More Road Warriors: The Highest Paid Light or Delivery Services Truck Drivers in the USA
© 2011 by Aurelio Locsin
Light or delivery services truck drivers are also called pick-up and delivery drivers because they deliver goods within a small region or metropolitan area. They drive trucks or vans with a capacity of 26,000 gross vehicle weight or less. They often pick up goods from a distribution center and deliver them to residences and businesses, making many stops in a day. They sometimes accept payments for deliveries and handle paperwork.
Basics
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the 780,260 light and delivery services truck drivers in the country make a mean $15.45 per hour or $32,140 per year.
- The lowest-paid 10 percent get $8.54 per hour or $17,770 per year, while the highest paid 10 percent make $26.37 per hour or $54,850 per year.
- This compares to a mean $18.97 per hour or $39,450 per year earned by heavy or tractor-trailer truck drivers, and $13.02 per hour or a mean $27,070 per year for driver/sales workers.
- The average light truck driver makes about 72 percent of the average $21.35 per hour or $44,410 per year earned by all 127 million workers in the country.
Employers
The industries with the highest employment for light or delivery services truck drivers are as follows:
- Couriers and express delivery services have 17 percent of the positions averaging $23.64 per hour or $49,180 per year.
- Automotive parts, accessories and tire stores show almost 5 percent of the jobs at a mean $10.01 per hour or $20,830 per year.
- General freight trucking has 4 percent of the drivers with mean wages of $17.60 per hour or $36,600 per year.
As for the highest pay, the following industries top the list.
- The U.S. Postal Service shows mean wages of $24.75 per hour or $51,470 per year.
- Motion pictures and video average $24.13 per hour or $50,190 per year.
- Couriers and express delivery service have means at $23.64 per hour or $49,180 per year.
States
The states with the most jobs for light or delivery services truck drivers also have high populations.
- California, the most populous state, shows 90,750 jobs with means at $16.42 per hour or $34,150 per year.
- Texas, the second most populous state, has 56,040 jobs at a mean $14.93 per hour or $31,060 per year.
- Florida has 45,780 drivers at a mean $14.90 per hour or $30,990 per year.
The states with the best paying jobs are as follows.
- Alaska has a high cost of living that pushes mean salaries to $18.98 per hour or $39,490 per year.
- Maryland shows mean pay at $17.39 per hour or $36,170 per year.
New Jersey’s mean wages are at $17.27 per hour or $35,930 per year.
- Trucking Association, Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association
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Trucking forum with forums for all aspects of trucking and transportion. - Road Warriors: The Highest Paid Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truckers in the USA
Heavy and tractor-trailer truckers drive vehicles with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds of gross vehicle weight and require a commercial driver’s license. Check out what they earn.
Cities
High-population urban areas boast the most jobs.
- Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the country, has 27,600 jobs paying a mean $15.87 per hour or $33,020 per year.
- New York City, the most populated urban area, shows 24,980 positions earning a mean $17.43 per hour or $36,250 per year.
- Chicago, the third most populated city has 20,370 drivers making a mean $17.74 per hour or $36,890 per year.
The following cities show the highest pay.
1. Redding, California, boasts a mean $22.38 per hour or $46,540 per year.
2. Dover, Delaware, averages a mean $19.95 per hour or $41,490 per year.
3. Anchorage, Alaska, has means at $19.67 per hour or $40,920 per year.
