WHAT TYPE OF TRUCK DRIVING PAYS THE MOST? You want to get into the field of truck driving but are overwhelmed with all the options. One of the best ways to narrow down a job search is with the area of compensation. We’ll present you with some of the best-paying trucking jobs. What type of truck driving pays the most: Truck driving jobs that are out of the ordinary pay more money. Jobs that require extra training and certification, such as ice road drivers and oversized truckers, will pay more. The type of goods you transport, such as hazardous materials and luxury goods, will also result in higher pay. What truck driving job pays the most? Being a standard truck driver can pay a good rate. If you want to make more money, however, you need to look for specialized truck driving jobs. Any job that has a hazardous element to it, drives in remote areas or needs extra certification will come with a higher salary. 10 Best Paying Truck Driver Jobs Ice Road Trucking An ice road is a type of road that is built on a frozen surface. They exist in remote parts of the world and are integral to getting goods to small communities. The reason ice road trucking pays so well is that it can be dangerous. In the height of winter you have obstacles such as blizzards while at the beginning and end of winter, you can have slushy surfaces that are slippery. Tanker/Liquid Hauling Any time you have dangerous goods attached to your truck, your pay will increase. This is called hazard pay and definitely applies to a tanker with hazardous products. Trucks that haul flammable materials, such as gasoline have an increase in risk. This can also include hazmat materials. Often, you will need to be specially certified to transport hazardous material. However, the low cost of these courses is quickly offset by the extra income you will earn. Private Fleets Even though you can make a lot of money as an owner-operator truck driver, there are other opportunities that pay similar salaries. And, if you can find a company that has benefits and a good structure, there is less worry for you. Think of large companies, such as Walmart, that need to transport goods from warehouses to stores. The journeys are often shorter and you can be home more often knowing you have a set schedule. Oversized Loads The maximum width of a truck trailer is 102 inches. However, there are times when wider goods need to be transported. These oversized loads require more safety measures, including reduced speed and special signage. Any time there is specialization involved in trucking, the pay will increase. Mining Industry A lot of communities will specialize in mining or other industries that require special equipment. Dump trucks are especially needed in these situations, although they are larger than standard dump trucks. To be involved as a trucker in these industries, you will need special training and certifications. Also, workers often fly to work for a few weeks at a time in more remote areas, which means a lot of time away from their families. You will also need to live in an area with a reliable flight route. Team Driving One truck driver is only allowed to be on the road for a certain amount of time. In the United States, this is capped at 11 hours and must be followed by 10 hours of rest. With team driving, you have two or more people driving one truck, so one person can take over while the other sleep. This way you can transport goods faster and make continuous money. While it can be hard to team up with other people, husband-and-wife teams seem to be the most successful. They can live on the road for months at a time and work around the clock. Owner-operator Drivers Drivers who own their own trucks are able to make a lot of money in the trucking industry. While they do have to pay for a lot of costs, such as their truck, maintenance, and mileage, they are compensated well. You do have more personal risks attached to this avenue, so many drivers don’t start out as owner-operators. Instead, they will get valuable insight into driving and then make the transition to owning their own truck. Union Jobs As a whole, truck drivers that are part of a union make more money than non-unionized jobs. A union represents a large body of employees and can successfully negotiate higher pay and better benefits. Another benefit of a union job is there is a set wage increase, usually tied to the cost of living. You can be assured that your payment will increase each year. Specialty Vehicle Haulers Cars need to be transported around the country, and this is often done via truck. While care is needed no matter what you are hauling, it is especially true with luxury vehicles. These cars have price tags well into the six figures. If anything happens to them while en route, companies and buyers will be extremely disappointed. The extra care that is needed to transport specialty vehicles is reflected in the pay for drivers. Crude Oil Driver Similar to a truck that is transporting dangerous goods, a crude oil driver must be extra careful. They will need to be trained properly but the pay is reflected in this. What trucking company pays the most for new drivers While the pay of a truck driver will differ across regions, there are some companies that are known for their competitive compensation. New drivers have it the hardest as their salaries will start out smaller and only grow with experience. Swift Transportation is known for providing new drivers with a solid starting wage. US Xpress and Werner Enterprises are also good companies to drive with. Conclusion There are many types of truck driving jobs that pay well. Drivers who transport hazardous materials or who drive in remote areas such as over ice roads will earn more, even if they are a beginner.
