Vehicle Transport Pay

The trucking industry keeps the economy functioning by hauling goods and products across the country.

There are different career fields within transportation. These different fields include RV transporters, military auto shippers, tractor-trailer drivers, and military auto shippers. Each sector pays differently, requires different levels of education, and have varied vital roles in the shipping process.

• Dispatchers: Dispatchers for trucking companies coordinate the movement of trucks and goods that must deliver between cities. They take orders and requests from customers, assign drivers to trucks, and design routes and pickup schedules. Much of the work is done by telephone. Dispatchers need only a high school degree to perform this job. The median salary in 2015 was $36,300. The highest paid dispatchers were paid over $50,000 per year.
• Truck Drivers: Commercial truck driver salaries vary greatly. The amount of money earned depends on the type of truck driven, the hours/miles spent on the road, and the company worked for. For example, specialty trucks, such as cement pourers and mixers, averaged $15.26 per hour, while tractor-trailer drivers averaged $18.38 per hour. Those that drive big rigs cross country tend to earn more than other truckers since they are on the road more often and have a less desirable job. Truck drivers generally need a Class A Commercial Drivers License.
• Trucking customer service representative: Customer service representatives handle customer inquiries. A representative may handle questions on shipping rates, amount of time it takes to deliver goods, what type of goods the company can deliver, etc. Many months, possibly up to a year, of on-the-job training is required for this position. The average salary of customer service representatives in the trucking industry was $31,370. The highest paid representatives made about $48,000 per year.
• Auto driveaway: Automotive driveaway deliverers deliver vehicles from one city to another. They tow many vehicles simultaneously with a tractor-trailer. Driveaway transporters are often hired by companies to deliver vehicles from one company location to another. Their salary varies, depending on whether the driver works for a company or is self-employed. A self-employed driveaway driver can expect to make between $300-400 per vehicle shipped, depending on the distance traveled. Customers also pay for the gas it costs to have the truck haul their vehicle. A class A Commercial Drivers License will be required to drive the tractor-trailers.
• RV transport drivers: RV transport drivers deliver truck-hauled RV’s across the country. Most often, the drivers are hired for a single job, not as regular employees. Think of it as a freelance trucking service. Drivers must own their own 1-ton pick up truck. They are paid by miles driven. After deducting fuel expenses, an RV transporter makes around $100 for a single day, sub-500 mile trip.
• Auto shipping in the military: Military auto shippers deliver military vehicles and military cargo from manufacturer to base, or from base to base. Shippers in the military can haul military vehicles, cargo, and troops. Pay depends on the number of years served in the military and rank. The average enlisted personnel earn a little over $1600 per month, but the military provides free room, board, utilities, and all basic necessities.
• Truck fleet owners: Fleet owners provide the exact same service that major trucking companies provide. The only difference is that fleet owner’s own their own trucks. The owner drives the trucks himself and/or hires other drivers to make deliveries. The amount of money made varies greatly. Most successful fleet owners make more money than conventional truck drivers that work for large freighting companies. Salary depends on the marketing and management skills of the owner.