Top Trucking Companies to Drive For
For people who have invested a lot of time and money into a commercial truck driving career, it’s often very important for them to feel like they are getting a return on their investment and to see that their hard work is paying off. Of course, you’ll need some experience under your belt after taking your CDL training before gaining some real traction in the industry, but after all the effort you put into starting a new career, you can’t help but beg the question, “what are the largest and best trucking companies to work for in the United States and how well can I actually get paid?”
Before we get to the top trucking companies, and who has the highest pay, it’s important to acknowledge that some specific specialized jobs receive a higher compensation rate than others. For example, ice road truckers often make the most out of any other commercial truck drivers, due to the extremely dangerous conditions that they work in. In just two months of seasonal work, some ice road truckers can make up to and sometimes over $250,000. The next highest-paid trucking job is often tanker haulers, raking in around $70,000 a year from the start. Though understandable, that is a massive pay gap. So when determining the best trucking companies for you to work for, make sure to think about all the aspects involve, not just pay. We generally recommended that you think about what trucking company is the best for you in regards to, safely, work-life balance, family, benefits, in addition to how much they pay.
That being said, there are still specific companies, usually, the older trucking companies, that pay their employees more than most. Let’s bring out some of the top trucking companies in the US to work for.
Epes Transport
Epes Transport, our country’s leading transportation service, tops the list. On average, they generally pay their drivers around $40.35 an hour. Remember, not just anyone can walk in and be a driver for Epes. You will likely need several years of experience, skills, and killer references before scoring a job at one of the top truck driving companies in 2021.
Acme Truck Line
Next up is Acme Truck Line. With a salary of about $82,892, the Acme Truck Line salary is among the highest salaries truck drivers earn in the world. That salary translates to roughly $39.85 an hour, which is nearly five and a half times the United States minimum wage.
Walmart
In general, the older more established trucking companies vary in pay only slightly. Walmart still pays its drivers rather handsomely at $38.46 an hour. Given Walmart seems to always be growing its fleet, they are known to frequently have job openings available for drivers of all experience levels.
Trimac Transportation
Another one of the largest trucking companies in the United States is Trimac Transportation. Trimac Transportation specializing in bulk transportation, so it’s no wonder that they’re able to pay their employees so handsomely. Their drivers can be paid up to $36.92 an hour, or $76,796 a year.
GP Transco
It’s not easy to make $75,000, or $36.06 an hour, but that’s just where GP Transco has its employees starting. Although it’s only in fifth place for the highest salaries on this list, it has one of the best benefits packages out of all of the top trucking companies out there.
Being a big rig truck driver comes with a lot of long hours, sore legs, and some homesickness, so it makes sense that pay for this particular job is relatively high. Successful commercial truck drivers are hard-working and are able to withstand a lot of pressure. Although the nature of the job may sometimes be rigorous, the benefits make truck driving a highly attractive career path for many looking for a stable career.
To start your truck driving journey, we recommend finding an accredited truck driving school. Truck Driver Academy can help you take the CDL written test, the commercial driving test as well as provide students with truck driver placement services. So, if you think you’re up to the challenge of driving for one of the largest and best trucking companies in the country and are dedicated to making the big bucks, contact us today!
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