivers earn the right to higher paying jobs with either a more valuable haul or a company that is kinder to its drivers. Experience might be the most important of the 3 factors in determining an individual’s per mile pay. It is also the easiest to fully understand.
Location
The location where a truck driver works is very important in determining truck driver pay per mile. Some states tax commercial semi-trucks that are registered within their states on their earnings.
- Truckers in Hawaii earn the lowest at $40,000
- Alaska truckers make $42,000 a year
- Truck drivers in Wisconsin earn an average of $44,000 a year
- In Idaho and Nebraska truckers make $45,000
- Truck drivers living in Arizona and Colorado earn $46,000 a year
- Truckers in Washington State, New Mexico, South Dakota and Pennsylvania make $47,000 a year
- The median average salary for truck drivers in Nevada, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina and North Carolina is $48,000
The list above are average annual incomes for truck drivers in various US states. The reason for these disparities is MOSTLY the result of legal differences amongst the states. For example, Hawaii has the worst average income because they limit the number of annual trucking jobs an individual can take.
Alaskans are lower on the list of states but for a different reason. The tough Alaskan terrain, shorter driving season and low population make the state less desirable as a trucker. Cities can also place taxes on semi-trucks registered to a business within their city limits, which can be seen in the list below.
- Los Angeles, CA is 3 percent lower
- Charlotte, NC trucking jobs earn 2 percent less
- Salt Lake City, UT and Dallas, TX truck drivers earn 1 percent less
- Phoenix, AZ truck drivers earn 5 percent less
One last general location factor that lowers pay, is driving more frequently in urban environments. Because driving semi-trucks through city streets is challenging and slow paced, driving more often in city locations would hurt one’s pay in most scenarios.
Company
While a detailed list of trucking companies with pay per mile rates for truck drivers could not be found, a link to the top 78 companies in terms of payment per hour can be found here. Company pay per mile differs mainly for three reasons, however. These factors are:
- Driver Friendly Company Culture
- Value of Goods Being Transported
- Incentives and Bonuses
The first factor is simply an inherent company culture of respect and value, or better pay for drivers. Some companies place A LOT on their driver’s shoulders, and make sure their drivers know they appreciate it. Other’s may just have a little more money because they are larger, more valuable companies.
The second factor is the value of what your company is transporting. If a trucker is hauling a load of diamonds that a company needs delivered twice a year, it is important said company takes proper care to assure that this delivery is made without any issue. But if the delivery consists of a less valuable and highly common product(s), then a driver may not be paid quite as much.
“Drivers who haul sensitive materials or have a lot of experience may earn $1,350, but don’t expect that kind of pay as a rookie.”
The third reason company pay differs is many companies successfully utilize incentives and bonuses for top mileage drivers, rewarding those who are the most efficient. This system naturally allows the companies with the best incentives to hire and retain the best workers.
Pros and Cons of a Per Mile Trucking Salary
“The ability to earn more per year as a paid per mile driver is often what keeps truck drivers in the driver’s seat.”
- Pros
- Being the most common way that truck drivers are paid, it is easier to track your expected pay for any given period.
- It averages out to a decent hourly wage, which is important for truckers to remember during slow patches on the road.
- Drivers paid per mile do tend to make more money than drivers paid via by the hour or salary.
- Cons
- Anything that slows a driver down. Traffic delays, having to drive on city streets at a slower pace, breakdowns, blowouts and inclement weather conditions are all examples of factors that can slow a per mile trucker down, and cost them money.
When observing the pros and cons of earning a living off a per mile trucking salary, its hard to not conclude that the pros outweigh the cons. While the $0.27 – $0.50 per mile payment range may seem like a vast disparity, it really is not. For all you know, you may only need 6 short months of experience and then a little luck in order to find the right trucking opportunity with a solid hourly pay rate.
Database of Trucking Jobs and Companies
If you are looking to find a database where job opportunities and additional questions can be answered, this link would be a great place to start. Simply select the state for which you are interested in browsing trucking jobs in and select the “Find Jobs” button to retrieve a detailed list of trucking companies looking to hire.
Under the detailed list of companies mentioned above, a “______Truck Driving Salary and Career Information” section exists for each US State. This section answers more questions relevant to the “Location” determinant factor as well as other important information like state specific licensing, relevant fees and associations of interest.