Canonical page: https://digitalstorming.com/blog/box-truck-driver-salary/
A Markdown copy of the article, made from the page each time the site is built.

# Box Truck Driver Salary in 2026: What Non-CDL Drivers Make

Box truck drivers (BLS light truck drivers) earned a median $44,860 a year, $21.57 an hour, in May 2025. See 2026 job pay, overtime and weekly math.

By [Ryan Hawk](https://digitalstorming.com/author/ryan-hawk/), Business & Hiring Advisor · Published October 29, 2026

Box truck driver salary: light truck drivers earned a median $44,860 a year ($21.57 an hour) in May 2025. That [Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?year=2025&major_group=530000&occupation=533033&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA) (BLS) group covers most non-CDL box truck jobs. The middle half of the 60 non-CDL job ads we counted (September 1 to October 29, 2026) paid about $19.50 to $24 an hour.

For your area, see pay in every state: state medians run from $17.83 an hour in Arkansas to $27.50 in Alaska.

A rideshare driver in Tennessee is comparing two ads. One pays $22 an hour to run a 26-foot box truck around town. The other pays 37 cents a mile plus $13 a stop. Neither needs a CDL, and which pays more depends on the hours, the miles and whether overtime applies.

This guide shows what box truck drivers make in 2026. It draws on the government’s newest wage data (BLS, May 2025) and the pay Ryder, J.B. Hunt and other employers were posting in October 2026. It covers why salary sites show higher figures, van pay, pay in every state, how each pay method works out per week and when federal law owes you overtime. Then come local versus regional work, extra pay, and ways to earn more, from a CDL to a truck of your own.

## How much do box truck drivers make?

Short answer: Light truck drivers are the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) group for drivers of trucks and vans under 26,001 pounds. They earned a median of $44,860 a year in May 2025: $21.57 an hour, or about $863 a week. The middle half earned $37,270 to $52,310, and the top 10% earned more than $80,310.

Light truck driver pay per hour by percentile, May 2025, with the heavy truck median

- 10th percentile: $14.81
- 25th percentile: $17.92
- Median: $21.57
- 75th percentile: $25.15
- Heavy and tractor-trailer driver median (CDL): $28.19
- 90th percentile: $38.61

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 data, Light Truck Drivers (53-3033) and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (53-3032), checked October 29, 2026.

Most non-CDL box truck, straight truck and cargo van jobs fall in this group, Light Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3033). The figures come from BLS’s [Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025](https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?year=2025&major_group=530000&occupation=533033&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA), the newest wage data. It counted 983,300 of these jobs, with a mean wage of $48,770 a year ($23.45 an hour), pulled above the median by the top earners.

Table: Light truck driver pay by percentile, May 2025 (BLS; weekly figures are annual pay divided by 52)

| Percentile | Per year | Per week | Per hour |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10th | $30,800 | $592 | $14.81 |
| 25th | $37,270 | $717 | $17.92 |
| Median | $44,860 | $863 | $21.57 |
| 75th | $52,310 | $1,006 | $25.15 |
| 90th | $80,310 | $1,544 | $38.61 |

The industry you drive in matters. BLS’s [Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-driver-sales-workers.htm) was updated August 27, 2026. It puts the May 2025 median for light truck drivers at $47,700 in couriers and messengers, $44,740 in wholesale trade and $34,350 in retail trade. A parcel or freight route tends to pay more than delivering for a single store.

Compare that with CDL work. [Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers](https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?year=2025&major_group=530000&occupation=533032&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA) earned a median of $58,640 ($28.19 an hour) in May 2025: $13,780 a year more than light truck drivers, or about 31% more. At the very top the gap closes. The light truck 90th percentile ($80,310) is slightly above the heavy truck 90th ($79,380).

The outlook is steady. BLS projects light truck driver jobs to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, to about 1,136,400 in the handbook’s count, which differs from the wage survey’s. That compares with 4% for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers on its [heavy truck driver page](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm). The reason BLS gives: “Continued growth of e-commerce should increase the need for deliveries.”

## What do box truck driver jobs pay right now?

Short answer: The 60 non-CDL box truck and straight truck job ads we counted (September 1 to October 29, 2026) had a median of $22 an hour. The middle half advertised $19.50 to $24. Big fleets in high-cost areas pay more: Ryder lists $27 to $29 an hour on several jobs, and J.B. Hunt’s delivery installers average $1,058 to $1,192 a week.

How we counted: We searched [Talent.com](https://www.talent.com/jobs?k=non+cdl+box+truck+driver&l=United+States) across the United States for seven phrases and read three pages of results for each. The phrases were non-CDL box truck driver, box truck driver, non-CDL driver, straight truck driver, cargo van driver, 26 ft box truck driver and non-CDL delivery driver. We kept ads updated between September 1 and October 29, 2026 that paid by the hour, and used the middle of each posted range. We dropped CDL-B, owner-operator, helper and dispatcher roles and two outliers: a part-time USPS route at $34.26 and a likely commission job at $52.74. That left 60 ads: median $22.00, middle half $19.50 to $24.00.

The table adds Ryder’s and J.B. Hunt’s own postings and other employers’ listings, all opened October 29, 2026. Every figure is advertised, not guaranteed.

