Truck Driving Jobs in North Dakota

Apply for North Dakota Trucking Jobs

If you have an interest in becoming a truck driver, you may want to consider applying for truck driving jobs in North Dakota. When compared to the same jobs in other states, people in this field earn, on average, a higher salary. In addition, trucking companies in North Dakota provide their employees with some highly sought-after benefits.

Getting Your CDL in Order to Work for Trucking Companies in North Dakota

You must get your Commercial Drivers License (CDL) in order to be eligible to apply for truck driving jobs in North Dakota. Before being eligible to get a CDL, you must first obtain your Commercial Learners Permit (CLP). The process for doing this includes having a Class D North Dakota driver’s license, passing a CDL general knowledge test, and paying the applicable fees. You are also required to pass a physical examination, a drug test, and a vision test.

After you have had your CLP for a minimum of 14 days, you will be allowed to take the CDL Road Test. For this test, you will need your own commercial vehicle. The vehicle must be insured and it must be of the same type as the CDL you are applying for. There are three different parts to the CDL road test, a Pre-Trip Inspection, a Basic Controls Test, and the Road Skills Test

During the Road Skills Test, you will need to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a variety of driving environments like intersections, rural roads, and downgrades. You may be required to parallel park and perform 90-degree alley docking as well.

What do the trucking companies in North Dakota require of their drivers?

Like most other companies that hire drivers, the trucking companies in North Dakota have put minimum hiring requirements in place. You must meet or exceed these requirements in order to apply for North Dakota trucking jobs. Each company will have their own set of standards, however many are similar.

Hiring requirements for North Dakota trucking companies may include one or more of the following:

North Dakota Truck Driving Salary and Benefits

As anyone looking for employment will tell you, the pay rate can make a big difference in whether or not they accept a position. The same is true for truck driving jobs in North Dakota. What sets these jobs apart is that you do not have to spend years in college in order to earn a decent wage. Trucking companies in North Dakota do not require applicants to hold a college degree in order to get hired.

North Dakota is currently experiencing a thriving job market, thanks to an oil boom in this state. On average, you can earn 24% more in North Dakota than in the same job in other states. Jobs with North Dakota trucking companies are no exception.

Trucking companies in North Dakota are known for paying their drivers well above the national average for this career. According to data from 2016, those people who held truck driving jobs in North Dakota earned an annual salary between $34,640 and $76,810 per year, with a median income of $50,510. Nationally, truck drivers will make between $26,900 and $63,100 per year with a median income of $41,340, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In fact, even new graduates can earn up to $1,000 per week from North Dakota trucking jobs. There are also several different ways truck drivers in this state can add to their expected weekly salary. You can increase your earnings by getting a sign-on, referral, relocation, safety, or performance bonus. Another way to earn more money working for North Dakota trucking companies is to obtain endorsements on your CDL such as HazMat, Doubles and Triples, and Tank Vehicles.

North Dakota truck driving companies usually offer some or all of the following benefits to their employees:

North Dakota Taxes and Cost of Living

If you are applying for truck driving jobs in North Dakota, you should also be informed about local tax rates and the average cost of living. Since part of your salary will go towards paying these expenses, it is important to know how much you should expect to pay.

When it comes to average living expenses, North Dakota has numbers that are about average when compared to other states. The average living costs for a single adult without kids are $21,594 prior to taxes. For a family in North Dakota with two adults and two children, the average living costs before taxes are $63,050. Additionally, North Dakota ranks in 18th place for the lowest state and local taxes among all 50 states and Washington D.C. with an average tax rate of 10.03%.

If you plan on becoming an owner-operator, you will need to pay for your own diesel fuel. Keep in mind that this cost can have a huge impact on your bottom line. Being aware of the current price of diesel fuel in the areas that you will be driving can help you keep your fuel costs down and your profits up. As of May 2017, the national average price for a gallon of diesel fuel is $2.371, while in North Dakota the average is just slightly lower at $2.353 per gallon.

Driving Conditions for Truck Drivers in North Dakota

Truck driving jobs in North Dakota can be rewarding, yet challenging for many different reasons. At times, one of the challenges to this job are the road conditions. Though you are not likely to encounter heavy traffic when working for any of the trucking companies in North Dakota, you will inevitably face winter weather driving conditions and need to drive through the mountains.

Between 26 inches and 38 inches of snow falls in this state each year. In order to prepare yourself for truck driving jobs in North Dakota, you should be comfortable driving on snowy or icy roads in areas with poor visibility. You will need to carry ties and tarps to cover your load if you’re a flatbed driver, and be prepared to chain your tires at a moment’s notice in case of sudden snowstorms.

Expected Growth for Truck Driving Jobs in North Dakota

Between 2014 and 2024, truck driving jobs are predicted to increase by 40,450 between nationally. This is a 6% growth in total. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck driving jobs in North Dakota will see a negative rate of growth at -18% between 2014 and 2024 when compared with other states. Only 320 additional positions will be available annually.

Local Trucking Jobs