Updated March, 2022
There is no quick answer to how much a truck driver can make. The salary of a trucker depends on their experience, level of licensing, and type of load being hauled. Entry-level, Over-The-Road (OTR) drivers can make on average $60,000 to $80,000 per year.
There are three levels of CDLs: Class A, B, and C. Class A drivers are able to operate all three levels of vehicles, while Class B drivers can operate Class B and C vehicles. At United States Truck Driving School, we offer both Class A and B CDL training.
A Class A CDL shows that you are a certified and licensed professional truck driver. Having your Class A CDL means you can drive the following vehicles:
Tractor-trailers
Truck and trailer combinations
Tanker trucks
Livestock carriers
Double and triple trailers
Flatbeds
Class A CDL jobs will have upward of 230,000 new job openings in 2022. Drivers can expect the pay listed above as well as an increase in the number of benefits given to each driver.
A Class B CDL shows you are certified to drive vehicles not hitched to a trailer. Class B drivers drive smaller vehicles than Class A. These include:
Buses
Segmented buses
Box trucks
Dump trucks
Tow trucks
Delivery trucks
Garbage trucks
Cement production
CDL drivers often improve their skills and earning potential by leveling up their license, and by getting endorsements. Endorsements are special tests that allow you to haul more dangerous material. For instance, a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Tanker driver will earn a lot more than a truck driver without endorsements. There is great potential for high increased wages for commercial drivers. The more years they drive, the more money they make. Drivers that go back to get endorsements after getting their CDL must also follow the ELDT rules for training.
P is for Passengers
T is for Tankers
H is for Hazmat
S is for School bus
You must be 21 years old to apply for a CDL. Some states–including Colorado–allow 18-year-olds to get a single-state license allowing them to drive only in their home state. The single state restriction is automatically removed when a driver turns 21.
Even very experienced drivers go back to school to pick up new endorsements to make more money. At United States Truck Driving School, we have tuition assistance programs to help you get your training without the financial stress. Contact us to earn your CDL or a add a new endorsement and start making more money today!