Table: Advertised pay for non-CDL box and straight truck jobs, October 2026

| Employer and location | Truck | Advertised pay | Pay basis |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Ryder](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214221/delivery-driver-non-cdl-home-daily/job), Tualatin, OR | 26 ft straight truck, no air brakes | $29.00 an hour, about 50 hours a week | Hourly |
| [Ryder](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214007/truck-driver-non-cdl-home-daily/job), Richmond, CA | 16, 24 and 26 ft refrigerated straight trucks, liftgate | $28.00 an hour; “$1540 or more Weekly” | Hourly |
| [Ryder](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/213609/delivery-driver-non-cdl-solo-regional/job), Butte, MT (regional) | Non-CDL straight truck | $27.00 an hour, 50+ hours a week | Hourly |
| [Ryder](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/213464/delivery-driver-non-cdl-solo-regional/job), Alabaster, AL (regional) | 26 ft straight truck | “$1100 weekly minimum” | Weekly minimum |
| [Ryder](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214386/driver-non-cdl-local-no-weekends/job), West Chester, OH | 16, 22 and 26 ft box trucks, liftgate | “$1000 or more per week” | $0.37 a mile plus $13–$20 a stop |
| [J.B. Hunt Final Mile](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-5082-e78ca6b9-2dce-f111-a05a-3833c5efc1bd), Sacramento, CA | Straight truck, delivery and install | $1,192 average week ($62,000 a year) | Activity pay |
| [J.B. Hunt Final Mile](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-4675-b6f3b7fb-e660-f111-a825-00224829f728), Pittsburgh, PA | Straight truck, delivery and install | $1,115 average week ($58,000 a year) | Activity pay |
| [J.B. Hunt Final Mile](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-4588-6cb2f3c3-325d-478b-b853-430afb03e69f), Omaha, NE | Straight truck, delivery and install | $1,058 average week ($55,000 a year) | Activity pay |
| [SMS Delivery](https://www.talent.com/view?id=641597022552327083), Teterboro, NJ | 26 ft box truck | $25.50 an hour | Hourly, overtime available |
| [HD Supply](https://www.talent.com/view?id=598108743247793165), Auburn, MA | Box truck with liftgate | $24.20 an hour to start | Hourly |
| [W.B. Mason](https://www.talent.com/view?id=643700598659820327), Portland, ME | Furniture delivery | $20–$27 an hour, 8 hours a day guaranteed | Hourly |
| [Taylor Farms](https://www.talent.com/view?id=641259033386222100), Tolleson, AZ | Box truck | $1,000–$1,564 a week | Weekly, by work volume |
| [Prime Logistix](https://www.talent.com/view?id=643277347589587101), Maryland Heights, MO | 26 ft, two-person appliance delivery | $200 a day (driver), $160 (helper) | Day rate |

Our [non-CDL box truck driver job](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/non-cdl-truck-driver/) is advertised at $18–$25 an hour, set from postings like these. That’s about $18–$21 to start and $21–$25 with experience, depending on the carrier, the truck and the route.

### 26 ft box truck driver pay

A 26-foot box truck is usually the biggest truck you can drive without a CDL, as long as its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 26,000 pounds or less. Under [49 CFR 383.91](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-383.91), a single truck rated 26,001 pounds or more needs a Class B. In the October postings, 26-foot jobs paid $25.50 an hour at SMS Delivery and $29 at Ryder in Tualatin. Ryder’s regional run had a $1,100 weekly minimum, and Prime Logistix paid $200 a day. Our guide on [whether you need a CDL to drive a box truck](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/do-you-need-a-cdl-to-drive-a-box-truck/) shows how to read the weight label.

> Watch out: Read what the number in an ad actually is. J.B. Hunt’s “Average Weekly Gross” is what drivers on that account have averaged. Ryder’s “or more” figures assume a full week of miles and stops, and “up to” is a ceiling. Ask for the rates behind the headline and how many hours a normal week takes.

## Why do salary sites show higher box truck pay?

Short answer: Salary sites and BLS measure different things. Talent.com’s box truck driver page shows $55,952 a year, compiled from job postings on its site. BLS’s $44,860 median comes from employer surveys of what light truck drivers were paid in May 2025, leaving out overtime pay and the self-employed.

If a salary site showed you a higher number, this is why. On October 29, 2026, [Talent.com’s box truck driver salary page](https://www.talent.com/salary?job=box+truck+driver) put the average at “$55,952 per year or $28.32 per hour,” based on 10,000 salaries. It shows the same $55,952 as its median, $11,092 above BLS’s.

BLS’s figure comes from its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, a twice-yearly survey of nonfarm employers. Its [FAQ](https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm) says the survey counts part-time and full-time workers “who are paid a wage or salary” and “does not cover the self-employed.” So drivers working as 1099 contractors aren’t in it. OEWS wages are “straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay”: base pay, mileage and guaranteed pay count, but overtime pay, shift differentials and weekend premium pay don’t.

The same FAQ notes that full-time workers tend to earn higher hourly wages than part-time workers in the same occupation, and BLS counts both. Its annual figures “assume a full-time, year-round schedule of 2,080 hours.” Talent.com’s two numbers don’t fit that schedule: at 2,080 hours, $55,952 a year is $26.90 an hour, and $28.32 an hour is $58,906 a year.

Talent.com’s [help center](https://helpcenter.talent.com/hc/en-us/sections/7466534618132-Career-Questions) says its salary information “is a compilation of data we collect from job postings on our platform.” Some ads quote a full week with overtime, which BLS leaves out: [Ryder’s](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214007/truck-driver-non-cdl-home-daily/job) “$1540 or more Weekly” in Richmond includes 10 hours at time and a half. The salary page doesn’t say which ads went into its figure, and the “active jobs with salaries” it listed included general truck driver and flex driver ads. Our own count of 60 hourly non-CDL ads on the same site had a median of $22.00 an hour, well below the salary page’s $28.32.

Use BLS to see what drivers were actually paid at straight time, and current ads to see what employers near you offer now.

