Jul 11, 2013 - Jack Paulden is a commercial truck driver from Ohio and a Guardian. If it is live then you may be sitting for hours and not making any. While being not much more than a homeless person living in a truck. The biggest mistake occurred immediately after getting my class A CDL (commercial driver's. Although you might not be able to make $100,000/year off the bat, but given the truck driver demand, and with experience, specialization, CDL training and the right company, you can make $80,000+ on a trucker salary.
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A Class 'B' driver with a commercial driver's license, also known as a CDL, can operate any heavy straight vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 26,000 pounds or any vehicle towing another vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds, according to The District of Columbia. There is no federal minimum wage for a Class B driver, other than minimum-wage standards that apply to all jobs. However, depending on geographic location and experience as a professional driver, Class B drivers can generally expect to earn more than minimum wage.
Average Wages
The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $38,200 in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,110, and the top 10 percent earned more than $58,910. Those in general freight trucking earned an average of $40,360 per year. Drivers with a Class B license can expect a salary between $20,000 and $40,000 per year, according to CB39.org. Truck drivers with a Class A license typically earn more than those with a Class B license and those with a Class C often earn less.
Specialty Areas
Some Class B drivers have an earning potential that exceeds average salary ranges. The highest-paying trucking jobs require drivers to endure hazardous conditions. For example, ice road truck drivers typically earn much more than drivers who experience normal road conditions. Ice road drivers must complete a 414-mile route, most of which is above the Arctic Circle. A Class 'A' or Class 'B' ice road trucker can earn a salary of $120,000 or more for a three-month season, according to CB39.org. Similarly, heavy-load truck drivers in Iraq can earn between $125,000 and $250,000 per year. Delivering supplies to overseas military posts can be extremely dangerous.
Pay Considerations
Salaries for truck drivers with a CDL depend on how many miles they drive. In some cases, drivers also receive bonuses. Specifically, there is no minimum wage for Class B drivers because the per-mile rate varies by company. The type of cargo and the driver's years of experience partially determine wages. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours a truck driver can work. According to the BLS, drivers can't work more than 14 straight hours, including a maximum of 11 hours driving and three hours unloading cargo. Commercial drivers must have 10 hours off duty between shifts. In addition, truck drivers can't work more than 60 hours within a 7-day period or 70 hours within an 8-day period. Drivers must take 34 hours off before starting another 7- or 8-day work period.
Job Outlook
Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with Class A and Class B CDLs is projected to grow 11 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the BLS. Growth in the industry is dependent on the overall economy. The more goods produced, the greater the need for professional truck drivers. Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States.
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About the Author
As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.
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Tucker, Kristine. 'The Minimum Wage for a Class B CDL.' Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/minimum-wage-class-b-cdl-28908.html. Accessed 12 September 2019.
Tucker, Kristine. (n.d.). The Minimum Wage for a Class B CDL. Work - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/minimum-wage-class-b-cdl-28908.html
Tucker, Kristine. 'The Minimum Wage for a Class B CDL' accessed September 12, 2019. http://work.chron.com/minimum-wage-class-b-cdl-28908.html
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