- May 30, 2025
The average truck driver in the United States makes around $93,839 a year. However, their salaries will vary significantly based on their experience. It will also depend on their location and the type of driving job they perform. For instance, long-haul or over-the-road drivers will make more than local drivers, due to their longer routes and more time away from home.
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Factors Affecting Truck Driver Compensation in the US
The truck driver’s compensation will vary based on several factors. If the driver has more experience, can drive difficult loads, and maintains a clean driving record, they will be able to make more money. Also, the willingness to travel to remote locations and take risks is a trait of a driver who is likely to earn more than the average truck driver’s salary. It will also depend on the type of truck you drive.
For example, a hazmat driver transporting toxic and dangerous materials should operate their commercial vehicle with great alertness and care. A hazardous materials accident, be it even one, could lead to the evacuation of entire towns. A material leak or even an explosion could occur, potentially causing a casualty incident or environmental damage.
What Factors Will Affect Truck Drivers Salaries?
Truck driver salaries vary depending on several factors, including region, type of equipment, and experience level. According to recent data, the average annual salary for a truck driver will range from $54,502 to $189,320. Earning potential is also dependent on the employer, driving record, and the type of loads they move. Drivers who are willing to train for extra endorsements or work in remote areas are more likely to have the highest-paying trucking jobs.
Truck drivers can be paid in various ways, depending on their operating mode and the type of route they take. Solo drivers typically work alone and must take time to stop and sleep between shifts to comply with their hours-of-service regulations. In a team driving situation, the two drivers can share driving responsibilities and take turns. This allows the truck to continue operating. Some companies pay their truck drivers based on the type of route. For instance, over-the-road drivers generally spend weeks on the road and travel long distances, making deliveries across the country.
Over-the-road trucking can be demanding, and it often offers the highest salaries. It also offers the opportunity for them to see new places. Regional drivers stay within a specific geographic area, which generally means they can return home on weekends. Therefore, to know how much truck drivers make, we need to know the route they operate on, the type of vehicle they drive, and the number of days they stay on the road.
Average Salary of Regional Truck Drivers
According to recent reports, the average annual pay of a regional truck driver in the United States is around $75,877. This, however, varies anywhere between $39,500 to $99,500 and beyond. This is based on the expertise, region, and criteria under which the trucking firm belongs. Regional truck drivers often worked in a specific geographic area. This, however, offers them more time to spend with family. It also offers them reasonable compensation. Some of them will also benefit from additional perks such as health insurance and signing bonuses.
Tax Implications for Truck Drivers
The truckers, the trucking fleet operators, and large fleet business owners should use IRS tax Form 2290 to report and pay the heavy vehicle utility taxes. Vehicles that have a gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more and are being operated on public highways should use this tax Form. the tax implications of 2290 Forms are different for owner-operators and for large fleets. But in general, any individual, corporation or LLC that registers heavy vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more should file Form 2290 with the Internal Revenue Service.
HVUT Tax Filing Requirements
The IRS Form 2290 or the HVUT tax Form is an annual Federal Excise tax on the heavy vehicles that operate on public highways. The transportation companies, the LLCs, the individual truckers, corporations, owners, partnerships, and operators are expected to meet this tax implication on an annual basis. In order to file the returns with the IRS, the truck drivers should follow these requirements.
- It is mandatory to have a valid EIN to file this tax return.
- It is not possible to file the returns with the help of a simple social security number.
- In case the taxes are not paid on time, the truck owners will accrue interest and penalties. Also, the truck owners might not be able to register their vehicle, without proper proof of tax payment.
- Taxpayers should check all the details that are reported on the tax Form to prevent the form from getting amended.
- The best way to file the returns is to E-file them if the operator has more than 25 vehicles in their fleet. E-filing is also an efficient way to avoid errors and also aids prompt and quick submission of returns with the IRS.
- In case the operator is very sure that they will operate the taxable vehicle for 5000 miles or less, then they can suspend the tax. They still have to file the returns, though they need not pay the taxes. This limit is increased to 7500 miles for agricultural vehicles.
Tax calculations for IRS Form 2290
The IRS will calculate the HVUT taxes on the ruck on the basis of the gross weight of the vehicle. Therefore, the bigger the truck the greater would be the taxes on the vehicles. The HVUT or heavy vehicle use tax is a fee assessed annually on vehicles. These are implied on vehicles operating on public highways at registered gross weights that are equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds. The total taxable weight of the vehicle is determined by adding,
- The actual unloaded weight of the vehicle that is completely equipped for service.
- The unloaded weight of the semi-trailer or trailer that is used along with the vehicle.
- The HVUT taxes are also calculated on the basis of the weight of the maximum load that is carried on the vehicle or its trailers and semi-trailers.
Thus, if the gross weight of the vehicle is 55,000 pounds, then the HVUT taxes would be around $100. Truck drivers should add an additional $22 for every pound over 55,000 pounds. For vehicles that are over 75,000 pounds in weight, then the maximum HVUT would be around $550 per year.
Vehicles that are Exempted From Paying the HVUT Taxes
The logging vehicles that are eligible for reduced tax implications should satisfy the following requirements.
- If the vehicle is used for transportation of products harvested exclusively from the forested site, it is exempted from paying the HVUT taxes.
- If the truck is used for transporting the products from the forested site to and fro the locations on the forested site, then it should have less taxes implied. This transport route will also include public highways between the forested site locations.
- In case the vehicle fleet records 5000 miles of transit, then it need not pay any taxes. But the truck should record its returns. This limit is at 7500 miles for agricultural vehicles.
- Vehicles that are not considered to be highway motor vehicles, such as trucks used for non-transportation functions, vehicles that are designed for off-highway transportation, mobile machinery, trailers, etc., are not required to pay HVUT taxes.
After filing and paying the HVUT taxes, the taxpayers should retain copies of Form 2290 returns and their schedules. Taxpayers should also retain records of the vehicles, and the taxes paid for at least three years after the date the tax is due or is paid.
Professional Services to Keep Track of HVUT Taxes
Any trucker, be it an owner of a large fleet service or an owner operator should file HVUT Form 2290 with the IRS if the vehicle weighs more than 55,000 pounds. They have to calculate the total HVUT taxes for the tax year and pay the same to the IRS. The due date to file the tax Form with the IRS will be the last day of the month, following the first use month of the vehicle on the road. As the IRS suggests E-filing of tax returns, it is ideal to partner with IRS-authorized service providers like Tax2efile. Its authorized and knowledgeable personnel will help truckers to complete their tax returns at an affordable cost.
The HVUT taxes that the truck drivers owe to the IRS depend on how much the truck drivers make. The taxes are determined by the taxable income and the business deductions, especially for independent contractors and owner-operators. Taxing professionals at Tax2efile will help trickers to prorate the taxes on their vehicles, which means, they will be able to pay the taxes only for the portion of the tax year during which the vehicle was in use.
