When it comes to determining how much truck drivers make each year, there are a number of factors to consider. Generally, trucking companies pay between 28 and 60 cents per mile for solo drivers. If you're just starting out, your best bet for earning more money is to find a smaller trucking company to work with; they tend to offer higher starting rates. Additionally, truckers who specialize in oil tankers often make more money due to the increased risk and skill level required.
The type of trucking company you work with can also have an impact on your salary. Private truck fleets often pay a higher rate of payment to the trucker, but their standards for hiring drivers are also higher. On the other hand, ice road truckers can make a lot of money, but they need several years of experience and a history of safe operation, along with a wide range of equipment including platforms, oversized loads, hazardous materials, dry vans, refrigerators, and more. Ice road truckers drive along frozen waterways to make deliveries, which makes this job extremely dangerous.
Despite the risks involved, there are plenty of opportunities for those who want to become an ice road trucker. These high-paying jobs involve delivering food, fuel, supplies and equipment to oil and mining workers in Canada and Alaska. However, some truck drivers feel that the industry has micromanaged them to the point that the job does not attract the compensation it should. High-paying truck driver jobs in specialized areas of trucking are sometimes driving jobs that don't attract many truck drivers for several reasons.
These include delays, washes, stops and other factors that can increase the rate of payment.
