Earnings

Median annual wages nationally of heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers were $37,770 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,480 annually.

Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers are usually paid by how many miles they have driven, plus bonuses. The per-mile rate varies from employer to employer and may depend on the type of cargo.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours that long-haul truck driver may work.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/