As is the case with pretty much any job position, when you want to start working as a truck driver, it’s pretty common to inquire about your potential earnings. You don’t want to waste your time if the job doesn’t provide enough for you to cover your costs of living, do you?

That being said, knowing how much do truck drivers make a mile and how they’re being paid is a bit complex due to the nature of the job. There are things to consider, so let’s take a look at how salary is determined, and a few of the things surrounding it.

How are Truck Drivers Paid?

In most cases, truck drivers are paid on a per-mile basis. This is very similar to an hourly rate, where the more you work, the more you’re paid. And this is a great way of looking at things, honestly, because you know that those longer trips will be worth it for you when you get your monthly check.

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The thing is, the payment per mile varies and is dependent on a few things. The first one is your employer – they decide how much they’ll pay you. This will depend on how experienced you are, and of course, whether or not you have a clean record. When you’re trying to build a career as a successful driver, a clean record is critical, and can significantly impact how much you’re getting paid.

Furthermore, your pay as a truck driver will also depend on the cargo you’re transporting. Cargo that’s fragile, or dangerous (think chemicals), usually nets a higher pay, and with many employers, a bonus upon successful job completion. However, if you’re only starting out, chances are you won’t get a lot of high-paying jobs, so you should set your expectations accordingly.

You Don’t Get Paid for Everything

Unfortunately, this is one of the negative things about being paid per mile. If your wheels aren’t turning, you aren’t getting paid for that. And when you factor in just how much time you spend with your truck stationary, it does make things … not so great, to say the least.

Trucking is about a lot more than just turning the wheel. You will need to do regular safety inspections on your truck before and after each trip, for example, because you should be absolutely positive that nothing is wrong with it. To add to this, you should keep it clean inside and out – nobody likes driving a dirty truck.

Also, if something does go wrong, you’re responsible for fixing your truck on the road. You do need to report any mechanical issues to the maintenance personnel, but if you’re stuck on the side of the road, you do need to get moving somehow.

It is this, and things like refueling, loading and unloading, getting stuck in traffic jams and waiting on customs and borders that aren’t making you any income. As we said – your wheels aren’t turning, so you aren’t getting paid.

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And one thing that a lot of beginner drivers don’t realize is that these things, which might sound tedious, but short, do take a lot of time when you factor in everything. If, for example, you’re doing an 80 hour work week, you might find that about 10 of those hours are these “small” things that you aren’t really getting paid for. This is why you should know what you’re getting into before you start working as a truck driver.

Let’s Talk Numbers

This is probably the thing you’ve been waiting for, so let’s take a look at some of the numbers and what they mean for people who want to work as truck drivers. If you take a look at the research, working as a truck driver can get you anywhere from $0.40 to $1.79 per mile.

This does depend on whether you’re working as a solo driver, who drives alone and needs to take breaks, as a team driver who has another driver to take over when you’re resting, or you’re an owner-operator-driver. The last type of driver will get paid most, but they’re also the ones that pay all the expenses as well, which leaves them with take-home money that’s similar to the other two types of drivers.

What’s nice about working as a truck driver is that you have a lot of impact on how much you make, and you can make more money by just driving more during the week. Most drivers make between 2 and 3 thousand miles per week, which is pretty easily achievable.

And if you think that this isn’t enough, you should keep in mind that experience does allow you to increase your rates. It also allows you to start transporting things like dangerous cargo, which does pay a lot more. Just be persistent, do your job well, and you’ll be getting a decent income before you know it.