Photo by Joey Csunyo on Unsplash

All around the country, truck drivers are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2022 and 2032, there’s a 4% projected job outlook growth for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Furthermore, there’s a 10% increase expected for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers. That’s much faster than average.

While truck drivers are needed in every state in the U.S., factors such as salary and quality of life could impact your work-life balance. In this article, learn about some of the best states where you can align your career choice with your lifestyle goals within the trucking industry.

Factors for determining the best states for truck drivers

The following are the criteria used to create this list, factors that could impact your decision of where to live and work. For each state, we detail answers to the following questions:

Job opportunities: Are truck driving jobs available? What trucking industry job growth trends are in the state?
Salaries: What’s the average truck driver salary in the state? What are state salary expectations in general? What is the expectation when it comes to truck driving salaries?
Cost of living: How affordable is it to live in the state? Cost of living can impact a truck driver’s disposable income.
Quality of life: How is the state ranked nationally based on quality of life? Are there opportunities for truck drivers to access amenities and services outside of work?
Regional regulations: What are the trucking regulations by state? How simple is it to navigate these regulations?

California

As the country’s most populous state, California is also one of the best states for trucking companies. The state has diverse cities that meet a variety of lifestyle demands, from the beaches of San Diego to the technology hub of Silicon Valley. Cost of living in California is higher than average, but salaries tend to be as well.

Job opportunities

California consistently ranks in the top among states for job opportunities for truck drivers. According to the BLS, California has the second-highest employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the U.S., with 204,190 jobs in 2023. California has the highest employment of light truck drivers out of any state, with 119,100 jobs in 2023, as well as the highest employment level of driver/sales workers, with 48,380 jobs in 2023.

Out of the country’s metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario take two of the top 10 spots for highest employment level in heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward land in the top 10 of highest employment levels in light truck drivers, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ranks second out of metro areas with the highest employment level in driver/sales workers.

Salaries

Out of all states, Forbes Advisor reports California has the third-highest average salary, at $73,220 per year in 2023. BLS data reflects the same, ranking California third-highest top paying state for driver/sales workers.

Typically, level of experience will impact salary. Experienced truck drivers who are moving to California may be able to leverage experience to achieve a higher salary.

Cost of living

California does have a higher cost of living, on average, compared to other states. According to World Population Review, the state ranks as fourth-highest in cost of living in the U.S., but expenses vary widely depending on where in the state you live.

Truck drivers can use research on housing and essential goods costs to determine whether certain salaries are sustainable enough.

Quality of life

California has a higher than average quality of life ranking by World Population Review, and quality of life can drastically increase depending on where exactly in California you live. The state has a notable strong healthcare system, which U.S. News & World Report ranks as #6 out of all states.

If living close to nature, such as near the ocean or forests, positively impacts your quality of life, California has plenty of opportunities to meet these interests.

Regional regulations

In California, depending on the type of vehicle, truck drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license class A, class B, or class C with a hazardous materials endorsement. Drivers must also be tested for alcohol and controlled substances, according to federal regulations.

Both interstate and intrastate motor carriers must comply with federal regulations. This includes maintaining a logbook of hours of service and equipping commercial vehicles with safety equipment. All vehicle equipment must comply with the United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards.

Texas

Next up is Texas, the country’s second-most populous state. Bordering Mexico, this southern state has both national and international goods transportation needs. There are a lot of truck driving jobs in Texas, where residents can enjoy a less expensive cost of living compared to California.

Job opportunities

Texas ranks among the highest in states with truck driving opportunities. It was the top state with the highest employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, with 212,770 jobs in 2023. It was the second highest in employment of light truck drivers, with 72,720 jobs in 2023. It was also second highest in employment of driver/sales workers, with 46,670 jobs in 2023.

Out of metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in both heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and driver/sales workers, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land rank in the top five. For the highest employment level in light truck drivers, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land are among the top ten.

Salaries

The average salary in Texas, $57,300, aligns with the country’s average salary, at $59,428, according to an article by Forbes Advisor. While there’s not a notable salary bump in Texas, truck drivers with more experience or who are willing to explore various career paths (such as owner-operators) have the potential to earn higher salaries.