## How much do cargo van and Sprinter drivers make?

Short answer: Company cargo van drivers are usually paid by the hour, at rates close to box truck pay. Amazon expects the partners that employ its van drivers to reach a national average of nearly $24 an hour in 2027. Drivers who bring their own van work as contractors, paid by the route, the week or the mile, before their own costs.

Amazon’s van drivers work for Delivery Service Partners (DSPs), the small companies that hire them. In its [September 21, 2026 announcement](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-dsp-program-investment-2026), Amazon said it is investing another $1.9 billion in the program. Its summary ties that to 2027, “helping DSPs increase DA pay to a national average of nearly $24/hour” (a DA, delivery associate, is the driver). That follows an average 16% rise over three years, with earnings “rising by roughly another $1.”

Amazon calls pay “decisions DSP owners make as employers” and says specifics “will vary by DSP and geography.” So treat nearly $24 as a national average target, not the rate at any one station. It also says all DSPs give full-time drivers healthcare coverage and paid time off. Other company van jobs sit in the same band: STIIIZY listed a full-time [cargo van driver job in Oakland](https://www.talent.com/view?id=639522443724789158) at $20–$23 an hour in October 2026.

Contractor van work is priced differently. [Priority Dispatch](https://www.talent.com/view?id=642209435746502671) in Independence, Ohio, advertised $1,000–$1,500 a week for 1099 contractors with their own cargo van, on weekday routes of up to 300 miles. [Victoria Logistics Carrier](https://www.talent.com/view?id=643726689744978077), hiring Sprinter and cargo van owner-operators in Fort Smith, Arkansas, quoted $0.85–$1.35 a mile on long runs. Those are gross figures: fuel, insurance, the van and self-employment tax come out of them.

Delivery drivers as a whole earn a little less than light truck drivers. BLS’s wider [handbook group](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-driver-sales-workers.htm), delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, had a median of $43,950 a year ($21.13 an hour) in May 2025.

## How are box truck drivers paid?

Short answer: Box truck drivers are paid by the hour, the day, the stop, the mile or the unit delivered, and many jobs mix two or three of these. Regional jobs may add a hotel for nights away. Hourly pay is the easiest to compare, so turn every other offer into an hourly figure using a real week’s hours.

- Hourly: the most common. HD Supply stresses its drivers are “Not paid by the stop or the day!” and W.B. Mason guarantees 8 hours of pay a day.
- Day rate: Prime Logistix pays a driver $200 a day and a helper $160 on two-person appliance routes. A day rate pays the same for a 9-hour day as a 12-hour one, so ask how long routes run.
- Per stop: Ryder’s West Chester job pays $13 per dealership stop and $20 per warehouse stop on top of mileage. J.B. Hunt’s Final Mile postings pay $1.60 to $6.75 a stop, depending on the market.
- Per mile: the same Ryder job pays $0.37 a mile, and J.B. Hunt’s installer postings list $0.29 to $0.55. Owner-operator van rates are far higher per mile because they also have to pay for the vehicle.
- Activity pay: J.B. Hunt’s [straight truck jobs](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/jobs/straight-truck-driving-jobs) pay a daily dispatch rate of $25 to $30. On top come set amounts per stop, per unit delivered, per mile, and per hour for training or riding in the right seat. On team runs, ask whether each driver gets the full rate or a split.

## Do box truck drivers get overtime?

Short answer: Box truck drivers often don’t get federal overtime. The Fair Labor Standards Act’s Motor Carrier Act exemption lets employers skip overtime for drivers whose vehicles fall under Department of Transportation hours rules. That includes box trucks over 10,000 pounds in interstate work. Drivers of vehicles rated 10,000 pounds or less generally get time and a half after 40 hours.

The exemption is one line of the FLSA, [29 U.S.C. 213(b)(1)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/213). It says the overtime section doesn’t apply to “any employee with respect to whom the Secretary of Transportation has power to establish qualifications and maximum hours of service.” The Labor Department’s [Fact Sheet #19](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/19-flsa-motor-carrier) says that covers drivers, helpers, loaders and mechanics whose work affects the safety of vehicles in interstate commerce. They must work for a motor carrier or private motor carrier, and the small vehicle exception can still apply.

That exception comes from section 306 of the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008, effective June 6, 2008. It brings overtime back in any workweek in which you work, “in whole or in part,” on vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less. That doesn’t cover vehicles designed or used to carry more than 8 passengers including the driver for pay, more than 15 without pay, or placarded hazardous materials. The Labor Department’s [Field Assistance Bulletin 2010-2](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/field-assistance-bulletins/2010-2) measures weight by the GVWR, usually on a plate on the door jamb, or by the combined rating when a trailer is towed.

Two details catch drivers out. Driving a small vehicle for part of a week makes that whole week overtime-eligible. In the bulletin’s example, the driver is “nonexempt for that workweek and must receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40.” And the exemption needs interstate commerce, which Fact Sheet #19 reads to include trips inside one state that continue an interstate journey of goods.

Table: Federal overtime for non-CDL drivers, by vehicle (FLSA, October 2026)

| Vehicle and work | Federal overtime after 40 hours? | Rule |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cargo van, pickup or truck rated 10,000 lb or less | Generally yes | Small vehicle exception, TCA 2008 § 306 |
| Box or straight truck rated 10,001–26,000 lb, interstate work for a motor carrier | Generally no | Motor Carrier Act exemption, 29 U.S.C. 213(b)(1) |
| Small and large vehicles in the same week | Yes, for that week | “In whole or in part” (DOL FAB 2010-2) |
| Small vehicle hauling placarded hazardous materials | Generally no | Excluded from the small vehicle exception |

State law can still require overtime. California’s [Wage Order 9](https://www.dir.ca.gov/IWC/IWCArticle9.pdf) covers the transportation industry. It pays time and a half after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, and double time after 12 hours in a day. Its overtime section, though, doesn’t apply to employees whose hours are regulated by the federal hours-of-service rules (49 CFR 395.1 to 395.13) or by California’s own rules on drivers’ hours. So in California the answer also depends on the vehicle and the work, and other states set their own rules.

