How to Be a Top Earner in Trucking [7 Tips]

The market stinks; we know this. It stinks worse than a musty basement in the middle of a humid summer, worse than the smell when you drive past a cattle trailer, worse than your dog after he jumps in the pond….you get the picture.

BUT. 

There’s always a way you can still be a top earner in the trucking industry. 

Welcome, drivers, to the roadmap to becoming a top earner in the trucking industry! In this article, I'll unveil the insider secrets and expert strategies that can skyrocket your earnings and elevate your status in the world of trucking. 

Each section is a golden nugget of wisdom, offering invaluable tips and insights honed from years of experience working with highly successful drivers as a driver manager. 

From mastering the art of load selection to maximizing service quality, equipping yourself with the right tools and skills, and prioritizing safety and efficiency, we've got you covered. 

Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer eager to make your mark, these tips are designed to empower you to thrive in this competitive field.

So fasten your seatbelts, adjust your mirrors, and get ready to embark on a journey toward financial success and professional fulfillment. 

Tip #1: Follow the Market 

I know it sounds like I’m beating a dead horse by repeating this again and again, but make sure you have a strong grasp on what’s happening in the market. It’ll give you some perspective on what’s going on with the world and why things are the way they are.

This is especially important if you’re an independent contractor or an owner-operator choosing your loads. 

Research the market regularly to monitor headhaul and backhaul markets. This information will guide you when you’re choosing loads by giving you insight into where freight is abundant and where freight prospects are less than stellar.

Review the Market Demand Index to review the ratio of loads posted to trucks posted by equipment type. It’ll give you a good feel for how much freight is available. 

Look at freight rates. You’ll learn about rate fluctuation and, subsequently, understand why your pay might change.

Tip #2: Don’t Wait for the “Perfect” Load 

This tip is for drivers who can choose their loads. 

You should neither wait around for the perfect loads nor only take the highest-paying loads. Sure, you have operating costs to consider, but sometimes taking the highest-paying load can put you in a tight spot.  

I’ve worked with plenty of drivers who look at several load offers, compare the rates, and just grab the highest one without looking at anything else. When I asked one particular driver why, he’d always say it was because it paid the most. 

However, the load that might’ve paid 50 cents more per mile took him out to Utah into a backhaul market. He ended up waiting around for a load, whereas if he’d taken a lower-paying load to a better area, he would’ve been able to pick up a second load immediately. 

You do the math here. Hauling two loads earns you more money than hauling one.

Sometimes you have to take what’s offered even though it’s not paying what you want it to. Think of each load as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to get you into a better market or to get you to another load that’ll bring in more income. 

Look at what you’re earning week by week and month by month rather than per load.

Go where the freight goes. You might not like running in certain areas, but if that’s where the freight pays and you want to be a top earner, you may have to sacrifice your preferences.

Tip #3: Focus on Your Customer Service

Service is key when the market is bad. Now isn’t the time to arrive late for your appointment times or stir up drama with customers. 

Good service will go a long way. Customers appreciate it and they may request to keep working with you or prioritize you when you’re in a line-up to get unloaded. 

Call ahead to confirm appointment details with customers, arrive on time, and try to work with the customers as best as you can. 

Tip #4: Keep Your Truck Loaded with Equipment

If you’re hauling flatbed freight, make sure you’re always carrying the appropriate equipment with you to haul specialized loads. Keeping enough straps and chains in your headache rack is a no-brainer, but it’s also a good idea to keep tarps and equipment like coil racks (if your company hauls this type of freight). 

If you don’t have this equipment on you, you can’t haul those loads — some of which pay more. You block yourself from great freight opportunities. 

Tip #5: Hone Your Skills 

If you want to be a top earner, you have to keep honing your skills. For some drivers, this may mean enhancing your skillset and classing up to haul more advanced, high-paying freight, or maintaining your endorsements. For others, it may mean being stringent in your processes — from your load selection to safety practices. 

Either way, getting complacent won’t help you become a top earner in this current economy.

The more experience you have and the more enhanced your skillset, the more opportunities you have to haul larger, heavier, and more specialized freight. Doing so will boost your earnings. The more valuable the freight, the higher your earning potential.  

If you have the desire to haul more specialized freight, take the opportunity to move up the ranks in your company. Take the tests and do the training required. 

If you don’t already, earn additional endorsements on your CDL so you can haul hazardous freight, doubles and triples, tankers, and more. Get your TWIC card so you can access freight at ports. You may even decide to team up and get your security clearance to haul military freight (a very lucrative move). 

Tip #6: Make Safety Your Priority

Here at ATS, we aim to be the safest, most sought-after transportation provider around. A safe driver is a successful driver. You won’t get very far or earn very much if you’re consistently in the shop getting your truck fixed after accidents. This will cost you both downtime and money to fix the tractor. 

If you’re often on the side of the road having your truck inspected or talking to officers because you were speeding, you’ll be wasting a lot of time that could’ve been spent running more miles. 

You may feel like you need to rush to get more miles in, but I promise you that taking it slower is the safest, most beneficial way to go.

Tip #7: Manage Your Time

Keep the door closed and keep it moving — plain and simple. 

When the freight market is slow, a lot of drivers take that as a sign to relax a bit. They might start waking up later and driving fewer hours during the day. Instead of calling the shipper to see if they can offload early, they’ll just stay at the truck stop for a little longer. The idea behind this is that there’s no freight to move anyway, so why hustle? 

The top earners in the industry are doing the opposite and working harder than ever. It can only be described as a grind.

They’re getting up and on the road an hour earlier to beat the traffic. They’re using their full clocks. They’re planning their stops near the shipper so they can get up, drop off, and get reloaded right away.

On their way home for the weekend, they’re taking a load through the house. They’re staying on top of their driver manager to get them pre-planned so they know when their next load (or two) is.

It’s certainly not easy, but the top earners in the industry right now are working harder than ever. 

Take Your Spot at the Top

Navigating the ups and downs of the trucking industry can be tough, but there's a clear way to become successful.  

First off, it's important to keep up with what's happening in the industry. Don't sit around waiting for the perfect load to come along. Prioritize customer service to build long-lasting relationships that can boost your career. Always make sure you're prepared with the right gear and skills to handle the job and earn more money.

Safety is key when you're driving. Every decision you make should be guided by keeping yourself and others safe. When you're on the clock, managing your time can make a huge difference in how well you do. Don't hesitate to put in the work and embrace the grind.

Be sure to rely on your driver manager to guide you, as they are your eyes and can see information on their end that you can’t. 

Learn more about exactly how your driver manager can help you succeed and become a top earner.