Truck Driving Jobs in Wyoming

Apply for Trucking Jobs in Wyoming

Typically, if you are searching for a high-paying job, you will need to have years of experience and a college degree. However, when it comes to the truck driving industry, this is not true. Furthermore, truck driving jobs in Wyoming have better pay rates than most other states.

In fact, trucking companies in Wyoming are offering very competitive pay rates and benefits packages to newly hired drivers. Keep reading to find out what you must do to qualify for trucking jobs in Wyoming and apply for multiple truck driving jobs on this page!

Getting Your CDL in Order to Work for Wyoming Trucking Companies

You must obtain your Commercial Drivers License (CDL) in order to be employed in truck driving jobs in Wyoming. The first step in getting your CDL is to obtain your Wyoming Commercial Learners Permit (CLP). To be eligible for a CLP you must be at least 18 years old. However, you must be 21 if you will be driving with passengers in your vehicle, driving out of the state, or transporting hazardous materials.

The process for getting a CLP includes having a Class D Wyoming driver’s license, passing the CDL General Knowledge Test, and paying the applicable fees. You may not take the CDL Skills Test until you have met the requirements and have been granted a CLP.

Once you have a CLP, there is no mandatory waiting period to schedule your CDL Skills Test. The first portion of this test is the Pre-trip Inspection which will assess your knowledge of your vehicle and make sure the vehicle is safe for public roads.

The second portion is the Basic Controls Test. This test will require you to demonstrate off-road maneuvers with your commercial vehicle such as moving forward, backing up, and turning in a pre-determined area.

You must pass the first two portions of the exam to move onto the third and final portion; the Road Skills Test. During this test, you will demonstrate to the examiner that you are well-versed in traffic laws and know how to operate your commercial vehicle in a competent manner. During this hands-on exam, you will be tested on how well you stop on a downgrade, turn your vehicle, use your vehicle controls, and observe the traffic around you.

Be sure to arrive on time for your test and make sure that you bring your own commercial vehicle that is the same class as the CDL you are applying for. After you have earned your commercial driver’s license, you can move forward with applying for trucking jobs in Wyoming.

What do Wyoming trucking companies require of their drivers?

All trucking companies, no matter how big or small, have certain hiring criteria. The trucking companies in Wyoming are no different and have put their own individual job stipulations in place. These requirements meet or exceed the rules and regulations set forth by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

The most common job qualifications for Wyoming trucking companies include one or more of the following:

Wyoming Truck Driving Salary and Benefits

You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that truck driving jobs in Wyoming offer some attractive benefits and better than average pay.

As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wyoming trucking companies pay more than the national average for this career field. As of 2016, Wyoming trucking jobs paid truck drivers between $33,740 and $68,940 per year, with the median income of a truck or tractor-trailer driver being $47,590. Nationally, truck drivers will make between $26,900 and $63,100 annually with a median income of $41,340, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you work for truck driving jobs in Wyoming, you could make up to 54 cents per mile or a minimum of $1,125 per week. In fact, some trucking companies in Wyoming report that more than half of their truck drivers earn at least $60,000 per year. You can also increase your salary with bonuses for referring your friends to apply, completing your orientation, and having a safe driving record.

It is common practice for Wyoming trucking companies to provide some of the following benefits:

Wyoming Taxes and Cost of Living

In addition to the salary offered by truck driving jobs in Wyoming, you will need to factor in the average living costs and local taxes when determining what kind of salary you can afford to accept. Wyoming is a state with notoriously low local taxes and no state taxes. It is also a state with a lower cost of living.

Wyoming has an average county tax rate of 8.48%, putting this state in 4th place for lowest state and county tax rates among all 50 states and Washington D.C. In Wyoming, the average living costs for a single adult without children are $21,451 prior to taxes. For a family with two adults and two children, the average living costs before taxes are $60,706.

If you become an owner-operator who partners with Wyoming trucking companies, you will need to pay for your own diesel fuel. Keep in mind, that you must pay all your own expenses as an owner-operator, and this cost can impact you greatly.

As of June 2017, the national average price for a gallon of diesel fuel is $2.375, while in Wyoming the average is just below this price at $2.368 per gallon. Of course, if you are an employee driving for trucking companies in Wyoming, you will not have to worry about paying for your own diesel fuel.

Driving Conditions for Truck Drivers in Wyoming

In the trucking industry, safety and time are two factors that can influence job performance and job satisfaction. Bad road conditions and heavy traffic can have a negative impact on both.

Fortunately, in Wyoming, you are unlikely to experience heavy traffic conditions. This is because Wyoming is the least populated state in the nation. On the other hand, when working at truck driving jobs in Wyoming you are extremely likely to encounter bad roads and winter driving conditions. Wyoming gets as much as 60 inches of snow in some areas. This can create snowy and icy roads as well as low visibility.

In addition, Wyoming is known for its strong winds. When strong winds are combined with snow, visibility on the roadways is poor at best. If you work for Wyoming trucking companies be prepared for delays and road closures and always drive safely.

Of course, one of the many benefits of Wyoming trucking jobs is the opportunity it gives you to experience this state’s beautiful scenery. Wyoming is home to the majestic Grand Teton Mountain Range, the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in the south central portion of the state, and parts of Yellowstone National Park. Another well-known landmark in this beautiful state is Devil’s Tower, made famous by the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

You may even get to see deer, elk, and grouse in these areas as well. However, you should use extreme caution when driving through wilderness areas, as wildlife has been known to cause severe traffic accidents.

Expected Growth for Truck Driving Jobs in Wyoming

Nationally, truck driving jobs are expected to grow by 40,450 between 2014 and 2024, which represents a 6% growth overall. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a much lower than average rate of job growth is predicted for Wyoming trucking companies. In fact, an 11% decrease of truck driving jobs is expected between 2014 and 2024.

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