Introduction

Industry Growth and Opportunities

The economy depends on truck drivers to transport freight and keep supply chains moving. 65% of the country’s consumable goods are trucked to market. In a recent study, the American Trucking Association (ATA) reports that trucks moved 10.8 billion tons of freight in 2017, generating over $700 billion in annual revenue. ¹

Revenue: $875.5 billion in gross freight revenues (primary shipments only) from trucking, representing 80.8% of the nation’s freight bill in 2021. According to the American Trucking Association’s US Freight Transportation forecast, the freight trucking industry will undergo a 24% increase in 2022. This will also account for a 67% of revenue increase for the trucking industry in general. _{Dec 6, 2022}

The trucking industry employs 3.5 million drivers. ² Truck drivers have a difficult lifestyle, with many hours on the road and days away from home. As a result, the industry has a difficult time finding and keeping long-haul drivers. Demographic shifts are also impacting the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of a truck driver is 55. Many drivers are approaching retirement. While the current shortage of drivers is an estimated 80,000, the American Trucking Association predicts it will reach 160,000 by 2030. _{Aug 29, 2022}

Here are some of the top pay truck driver jobs of 2023 and what makes them stand out:³

• Hazmat Haulers. Hazmat hauling involves transporting hazardous materials such as chemicals, fuel and explosives. …
• Refrigerated Goods Drivers. …
• Private Carrier Drivers. …
• Special Car Haulers. …
• Ice Road Drivers.

Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Classifications

Class A Combination Vehicles. Any Combination of vehicles with gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds.

Class B Heavy Straight Vehicles. Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds falls in Group B, or any such vehicle towing another vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds

Class C Small Vehicles. Any single vehicle with a GVWR less than 26,001 pounds falls in Group C, or any such vehicle towing another vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

¹American Trucking Association – American Trucking Trends 2018
²American Trucking Association – American Trucking Trends 2018
^{3 OTR Solutions Best Paying Trucking Niche in 2023 – OTR Solutions}