{"id":2469,"date":"2017-11-15T13:56:39","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T18:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2021-07-12T11:45:36","modified_gmt":"2021-07-12T15:45:36","slug":"truck-driver-salary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/truck-driver-salary\/","title":{"rendered":"Truck Driver Salary: Optimize Your Earnings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;2469&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this post&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;5\\\/5 - (3 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Truck Driver Salary: Optimize Your Earnings&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;142.5&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 142.5px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            5\/5 - (3 votes)    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you explore new career paths, it\u2019s important to research the average earnings in your industry. If you\u2019re wondering how much&nbsp;money truck drivers make, check out what factors influence the pay and see how you can optimize your truck driver&#8217;s salary now!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t feel like reading? Learn more about trucker pay in this podcast episode!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Much Do Truck Drivers Make? What You Need to Know\" width=\"838\" height=\"471\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nqB6vnEsXg0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Truck Driver Salary FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the Average Trucker Salary?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your truck driver salary will depend on a variety of factors. Your trucking company and the type of position you take will impact your wages. Truck driver salaries may also vary depending on which part of the country you\u2019re working in. One of the biggest differences in trucker salaries is the method in which they\u2019re paid. Some truck drivers are paid by time, while others are paid per mile. Keeping these factors in mind, salary averages range from $40,000 on the lower end and can reach up to $90,000 at the higher end.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is My Truck Driver Salary Fair? <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although truckers have the potential to earn a substantial amount of cash, many feel that their wages are unfair. Although you may be spending hours on the road, you may not be getting paid for all of them. If you\u2019re paid by the mile&nbsp;then you won\u2019t be paid for the time you spend sitting in traffic or waiting for shipments to be loaded and unloaded. This time is unaccounted for, and you won\u2019t be compensated. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Will the ELD Mandate Impact My Truck Driver Salary?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/who-is-exempt-from-the-eld-rule\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ELD Mandate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track driving patterns. The device knows when your engine is running, and it sends the information to law enforcement officials and those managing shipments. The purpose of ELDs is to make driving conditions safer. There\u2019s a lot of controversy surrounding the ELD Mandate, as people argue whether it will actually increase safety or just cause delivery and scheduling issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optimize Your Trucker Salary &amp; Save Money While on the Road<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Take Advantage of Tax Breaks<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of tax breaks that may pertain to you. Truck drivers can claim tax deductions for a variety of reasons (including food costs, cell phone plans, truck repairs, etc.), but it\u2019s important to understand the limitations. Your company reimbursements and type of employment can affect your eligibility. See what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/truck-driver-tax-deductions\/\">tax deductions<\/a>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you may be missing out on!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Get Rewards Cards<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since you\u2019ll be frequenting a lot of the same gas stations and restaurant chains, look into the rewards they have to offer. Learning about deals and discounts can save you a lot of cash. You can also search for <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/clark.com\/deals-money-saving-advice\/restaurant-apps-top-free-food-discounts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discount apps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that will give you even more deals!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food.jpg\" alt=\"fast food\" width=\"2508\" height=\"1672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food.jpg 2508w, https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food-321x214.jpg 321w, https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/fast-food-140x94.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2508px) 100vw, 2508px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Cut Down on the Fast Food<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only is fast food unhealthy, it can also get expensive. Instead of eating out, try packing your own food. By preparing your own meals, you can save money and have a healthier lifestyle. Check out these <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/healthy-meal-ideas-truck-drivers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy meal ideas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your next travel assignment!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Avoid Lodging Costs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most companies won\u2019t pay for hotels. Spending nights in the cab is the best way to avoid lodging costs, but when you\u2019re traveling for weeks at a time, the cab can get pretty uncomfortable. When planning out your truck driving assignments, map out your routes. See if you have any family or friends in the area that would allow you to spend the night. You can avoid the cab for a night, and avoid the cost of a hotel. If this isn\u2019t an option, limit your hotel stays as much as possible. If you do decide to stay at hotels, try to stay at the same brand. You\u2019ll earn rewards and get discounts on future stays.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Set A Budget<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s easy to overspend. Being conscious of how much your spending can help put things into perspective. Come up with a budget for how much you\u2019ll spend on the road. Allow a small budget for food and emergency spending. If you\u2019ll be traveling on longer assignments, you may want to consider having a lodging budget so you can have a proper shower once in awhile. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ready to make the next step in your career and start earning your own truck driver salary? Check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/jobs\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">truck driving jobs <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">we have available now!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While you explore new career paths, it\u2019s important to research the average earnings in your industry. If you\u2019re wondering how much&nbsp;money truck drivers make, check out what factors influence the pay and see how you can optimize your truck driver&#8217;s salary now! Don&#8217;t feel like reading? Learn more about trucker pay in this podcast episode! 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