Also notable is U.S. News & World Report ranks Texas 6th in terms of economic growth and 8th in fiscal stability. Those factors may also impact salary growth in the state.

Cost of living

Texas has one of the lower costs of living in the U.S., according to the World Population Report. A Forbes Advisor article, “Examining the Cost of Living by State in 2024,” reports home costs, food costs, healthcare costs, and median monthly housing costs are also lower compared to other regions of the U.S.

Quality of life

Quality of life in Texas is average, as the World Population Report states. As one of the country’s most populous states, there are plenty of opportunities in Texas to pursue your interests. It offers professional sports, globally renowned restaurants, rodeos, and beautiful nature. Texas has diverse attractions for residents to enjoy.

Regional regulations

In Texas, the minimum driving age to obtain an interstate commercial driver’s license is 21 years old, and the minimum age for obtaining an intrastate commercial driver’s license is 18. To obtain a commercial driver’s license, drivers must have a valid Texas driver’s license; pass vision, knowledge and skills exams; and provide evidence of medical status.

Depending on the type of vehicle a truck driver operates (and the materials transported), a truck driver may also be required to obtain specific endorsements. These include commercial driver’s license endorsements to tow double or triple trailers, to transport specific numbers of passengers, to transport liquefied gasses and liquids, and to transport hazardous materials. Commercial truck drivers must also submit to drug and alcohol tests.

Florida

The Sunshine state of Florida is the third-most populous state in the U.S. and another great state for truck drivers to live and work in. Florida’s coastal location means it’s a state that sees a lot of international freight shipping, and those goods need to be transported across the state and throughout the country. That provides a lot of opportunity for truck driving work.

Job opportunities

Like California and Texas, Florida ranks high in terms of truck driver jobs. According to the BLS, Florida is the third-highest state in terms of heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver employment, with 101,920 jobs in 2023. Florida is also the third-highest state with the highest employment level in light truck drivers, with 72,460 jobs in 2023, and the fourth-highest state with the highest employment level in driver/sales workers, with 30,930 jobs in 2023.

Regionally, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area lands in the top 10 metro areas for the highest employment level in heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, highest employment level in light truck drivers, and highest employment level in driver/sales workers.

Salaries

Florida’s average annual salary, at $55,980, aligns with the national average annual salary of $59,428. Florida has a higher-than-average older population compared to the country, which could impact salary levels in the state. More experience can increase your salary, and a lower cost of living in Florida can increase salary value in Florida.

Cost of living

According to the World Population Review, the cost of living in Florida is lower than average compared to the rest of the country. There’s also abundant affordable housing for seniors and retirees, which makes Florida an ideal state for older truck drivers to work and retire in.

Quality of life

Depending on what you’re looking for out of life, Florida can provide an exceptional quality of life. U.S. News & World Report ranks it #9 out of all states in terms of Best States to live in. Florida also ranks #1 in education according to the report, which may interest truck drivers with kids or those who plan to start families.

U.S. News & World Report also ranks Florida #1 in terms of economy, #20 in fiscal stability and #20 in infrastructure. For truck drivers who enjoy proximity to the beach and ocean, Florida’s geographic location is also desirable.

Regional regulations

Florida truck drivers, like all commercial vehicle drivers throughout the country, must follow federal Hours of Service regulations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. To drive a commercial vehicle in Florida, truck drivers must be 18 years old for intrastate travel and 21 years old for interstate travel.

Like in other states, drivers must understand, speak, and read English well enough to understand traffic signs, converse with officials, and make records and reports.

Some requirements for commercial driver’s license in Florida include having a safe driving history and state that you must not have committed a disqualifying traffic offense.

Ohio

Ohio is the country’s seventh-most populous state, and it offers many opportunities to a variety of truck drivers. According to the National Transportation Research Group, in 2022, Ohio’s freight system moved the seventh largest value of freight of all states, valued at $1.1 trillion. This leads to a lot of truck driving jobs and career advancement opportunities in the state.