> Tip: Before you accept a job, look at the GVWR on the label in the driver’s door frame of the truck or van you’ll drive. Then ask the recruiter: “Is overtime paid after 40 hours?” At $22 an hour, the answer is worth $110 on a 50-hour week.

## What does a box truck driver make in a week?

Short answer: About $1,000 for a full-time week is common in current postings, and it’s roughly the 75th percentile in BLS data ($1,006 a week). At $22 an hour, 50 hours pays $1,100 at straight time or $1,210 with time and a half after 40. The four worked examples below use real advertised rates.

### Example 1: hourly, with and without overtime

Ryder’s Richmond, California, job pays $28 an hour for about 50 hours a week. Forty hours at $28 is $1,120, and ten more at time and a half ($42) is $420, for $1,540: the “$1540 or more Weekly” in Ryder’s ad. At straight time the same week would be $1,400, so the overtime is worth $7,280 over 52 weeks.

### Example 2: miles plus stops

> Example: Ryder’s West Chester, Ohio, job lists 1,600 miles a week at $0.37 ($592), 20 dealership stops at $13 ($260) and 7 warehouse stops at $20 ($140). That’s $992 a week, which is how the ad gets to “$1000 or more per week.” If that work takes 45 hours, it’s about $22 an hour. A week with fewer stops pays less, so ask what the route has averaged over the last few months.

### Example 3: day rate

Prime Logistix pays a driver $200 a day: $1,000 for five days, $1,200 for six. A helper at $160 makes $800 for five. If each day runs 10 hours, the driver’s $200 is $20 an hour, with no extra for long days.

### Example 4: activity pay

J.B. Hunt’s Pittsburgh installer job averages $58,000 a year, or $1,115 a week over 52 weeks. Only $150 of that is the daily dispatch rate ($30 × 5 days). The rest comes from stops, units delivered and installed, and miles, so pay rises and falls with the account’s volume.

Try your own hourly rate and weekly hours below; if the job pays overtime, hours over 40 count at 1.5 times the rate.

## How does local, regional and OTR box truck work compare?

Short answer: Local box truck jobs bring you home every night and often need no logbook under the federal 150 air-mile short-haul exception. Regional jobs add nights away, hours-of-service logs and hotels or per diem. Over-the-road non-CDL work, in the postings we read, was mostly for owner-operators running their own vans.

Local is where most box truck jobs are. Under [49 CFR 395.1(e)(2)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-395.1), a non-CDL driver needs no logbook if they stay within 150 air miles of the work reporting location and return there each day. They also can’t drive after the 14th hour on duty (the 16th on 2 days of any 7), and the carrier must keep time records for six months. Start times can be early: Ryder’s West Chester job starts between 1:00 and 5:00 a.m., while HD Supply and W.B. Mason advertise Monday-to-Friday schedules with nights at home.

Regional jobs trade home time for range. Ryder’s Alabaster, Alabama, job runs 26-foot straight trucks to six Southern states, with overnights in a Ryder-booked hotel, for a $1,100 weekly minimum. Its Butte, Montana, job covers Montana and Idaho at $27 an hour for 50-plus hours. Outside the short-haul exception you keep hours-of-service records, on an electronic logging device unless you need logs on no more than 8 days in any 30-day period ([49 CFR 395.8](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-395.8)).

Over the road non-CDL work is rare for company drivers. In the postings we read, long multi-state runs were almost all for owner-operators, such as Victoria Logistics Carrier’s Sprinter contracts.

Whatever the route, a truck or van rated 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce is a commercial motor vehicle under [49 CFR 390.5](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-390.5). Its driver must be at least 21 under [49 CFR 391.11](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.11) and carry a DOT medical certificate under [49 CFR 391.41](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.41), CDL or not. Our [non-CDL driver job](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/non-cdl-truck-driver/) offers local routes with home time every day on most routes, plus regional runs for drivers who want them.

## What extra pay can box truck drivers earn?

Short answer: The extra money comes from heavy touch freight, two-person delivery and installation, early or overnight starts, weekend and holiday work, and nights away. In current postings it shows up as higher hourly rates and guaranteed daily hours. J.B. Hunt pays $140 to $180 a day on holidays, and one installer job lists $52,000 to $65,000 a year.

- Heavy touch and liftgate work: Ryder’s $29-an-hour Tualatin job is “Heavy Touch” medical supplies with a pallet jack and stair walkers. None of the postings we read listed a separate liftgate premium; the hand-unload work is priced into the rate.
- Two-person delivery and installation: AM Home Delivery’s [driver and appliance installer job](https://www.talent.com/view?id=642676891794738417) in Nashville lists $52,000–$65,000 a year and requires installation experience. J.B. Hunt pays $12 to $20 an hour for “Right-Seat Driving,” the second person in the cab, in its [Detroit](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-26761-47118ed3-81b0-f111-aaac-002248237054) and Sacramento postings.
- Early, late and weekend shifts: BLS notes that drivers on regular routes “sometimes must begin work very early in the morning or work late at night” and “often work weekends and holidays.” Ryder’s Richmond job starts at 5:00 a.m. or 10:30 p.m., and SMS Delivery asks drivers to be available any day of the week. None of the ads we read named a night or weekend differential, so ask.
- Holidays and overtime: J.B. Hunt’s Final Mile postings list holiday pay of $140 a day in Pittsburgh, Omaha and Detroit and $180 in Sacramento. SMS Delivery lists “Overtime Available,” and W.B. Mason advertises daily overtime on top of its 8-hour guarantee.

