How Lucrative is a Career in Trucking?

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So, how much money do truckers make? In other Progressive Truck School blog posts, we’ve covered the current truck driver shortage – there’s currently a demand for drivers with CDLs. Current projections indicate a projected growth of 1.1 million jobs in the trucking sector through the end of 2014.

In the current state of trucking, a career in tucking can be extremely lucrative. After earning a CDL certification, like the CDL certification offered at Progressive Truck Driving School., drivers’ average anywhere from $30,000-$80,000/year!  Also, in the trucking industry its common for employers to offer guaranteed annual raises to drivers along with generous benefits packages (medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid vacations, etc.).

Experience, location, and cost-of-living can affect salary and compensation packages. Also, in trucking, the level of certification (including HAZMAT licensing) can affect driver compensation. Some experienced drivers (often in teams) report income of over $100,000; truckers can reach a very high compensation level.  Also important to consider is that with the economy on the rise and drivers in short supply, job security as a truck driver is unusually high right now compared to other low-demand jobs.

Another factor currently affecting trucker compensation is the retirement of tenured drivers.  Simply put, older drivers are reaching retirement age and are leaving the trucking industry.  These retired truckers open opportunities for employment for a younger generation of truckers.

The first step in starting a lucrative career in trucking is to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License. Contact Progressive Truck School to discuss your options: (773) 736-5522

Why take a CDL Practice Test?

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To begin your career in trucking you must obtain your CDL (Commercial Driver’s License). As part of the test, you must pass a series of written CDL tests in order to obtain your CDL endorsements. For all CDL endorsements, including Class A, Class B, and Class C, a written test must be passed.

Every state requires a written CDL exam. This exam is based on Federal Guidelines – the test is the same for every state. The official test changes often, but taking a practice taking a practice CDL test will give you an idea of the score you would receive on an actual CDL test.

We have compiled some sample test questions to give you an idea of how you might score on the CDL exam. To become well-versed in the material you’ll need to know for the written test, take classes at Progressive Truck Driving School. Take our free CDL Practice Test to see how you would score today.

Take Progressive Truck Driving School’s Free CDL Test to find out how you score: Progressive CDL Practice Test

Trucking Jobs: High Demand, Low Driver Supply

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Trucking companies are currently in a scramble to find certified truckers like those certified by Progressive Truck Driving School. There are currently thousands of openings, but not enough truckers to fill the demand. As the economy picks up speed, there’s a greater need for truckers. It’s a simple equation: when people start spending money, there’s additional freight to move. For this reason, it’s being projected that truck driver salaries will be on a steady increase over the next few years.

There are as many as 200,000 job openings nationwide for long haul truckers, according to David Heller, director of safety and policy for the Truckload Carriers Association.

Although finding certified truck drivers, like those certified by Progressive Truck Diving School, is proving to be a challenge for employers, the pay for Truckers is well above the median wage for all jobs. The top 10% truck drivers make more than $58,000 a year.

One of the reasons for the short supply of divers is simply that drivers aren’t willing to put the time into a training program, like the one offered by Progressive Truck Driving School, even though the training program could lead to a substantial salary and long-term employment. Some tenured truckers are reporting income of $150,000+ after taxes, and some trucking companies are offering signing bonuses in the thousands of dollars for new drivers to sign with them.

Several of the largest long haul trucking companies in the U.S. are currently hiring. Those companies include Swift Transportation , Schneider National, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Werner Enterprises – all of which are currently aggressive hiring drivers.

Call Progressive Truck Driving School to discuss how you could start a career in an in-demand field: (773) 736-5522