How Much are Professional Truckers Making?

This question is often asked by current professional truckers and people interested in becoming professional truckers. Answering this question requires a bit more nuance, because the pay for professional truckers is mostly based on what kind of trucking they do, and their experience. Regardless of what type of trucking a professional driver is involved in, trucking is a rewarding career. In this article we will focus on the pay for (OTR) over-the-road truckers.

Trucker’s Pay per Mileage

How much a trucker is paid varies, but most companies pay based on mileage. The average OTR trucker receives $0.45 – $0.75 a mile. With the average pay hovering around $0.50 a mile. Most OTR truckers for larger companies bring in about $52,000 a year. A professional truck driver with two years of experience will generally bring home $60,000 – $65,000 a year. While this is good pay for rookie truck drivers, and decent pay for local or regional truckers, OTR truckers should be making more.

Trucker’s Pay per Percentage Gross Load

Many trucking companies pay based on the percentage of gross load. With the range being as low as 25% up to 80% gross load. This type of pay method is great for good drivers working with great dispatchers. Good drivers who are on the road to work can gross up to $300,000 a year, but often there will be expenses associated with being paid gross load. After all expenses, drivers can expect to net $75,000 – $150,000 a year, depending on company and trucker ability.

Which Pay Package do Experienced Truckers Prefer?

Truckers who get paid based on percentage of gross load are more satisfied than those being paid mileage. Based on a study produced by Stay Metrics, have found that professional truckers paid percentage felt that their pay was fair compared to their amount of work. Drivers that are paid percentage are 31% more satisfied than their counterparts paid hourly or by mileage. “Tim Judge, Director of Research at Stay Metrics, noted that research shows that there is a high correlation between perceived input into one’s pay and pay satisfaction.”