## Which states pay box truck drivers the most?

Short answer: Alaska has the highest median pay for light truck drivers, $57,190 a year ($27.50 an hour), followed by Washington, D.C., Washington state, Minnesota and Colorado at about $48,400 to $49,300. The lowest medians, about $37,100 to $38,500, are in Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama, in BLS data for May 2025.

Light truck driver median annual pay: the five highest and four lowest states, May 2025, with the U.S. median

- Alaska: $57,190
- District of Columbia: $49,330
- Washington: $49,070
- Minnesota: $48,880
- Colorado: $48,410
- United States: $44,860
- Alabama: $38,490
- Mississippi: $38,140
- South Carolina: $37,680
- Arkansas: $37,080

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), Light Truck Drivers (53-3033), checked October 29, 2026.

The table lists every state and the District of Columbia, from BLS’s [May 2025 state estimates](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm) (the file state_M2025_dl.xlsx). Employment is BLS’s estimate of light truck driver jobs in each state. The most are in California (111,950), Texas (78,540) and Florida (67,390).

Table: Light truck driver median pay and employment by state, May 2025 (BLS state estimates)

| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alabama | $18.50 | $38,490 | 13,980 |
| Alaska | $27.50 | $57,190 | 1,790 |
| Arizona | $21.70 | $45,140 | 18,400 |
| Arkansas | $17.83 | $37,080 | 9,340 |
| California | $22.50 | $46,790 | 111,950 |
| Colorado | $23.28 | $48,410 | 15,810 |
| Connecticut | $21.39 | $44,500 | 10,720 |
| Delaware | $21.15 | $43,990 | 4,200 |
| District of Columbia | $23.72 | $49,330 | 540 |
| Florida | $20.10 | $41,810 | 67,390 |
| Georgia | $21.18 | $44,050 | 26,050 |
| Hawaii | $22.08 | $45,930 | 3,690 |
| Idaho | $21.33 | $44,370 | 7,120 |
| Illinois | $22.78 | $47,380 | 47,190 |
| Indiana | $21.42 | $44,560 | 19,880 |
| Iowa | $20.56 | $42,750 | 9,680 |
| Kansas | $21.03 | $43,730 | 9,140 |
| Kentucky | $20.78 | $43,230 | 15,630 |
| Louisiana | $18.96 | $39,440 | 14,300 |
| Maine | $21.42 | $44,550 | 3,120 |
| Maryland | $23.15 | $48,150 | 18,420 |
| Massachusetts | $23.13 | $48,110 | 23,350 |
| Michigan | $20.67 | $43,000 | 26,160 |
| Minnesota | $23.50 | $48,880 | 17,360 |
| Mississippi | $18.34 | $38,140 | 7,030 |
| Missouri | $21.88 | $45,500 | 16,210 |
| Montana | $22.32 | $46,420 | 2,960 |
| Nebraska | $21.21 | $44,120 | 4,210 |
| Nevada | $21.04 | $43,760 | 9,520 |
| New Hampshire | $22.24 | $46,260 | 4,670 |
| New Jersey | $22.51 | $46,820 | 33,900 |
| New Mexico | $20.37 | $42,360 | 4,220 |
| New York | $22.27 | $46,330 | 56,490 |
| North Carolina | $19.19 | $39,910 | 31,810 |
| North Dakota | $23.05 | $47,950 | 1,950 |
| Ohio | $20.48 | $42,600 | 35,130 |
| Oklahoma | $19.15 | $39,840 | 10,020 |
| Oregon | $22.67 | $47,150 | 11,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $21.21 | $44,120 | 42,380 |
| Rhode Island | $21.95 | $45,660 | 3,110 |
| South Carolina | $18.12 | $37,680 | 11,950 |
| South Dakota | $20.79 | $43,240 | 4,820 |
| Tennessee | $21.66 | $45,050 | 33,710 |
| Texas | $20.43 | $42,500 | 78,540 |
| Utah | $22.05 | $45,860 | 9,930 |
| Vermont | $21.68 | $45,090 | 2,050 |
| Virginia | $20.41 | $42,450 | 25,170 |
| Washington | $23.59 | $49,070 | 23,290 |
| West Virginia | $18.68 | $38,860 | 3,330 |
| Wisconsin | $21.96 | $45,670 | 19,140 |
| Wyoming | $21.05 | $43,780 | 1,450 |
| United States | $21.57 | $44,860 | 983,300 |

These are statewide medians, not adjusted for living costs. Postings in expensive metros run well above them. Ryder’s $28 an hour in Richmond, California, compares with a California median of $22.50, and its $29 in Tualatin, Oregon, with an Oregon median of $22.67.

## How can a non-CDL driver earn more?

Short answer: The biggest raise is a Class A CDL, which opens jobs like our [CDL-A truck driver job](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/cdl-truck-driver/). Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers earned a median of $58,640 in May 2025, $13,780 more than light truck drivers. Without a CDL, the best-paying jobs are delivery and installation, routes in high-cost metros, regional runs, and jobs that pay overtime after 40 hours.

A Class A CDL is the license that changes the pay scale, because it opens tractor-trailers. A Class B on its own may not. In the same Portland market in October 2026, Ryder advertised its [Class B regional straight truck job](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214238/truck-driver-cdl-b-regional/job) at $29.50 an hour and its non-CDL Tualatin job at $29.00. Our guide to [how much CDL drivers make](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/how-much-do-cdl-drivers-make/) covers Class A pay by route and experience.

