You might think that any driving job is a good one, because of the flexible hours, nice (often outdoors) working environment, and variety of tasks. However, there are also trade-offs: You won’t get rich as a driver unless you move up to management or ownership of your business.
Whether you want to stay in the same city after getting your CDL or explore new opportunities elsewhere, it never hurts to know your options. Continue reading for a list of some of the best paying driving jobs CDL drivers can get.
What is the best paying CDL job?
The most accurate way to determine the best paying CDL job is based on hourly rate. In fact, most drivers, who are making good money, are likely to be making the most hourly, thanks to driving shortage, increased demand, and better-paying companies. The Best Paying Driving Jobs CDL are likely to be within a few sectors, such Tractor-trailer truck driving jobs
The average annual salary for truck drivers is $42,000. That’s just the average, though, and doesn’t include the wide range of possibilities. The best paying truck driving jobs are likely to be with companies that specialize in either over-the-road (OTR) or regional.
OTR trucking is the backbone of our country’s commerce, moving the bulk of what we buy. It’s also one of the most dangerous jobs out there. Regional truck driving jobs are luckily a lot less risky, but the pay is lower. It’s also a lot more irregular, since truckers haul to a schedule, not a calendar.
Truck driving jobs usually offer a standard benefits package, including health insurance. You’re just as likely to find a company that offers a pension plan as you are to find one that offers 401(k) plans or other benefits.
Delivery truck driving jobs
If you enjoy a lot of variety in your trucking job, then delivery truck driving jobs might be a good fit. Delivery truck drivers haul anything from food to industrial supplies to furniture.
Some companies specialize in particular types of delivery, while other haul whatever they can wherever they need to go. The pay for delivery truck driving jobs varies widely, too, so it’s hard to say what the Best Paying Driving Jobs CDL are in the field.
One advantage to delivery truck driving jobs is you can often work for several companies at once. This helps improve your scheduling flexibility, but it also helps overall income. You may run into issues if you have a few companies that compete with each other, but there’s nothing stopping you from working with a furniture company one week and a food company the next.
Taxi and cab driving jobs
The average taxi driver’s salary is $23,600. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s also the average. Some taxi drivers make a lot more than that, and some make a lot less. There are several types of taxi jobs out there, and they all have some variation in pay.
Standard taxi driving jobs pay less than other contractual arrangements but allow for more flexibility. Instead of a set schedule, you work when you need to. However, you make less per trip. On the other hand, taxi driving jobs as an employee fall into one of two categories: You’re either on a set schedule or you’re not.
Limousine driving jobs
If you go into limousine driving jobs, you can expect to earn quite a bit more than your standard taxi driver. The average annual salary for a limousine driver is $48,000. That averages out to about $23 an hour, which is more than twice the average taxi driver’s salary.
The reason that limousine driving jobs pay better is because they require more training and skill. A standard taxi driver is likely to have a special license and an insurance plan, but a limousine driver has more training and a commercial insurance plan.
Semi-truck driving jobs
The average annual salary of a semi-truck driver is $57,000. While that’s more than many Best Paying Driving Jobs CDL, the amount varies widely. The best paying semi-truck driving jobs are likely with companies that specialize in hauling commodities. Commodity haulers haul a wide variety of materials, often using standardized equipment.
This type of truck driving job gives you greater flexibility, as each hauling run is likely to be different. You might haul building materials one day and fertilizer the next. However, this type of driving job may also have you working a little more irregularly.
Company driver or Owner-operating contractor?
One of the biggest factors in determining the best paying driving jobs is whether you’re a company driver or an owner-operator contractor. Company drivers usually have a set salary and benefits. They may also have a guaranteed amount of work each month.
Owner-operators, on the other hand, are self-employed contractors, likely with a commercial driver’s license and commercial insurance. Company drivers will often have a set salary, benefits, and a guaranteed amount of work each month.
This makes it easier to budget and plan, but the downside is that it’s more difficult to increase your income. Owner-operators have more freedom to earn more money but also more risk.
Conclusion
The Best Paying Driving Jobs CDL are likely to be within a few sectors. If you can find a job where you can maximize your hours and abilities, you’ll be able to make the most of your income. Make sure to research your options carefully, and ask about any special programs for new drivers. Trucking companies are often desperate for new drivers, and they may offer a signing bonus or special incentives.
References:
- Truck-Driving Jobs: Are They Headed for Rapid Elimination?
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0019793919858079 - Antecedents of Truck Drivers’ Job Satisfaction and Retention Proneness
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jbl.12156
