Starting a career in trucking may be just what you need to achieve the independence and freedom you’ve always wanted. While most new drivers start their careers with transportation companies, there are endless opportunities for growth, with some drivers eventually retiring from lustrous careers as owner-operators.
But, as with any industry, you have to start from the bottom and work your way to the top. So, what should you expect when you decide to make this career move?
Factors That Influence Earnings
The salary you should expect as a truck driver is influenced by several factors:
- Your location: Salary varies based on the state and that state’s cost of living. States with higher cost of living tend to have above-average salaries. Colorado ranks in the top 10 states for highest average trucker salaries.
- Where you’re hauling: Long-haul/OTR drivers generally make more money than local drivers, but this is at the expense of spending extra time away from home.
- What you’re hauling: In most instances, truck drivers specializing in hauling high-value items will receive higher salaries. Luxury car and antique vehicle haulers can bring in nearly six figures a year.
- Years of experience: When you’re just starting out, don’t expect to make as much money as a seasoned driver or owner-operator. The more experience (and references) you have, the more you’ll bring in each year. Obtaining additional endorsements can also increase your marketability as a truck driver.
Average Pay in Colorado
According to Indeed, the average base salary for CDL drivers in Colorado is $91,503. However, as mentioned earlier—don’t expect to make that much just starting out.
If you’re not sure that OTR is the right move for you and you want to stay local, you’ll likely make close to $66,000 per year.
As you advance your career and earn endorsements (flatbed, hazmat, etc.), you can expect an increase in salary, too. Compared to the various specialty jobs available, tanker drivers (those with the N endorsement) tend to make the most; the average tanker driver salary in Colorado is $93,842. Comparatively, hazmat drivers make around $60,519 per year and flatbed drivers make around $67,315 per year. Some specialty flatbed jobs, like Conestoga drivers, can make up to $78,000 or more per year.
The final step for most seasoned truck drivers is to become an owner-operator. If you decide that route is one you want to take, you can expect to bring in around $341,943 per year, depending on your reputation.
How to Start Your Career in Trucking
1. Know What You Want
Are you comfortable being on the road by yourself for an extended period? Do you like being away from home? If the answer to both is ‘no,’ then you are not ready to become an OTR driver. The good news is that there are plenty of companies looking for drivers to handle local routes. Don’t plan to take on OTR just for the extra money unless you know you can mentally handle that job. Nearly any type of trucking job in Colorado is going to help you bring in enough money, so choose one best fits your current lifestyle.
2. Research Endorsements
Before you even take your CDL, understand what other endorsements you could earn. Endorsements aren’t expensive and time-consuming to earn, with most of them costing only $10. If you want to eventually become a tank driver, you’ll want to receive an N endorsement, or maybe an X, which is a combination of tanker (N) and hazmat (H). Or, maybe you want to be a bus driver. In that scenario, you’d need an S endorsement (school bus driver) or P (passenger).
3. Earn Your CDL
You can’t start a career in trucking without your CDL. There are three classes: A, B, C.
CDL A is the most desired license because it not only qualifies you for CDL A vehicles but also CDL B and C vehicles. To earn your CDL in Colorado, you need to be at least 18 years of age (or 21 for OTR driving), possess a valid driver’s license, earn a DOT medical card by passing the DOT physical, and earn a CLP (Commercial Learners Permit) by passing a knowledge test.
Are You Ready to Start Your Career?
NCTDA offers comprehensive, FMCSA-approved CDL training for individuals looking to start a career in trucking. We offer several course options, including Introduction to Tractor-Trailer Driving, Introduction to CDL B Driving, and a CDL Permit Preparation class, and two testing locations in Fort Collins and Pueblo, Colorado. When you train with NCTDA, we don’t just prepare you—we help place you with a local employer, too. Are you ready to get started? Sign up today.