Getting there takes training. Anyone getting a first Class A or B CDL, or upgrading to one, must complete entry-level driver training before the skills test. The trainer must be on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry ([49 CFR 380.609](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-380.609)). Our step-by-step on [how to become a truck driver](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/how-to-become-a-truck-driver/) walks through the permit, the training and the test. Our [CDL-A truck driver job](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/cdl-truck-driver/) pays $900 to $1,700 a week and welcomes new CDL holders. If your home is outside the U.S., check first how the [non-domiciled CDL rule](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/13/2026-02965/restoring-integrity-to-the-issuance-of-non-domiciled-commercial-drivers-licenses-cdl) that took effect March 16, 2026 applies to you. Our [2026 FMCSA rule changes](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/fmcsa-rule-changes-2026/) summary explains it.

Without a CDL, the non-CDL jobs that pay well are delivery and installation, courier and parcel routes, and overtime-eligible work. J.B. Hunt’s installers average $55,000 to $62,000 a year, and light truck drivers in the courier industry had a $47,700 median. A clean record keeps those doors open: HD Supply allows no more than 2 minor accidents and 2 moving violations in 3 years.

> Our take: If you like the work, plan the CDL while you build a clean year or two in a box truck. That experience is what the higher-paying non-CDL jobs ask for anyway: Ryder wants at least 6 months of verifiable driving, and HD Supply wants two years in a box truck.

## Employee, contractor or owner: which pays more?

Short answer: An employee’s wage is the cleanest money: the employer supplies the truck and fuel and pays half of Social Security and Medicare. A contractor’s weekly figure also has to cover the vehicle, fuel, insurance and 15.3% self-employment tax. Owning a box truck under your own authority is a business with its own costs, not a wage.

The tax difference is set by law. An employee pays 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare, and the employer pays the same again, according to the [IRS](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751). A self-employed driver pays both halves: the [self-employment tax](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes) rate is 15.3% (12.4% for Social Security plus 2.9% for Medicare) once net earnings reach $400. You can deduct the employer-equivalent half when figuring adjusted gross income.

> Example: These are made-up round numbers to show the math, not market rates. A contractor with their own cargo van grosses $1,250 in a week, the middle of Priority Dispatch’s $1,000–$1,500 range. Fuel, insurance, maintenance and the van payment come to $550, leaving $700. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of net earnings (line 4a of [Schedule SE](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sse.pdf)): $700 × 0.9235 × 0.153 is about $99, leaving about $601 before income tax. An employee earning $22 an hour for 45 hours with no overtime grosses $990. They pay about $76 in Social Security and Medicare, leaving about $914 before income tax, with no vehicle costs.

Calling someone a contractor doesn’t settle whether they are one. On [February 27, 2026](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/27/2026-03962/employee-or-independent-contractor-status-under-the-fair-labor-standards-act-family-and-medical), the Labor Department proposed replacing its 2024 FLSA test for employee or contractor status with its January 2021 analysis, with a few changes. That analysis gives the most weight to two “core” factors: the nature and degree of control over the work, and the worker’s opportunity for profit or loss. As of October 29, 2026 it’s still a proposal.

Owning the truck is a different job again: under your own USDOT number and authority you sell freight capacity, not hours. No reliable official figure shows what box truck owners net. Our guide to [starting a box truck business](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/how-to-start-a-box-truck-business/) covers the authority, insurance and break-even math.

## What’s changing for box truck and van drivers in 2026?

Short answer: Four changes matter most. Amazon’s delivery partners are raising van driver pay toward a national average of nearly $24 an hour in 2027. Drivers of vehicles over 10,000 pounds who fail a roadside English check are put out of service. Virginia now requires pay ranges in job ads, and the Labor Department has proposed a new contractor test.

- Amazon’s van pay target. The $1.9 billion DSP investment is pitched at recruiting and keeping drivers, on top of the e-commerce growth BLS expects to add light truck jobs through 2035.
- English proficiency applies without a CDL. The English rule in [49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.11) covers anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, including box trucks and vans rated 10,001 pounds or more. Since June 25, 2025, failing it at a roadside inspection is an out-of-service violation. FMCSA’s [August 10, 2026 proposal](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/10/2026-16288/english-language-proficiency-out-of-service-criteria) to write that into its rules counts 19,045 English proficiency out-of-service orders between June 25, 2025 and March 19, 2026. As of October 29 there’s no final rule. J.B. Hunt’s Final Mile postings now quote the English requirement word for word. Our [English proficiency guide](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/fmcsa-english-proficiency-rule/) explains the roadside test.
- Pay ranges in more ads. Virginia began requiring a wage or salary range in all job postings on July 1, 2026, according to its [Department of Labor and Industry](https://doli.virginia.gov/2026/07/01/employment-law-updates-new-legislation-protecting-virginia-workers-applies-beginning-july-1-2026/). Our [pay transparency guide](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/pay-transparency-laws-by-state/) covers the other states.
- Contractor status. If the Labor Department finalizes its February 2026 proposal, the federal test for whether a 1099 driver is really an employee changes.

Changes that affect non-CDL driver pay and jobs, 2025–2027

- **June 25, 2025:** Failing an English proficiency check becomes an out-of-service violation.
- **February 27, 2026:** The Labor Department proposes a new employee-or-contractor test.
- **July 1, 2026:** Virginia requires pay ranges in all job postings.
- **August 10, 2026:** FMCSA proposes writing the English out-of-service rule into its regulations.
- **September 21, 2026:** Amazon announces another $1.9 billion for its delivery partners.
- **October 9, 2026:** English proficiency comments close; no final rule as of October 29.
- **2027:** Amazon's target: a national average of nearly $24 an hour for DSP drivers.

Source: the Federal Register documents, Amazon announcement and Virginia Department of Labor and Industry page listed under Sources, checked October 29, 2026.