Job opportunities

The BLS ranks Ohio as the fifth-highest employment level in heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs, with 89,560 jobs. Ohio ranks fourth among states with the highest employment level in driver/sales workers at 23,490 jobs, and it ranks higher than average for employment level in light truck drivers. Ohio also ranks third in states with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in driver/sales workers.

Rural Ohio also has a large truck driver presence. The North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) and West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan areas are among the top three nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. In terms of metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in driver/sales workers, Springfield, OH has made it to the top 10.

Salaries

For heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, Ohio jobs pay more on average. The annual mean wage for these positions in Ohio was $55,610 in 2023, compared to the 2023 median pay of $54,320 per year. The average overall wage in Ohio, at $56,530, is similar to the average annual salary nationwide at $59,428.

Cost of living

Forbes Advisor examined cost of living by state, examined cost of living by state, ranking Ohio’s 2023 cost of living as the 36th lowest out of the country, while the state’s disposable income ranking comes in at #11. Truck drivers who live in the rural areas of Ohio have an even lower cost of living. If rural life appeals to you, higher truck driver salaries and lower cost of living could mean more disposable income.

Quality of life

In terms of quality of life, World Population Review ranks Ohio near the middle. The state does stand out in certain ways, according to U.S. News & World Report, which ranked the state #20 in terms of opportunity and #17 in terms of fiscal stability.

Truck drivers can take advantage of greater disposable income, lower costs of living, and higher salaries to pursue their interests in the state. Ohio cities including Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus offer metropolitan amenities, while the state is also full of green spaces and nature that could enhance quality of life.

Regional regulations

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles state regulations require all commercial driver’s license classes, testing, endorsements, and restrictions. Commercial motor vehicle operators in Ohio must obtain an endorsement to transport hazardous materials, to drive a vehicle with double or triple trailers, to drive vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, and to drive tank vehicles.

New York

Finally, as the fourth-most populous state, New York is also one truck drivers might consider. While the state’s metropolitan areas have a higher-than-average cost of living, there’s also a higher salary potential and lots of job opportunities. According to the National Transportation Research Nonprofit, New York ranked fourth out of all states in terms of freight shipped by value.

Job opportunities

New York had higher-than-average employment in heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs and driver/sales worker jobs in 2023. The state ranked fourth out of states with the highest employment level in light truck drivers, with 56,080 jobs in 2023.

There are a lot of opportunities for working as a truck driver in New York metropolitan areas, making New York City one of the best cities for truck drivers to live because of career advancement opportunities. According to the BLS, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area had the highest employment level in heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, light truck drivers, and driver/sales workers out of all states.

Salaries

New York has the second-highest average salary of all states, at $74,870, according to Forbes Advisor. It’s also one of the best paying states for truck drivers, with an annual mean wage of $65,260 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area. That’s much higher than the national 2023 median pay, which was $54,320 per year.

Cost of living

New York is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, ranked fourth in cost of living out of all states in an article by Forbes Advisor. But it also ranks second in terms of total disposable income. While the cost of living is relatively high, higher salaries help offset that.

Quality of life

New Yorkers enjoy a high quality of life, as World Population Review ranks New York as the third-highest quality of life in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranks the state of New York as 5th in natural environment, 8th in healthcare, 12th in education, and 24th in crime and corrections.

New York City is one of the world’s leading destinations for those who love the hustle and bustle of the big city. New York also has picturesque nature throughout the state. It offers world-class entertainment and culture, beach days, and even proximity to other areas in the Northeast. New York is a leading place to call home.

Regional regulations

In terms of commercial vehicle safety regulations, New York State has generally adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations.

To apply for a commercial driver’s license for the first time, or to add a hazmat or passenger endorsement for the first time in New York, truck drivers must complete entry-level driver training before taking a commercial driver’s license road test. According to federal regulations, every commercial driver must certify according to the type of commercial driving they perform.

Want to get behind the drivers seat?

Best States for Truck Drivers to Live and Work

Related Posts