If you are searching for truck driver jobs the biggest question on your mind is probably, “How much money do truck drivers make?”  This is a very interesting and exciting topic as we will go through the things that effect truck driver income and give you realistic salary values.

Truck driver jobs are in high demand as the trucking industry is literally what keeps America moving.  The trucking industry alone bring in about $255 Billion in revenue per year!   This is not a cake walk however because the operation ratio for most trucking companies is about 95%.  That means for every dollar earned it cost’s the trucking company 95 cents to operate.  This only gives a profit of about 4.8 cents on the dollar.

As a truck driver you will drive about 100K miles per year on average.  Did you know that that’s about the same as driving around the globe 4 times?  Some veteran truck drivers have driven 5 million miles in their career.  That’s the same as driving around the earth 200 times, so there is definitely some serious driving involved with this job.

Here is the meaty part that you have been waiting for, the money!  Truck drivers and people looking for truck driving jobs can expect to be making $32,400 – $42,300 per year on average to start out.  This figure also depends on the size of the trucking company you get hired for.  MOST owner operators gross between $100K – $150K per year with a 50% operating cost.  This makes their net incomes per year equal about $50,000 – $75,000.

Realistically you can count on grossing $35,000 per year starting.  Be very wary and careful when you hear about offers to make $60,000 a year as a new truck driver.  This just does not happen for new truck drivers who don’t own a truck.  If you are an owner operator and own a truck then yes, $60,000 is a very realistic number.

Truck driving jobs pay very well and often come along with benefits such as health insurance etc.  Just remember that these jobs are in high demand as America hauls more than 9 billion tons of cargo around the country every year!  Directly connected with that figure is that 70% of communities rely on the trucking industry for the delivery of their merchandise!  Trucking is a part of the American way and it is a way of life.  Most people don’t understand how important trucking is and how much it directly effects them.  As a driver you will be able to participate in this American way of life and keep the country moving along.

If you haven’t already heard, truck drivers get paid A LOT of money!  Because there is a national shortage of truck drivers, companies are willing to give bonuses and increased pay to truck drivers.  If you are a safe and reliable truck driver you will also get paid much more money as companies value stable employees that lower their overhead risk.  Seniority also matters as a truck driver because companies give raises each year that you are a truck driver.

Major benefits are offered to truck drivers by big trucking companies.  Benefits for truck drivers usually include medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, life insurance, and retirement plans such as 401K’s.  Truck drivers often get paid holidays and paid vacations.  The benefits offered to truck drivers rival benefit packages found at fortune 500 companies.

Flexibility is another great benefit for people looking for truck driving jobs.  Schedules can be decided by drivers and drivers can also select what types of hauls they would like to drive.  If you are a solo driver, you can sometimes get permission to bring a pet or child to accompany you during the drive.

Beauty truly is all around you as a truck driver.  The U.S. is so amazingly beautiful and most truck drivers love the things they see along their driving routes.  Its the best office view anyone could ask for.

With this country in it’s current recession, job security is the most sought after benefit people are looking for.  Job security is another great benefit of being a truck driver.  Trucking companies always need more drivers and the population and needs for services continue to increase.  Truck driving jobs will never go away, no matter what kind of economic status the country is in.

As you can see truck driver jobs offer a lot of realistic and privileged benefits.  As a truck driver you can make sure that your family has health insurance and you can also start planning for your families future by knowing there are retirement options available to help you with the expenses of life.  We hope you will seriously consider the benefits of being a truck driver as you continue your career search.