## What to do next

- Find the GVWR on the door-frame label of the truck or van in any job you’re offered. It tells you whether you need a CDL (26,001 pounds or more) or a DOT medical card for interstate work (10,001 pounds or more). It also shows whether federal overtime is likely (10,000 pounds or less).
- Turn every offer into an hourly rate: a typical week’s pay divided by the hours it takes, using the route’s real average miles and stops.
- Ask three questions before you accept: Is overtime paid after 40 hours? On two-person routes, is the rate per driver or split? What did drivers on this route average over the last three months?
- If the job crosses state lines in a vehicle over 10,000 pounds, book your DOT physical and make sure you’re 21 or older.
- Decide whether a CDL is your next step, and if it is, start the permit and entry-level training while you drive.

Ready to drive now? Our [non-CDL box truck driver job](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/non-cdl-truck-driver/) pays $18–$25 an hour on local and regional routes, needs only a regular driver’s license, welcomes new drivers and is free to apply.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much do box truck drivers make an hour?

Box truck drivers in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) light truck driver group, which covers most non-CDL box truck jobs, earned a median $21.57 an hour in [May 2025](https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?year=2025&major_group=530000&occupation=533033&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA). The middle half earned $17.92 to $25.15 an hour, and the top 10% more than $38.61. The middle half of the box truck job ads we counted (September 1 to October 29, 2026) offered about $19.50 to $24 an hour.

### Can you make $1,000 a week driving a box truck?

Box truck drivers can make $1,000 a week with full-time hours. In October 2026 Ryder advertised its West Chester, Ohio, box truck job at "$1000 or more per week" and a regional 26-foot job in Alabama at a $1,100 weekly minimum. J.B. Hunt's Final Mile installers averaged $1,058 to $1,192 a week. In BLS data for May 2025, a quarter of light truck drivers earned more than $52,310 a year, about $1,006 a week.

### How much do delivery drivers make?

Delivery drivers earned a median $43,950 a year ($21.13 an hour) in May 2025, in the group BLS's [Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-driver-sales-workers.htm) calls delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers. Within it, light truck drivers had a median of $44,860. Driver/sales workers, delivery drivers who also have sales duties, had a median of $38,770.

### Do you need experience to get a box truck driving job?

Box truck driving jobs don't always require experience. J.B. Hunt's straight truck jobs page says "No CDL? No experience? No problem," and its Pittsburgh installer posting lists 3–4 weeks of training. Other employers want a track record. Ryder's non-CDL jobs ask for at least 6 months of verifiable driving experience, and HD Supply's Auburn, Massachusetts, posting asks for two years in a box truck.

### Are box truck drivers paid weekly?

Many box truck drivers are paid weekly. Ryder's driver postings say "Driver Positions Pay Weekly," and Prime Logistix and Priority Dispatch both advertise weekly pay. Ask about the pay schedule in the interview, along with whether you're paid by the hour, the day, the stop or the mile.

### How much does a box truck helper make?

A box truck helper makes less than the driver. Prime Logistix's two-person appliance routes in Maryland Heights, Missouri, pay the helper $160 a day against $200 for the driver. J.B. Hunt's Final Mile postings pay $12 to $20 an hour for right-seat work, the second person in the cab.

### Are non-CDL box truck drivers drug tested?

Non-CDL box truck drivers fall outside the federal DOT drug and alcohol testing program, which [49 CFR 382.103](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-382.103) applies to drivers who need a CDL. Many employers still test under their own policies. Our guide to [whether you need a CDL to drive a box truck](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/do-you-need-a-cdl-to-drive-a-box-truck/) explains the difference.

### Do box truck drivers need a DOT medical card?

Box truck drivers need a DOT medical card, CDL or not, when the truck is rated 10,001 pounds or more and the work is in interstate commerce. Our guide to [whether you need a CDL to drive a box truck](https://digitalstorming.com/blog/do-you-need-a-cdl-to-drive-a-box-truck/) covers when the rule applies, the DOT physical and how long the card lasts.

## Sources

Every figure in this article comes from these pages; we checked each one on the date shown.

- [Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025 data: Light Truck Drivers (53-3033), national and state estimates](https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?year=2025&major_group=530000&occupation=533033&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025 data: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (53-3032)](https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?year=2025&major_group=530000&occupation=533032&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Occupational Outlook Handbook: Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers (last modified August 27, 2026)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-driver-sales-workers.htm). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers (last modified August 27, 2026)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Frequently Asked Questions (who is counted, what wages include, 2,080-hour annual wages)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Amazon invests another $1.9 billion in the Delivery Service Partner program, launching new safety initiatives and AI-powered technology (September 21, 2026)](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-dsp-program-investment-2026). Amazon. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Delivery Driver Non CDL Home Daily, Tualatin, OR (requisition 2026-214221, posted October 27, 2026)](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214221/delivery-driver-non-cdl-home-daily/job). Ryder. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Truck Driver Non CDL Home Daily, Richmond, CA (requisition 2026-214007, posted October 23, 2026)](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214007/truck-driver-non-cdl-home-daily/job). Ryder. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Driver NON CDL Local No Weekends, West Chester, OH (job 214386, posted October 29, 2026)](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214386/driver-non-cdl-local-no-weekends/job). Ryder. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Delivery Driver Non CDL Solo Regional, Alabaster, AL (job 213464, posted October 20, 2026)](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/213464/delivery-driver-non-cdl-solo-regional/job). Ryder. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Delivery Driver Non CDL Solo Regional, Butte, MT (job 213609, posted October 20, 2026)](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/213609/delivery-driver-non-cdl-solo-regional/job). Ryder. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Truck Driver CDL B Regional, Portland, OR (job 214238, posted October 28, 2026)](https://driver-ryder.icims.com/jobs/214238/truck-driver-cdl-b-regional/job). Ryder. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Straight Truck Jobs](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/jobs/straight-truck-driving-jobs). J.B. Hunt. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Final Mile, Sacramento CA: Delivery Installation Specialist (position 5082)](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-5082-e78ca6b9-2dce-f111-a05a-3833c5efc1bd). J.B. Hunt. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Final Mile, Pittsburgh PA: Delivery Installation Specialist (position 4675)](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-4675-b6f3b7fb-e660-f111-a825-00224829f728). J.B. Hunt. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Final Mile, Omaha NE: Delivery Installation Specialist (position 4588)](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-4588-6cb2f3c3-325d-478b-b853-430afb03e69f). J.B. Hunt. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Final Mile, Lowe's Detroit MI: Delivery Installation Specialist (position 26761)](https://drivers.jbhunt.com/installation-specialist/job-26761-47118ed3-81b0-f111-aaac-002248237054). J.B. Hunt. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Non-CDL box truck, straight truck and van driver listings, September–October 2026 (60 hourly listings counted by Digital Storming)](https://www.talent.com/jobs?k=non+cdl+box+truck+driver&l=United+States). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Box truck driver: Average Salary in United States of America, 2026](https://www.talent.com/salary?job=box+truck+driver). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Career Questions: Where do we get salary estimates from?](https://helpcenter.talent.com/hc/en-us/sections/7466534618132-Career-Questions). Talent.com Help Center. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [HD Supply: Box Truck Delivery Driver, Auburn, MA](https://www.talent.com/view?id=598108743247793165). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [W.B. Mason: Furniture Delivery Driver, Portland, ME](https://www.talent.com/view?id=643700598659820327). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [SMS Delivery LLC: Box Truck Driver, Teterboro, NJ](https://www.talent.com/view?id=641597022552327083). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Taylor Farms: Box Truck Driver, Tolleson, AZ](https://www.talent.com/view?id=641259033386222100). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Prime Logistix LLC: Box Truck Appliance Delivery Driver/Helper, Maryland Heights, MO](https://www.talent.com/view?id=643277347589587101). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [AM Home Delivery (White Glove Delivery of Colorado Inc): Driver/Appliance Installer, Nashville, TN](https://www.talent.com/view?id=642676891794738417). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [STIIIZY: Cargo Van Driver, Oakland, CA](https://www.talent.com/view?id=639522443724789158). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Priority Dispatch, Inc.: Cargo Van Owner/Operator, Independence, OH](https://www.talent.com/view?id=642209435746502671). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Victoria Logistics Carrier LLC: Owner Operator, Sprinter/Cargo Van, Fort Smith, AR](https://www.talent.com/view?id=643726689744978077). Talent.com. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [29 U.S. Code § 213: Exemptions (b)(1), motor carrier employees](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/213). Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Fact Sheet #19: The Motor Carrier Exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/19-flsa-motor-carrier). U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2010-2: SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (small vehicle exception)](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/field-assistance-bulletins/2010-2). U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [IWC Order No. 9-2001: Transportation Industry (section 3, hours and days of work)](https://www.dir.ca.gov/IWC/IWCArticle9.pdf). California Department of Industrial Relations. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 383.91: Commercial motor vehicle groups](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-383.91). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 390.5: Definitions (commercial motor vehicle)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-390.5). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 391.11: General qualifications of drivers](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.11). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 391.41: Physical qualifications for drivers](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.41). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 395.1: Scope of rules in this part (short-haul exceptions)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-395.1). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 395.8: Driver's record of duty status](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-395.8). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 380.609: General entry-level driver training requirements](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-380.609). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [49 CFR 382.103: Applicability (drug and alcohol testing)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-382.103). eCFR (as of October 27, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [English Language Proficiency; Out of Service Criteria (proposed rule, August 10, 2026)](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/10/2026-16288/english-language-proficiency-out-of-service-criteria). Federal Register (FMCSA). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL), final rule effective March 16, 2026](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/13/2026-02965/restoring-integrity-to-the-issuance-of-non-domiciled-commercial-drivers-licenses-cdl). Federal Register (FMCSA). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Employee or Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (proposed rule, February 27, 2026)](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/27/2026-03962/employee-or-independent-contractor-status-under-the-fair-labor-standards-act-family-and-medical). Federal Register (U.S. Department of Labor). Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes). IRS. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [2025 Schedule SE (Form 1040): Self-Employment Tax (line 4a, 92.35% of net earnings)](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sse.pdf). IRS. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Topic no. 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751). IRS. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [Employment law updates: new legislation protecting Virginia workers applies beginning July 1, 2026](https://doli.virginia.gov/2026/07/01/employment-law-updates-new-legislation-protecting-virginia-workers-applies-beginning-july-1-2026/). Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. Checked October 29, 2026.

## Ready to drive?

Digital Storming recruits drivers for carriers across the U.S. Applying is free and takes about 3 minutes; a recruiter calls you when a carrier fits.

- **Now hiring · No CDL needed: [Non-CDL Box Truck, Straight Truck, Cargo Van & Sprinter Van Driver](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/non-cdl-truck-driver/).** Pay: $18–$25 an hour. Where: Across the U.S., near your home. No CDL needed
- Full-time
- Local
- Regional
- **Now hiring · CDL Class A: [CDL-A Truck Driver](https://digitalstorming.com/careers/cdl-truck-driver/).** Pay: $900–$1,700 a week. Where: Anywhere in the U.S. CDL Class A
- Full-time
- OTR
- Regional
- Local
- Dedicated
