In the world of trucking, it’s difficult to speak about an average flatbed truck driver salary. The range of compensation varies greatly depending on the hauling type, the driver's qualifications, the location, and many other factors. As a result, when looking for a job, you should consider all these factors in order to arrive at the approximate amount you may receive. However, the two factors affecting rates the most are the hauling type and location. Today, we will try to answer the question, “How much do flatbed truck drivers make?”
Contents:
- What Are the Average Flatbed Rates?
- What Is a Flatbed Truck Driver Salary by Related Titles?
- What Are the Highest-Paying States for Flatbed Truck Drivers?
- What Are the Highest-Paying Cities for Flatbed Truck Drivers?
- Conclusion
What Are the Average Flatbed Rates?
Flatbed Truck Driver Salaries in Numbers
In 2026, standard flatbed trucking salaries across the United States range between $74,500 and $96,000 annually. Base industry pay averages roughly $0.65 to $0.78 per mile across regional and long-haul operations. Entry-level haulers start near $58,000 per year, while experienced operators moving specialized freight or oversized machinery regularly clear $115,000 to $130,000. Real earnings shift based on accessorial pay for tarping and securing, weekly mileage, and whether you run solo, team, or as an independent contractor.
What Is a Flatbed Truck Driver Salary by Related Titles?
Even within the highlighted range, salary prospects can differ depending on job complexity. Below are the rates broken down into categories for you to grasp the general idea.
How Much Is an OTR Flatbed Driver Salary?
Long-haul open-deck freight demands endurance and skill, pushing the average OTR flatbed driver salary to roughly $94,500 per year in 2026. Per-mile averages hover around $0.68 to $0.76 CPM for company drivers running 2,200 to 2,600 miles weekly. Starting drivers earn around $62,000 annually, while the top 10% of seasoned flatbed professionals haul specialized cargo to earn upwards of $138,000. Mastering heavy load securement, multi-stop drops, and oversize transport creates rapid income growth as you build road experience.
How Much Is a Local Flatbed Truck Driver Salary?
Drivers in this category typically earn about $1,193 per week, which equates to an annual salary of around $59,436. In certain companies, the base weekly pay for these positions can range between $1,420 and $1,680. Unlike many other driving jobs, several companies do not set a fixed weekly mileage for flatbed truck drivers. As a result, their compensation is often calculated based on the number of hours worked rather than on a cents per mile (CPM) basis.
How Much Is a Solo Flatbed Truck Driver Salary?
Looking at the pure rates, solo drivers get less than team drivers. Their salaries are tied directly to the CPM rate, with the most common flatbed driver pay per mile around 65 cents. However, their actual salaries can be higher than that. The secret behind this lies with the additional bonuses. Respectable companies who understand the tricky character of the flatbed truck driver jobs usually cover empty miles, detentions, extra stops, and layovers. All those bonuses are typically listed in job offers.
How Much Is a Team Flatbed Truck Driver Salary?
The compensation for team flatbed drivers is typically calculated for the team as a whole. Recent figures from ZipRecruiter.com indicate that the average pay for such teams is about $1,693 weekly, or $88,036 annually, which corresponds to an average rate of 74 cents per mile (CPM). Some companies, like HMD, offer a higher rate of 77 CPM. For instance, a team working for HMD can earn approximately $4,000 per week, breaking down to $2,000 per week for each driver. This includes additional benefits such as load pay and a safety productivity bonus of +5 CPM. When selecting a company to work for, it's crucial to carefully consider these extra payments and bonuses, as they can account for more than 10% of your total earnings.
How Much Is a Flatbed Company Driver Salary?
After analyzing around a dozen offers at Glassdoor.com we concluded that a company driver makes 50-60 CPM on average. This basically coincides with the results obtained by Indeed.com, giving even a wider range of 40-64 CPM.
The figure is generally lower than that for an owner operator. That is a national tendency. However, do not forget that they have to allocate a significant amount of money for the costs of running the business and truck maintenance. The salaries of company workers greatly depend on the type of work they do. All those types are outlined above, so you can check the figures once again and think of the best pay-to-effort ratio for you.
How Much Is a Flatbed Owner Operator Salary?
ZipRecruiter.com reports that the annual earnings for an owner-operator in the trucking industry can reach as high as $282,150. The standard cents per mile (CPM) rate for these professionals averages at $1.38. In addition to this, owner-operators often receive a fuel surcharge, which serves as extra compensation to help offset the costs of rising fuel prices. For instance, at HMD, owner-operators are compensated at a rate of $1.50 plus a fuel surcharge (FSC) of 45 CPM, along with a safety/productivity bonus of 10 CPM.
Their hourly pay rate is approximately $139, translating to a monthly income of about $27,800. The salary range for flatbed owner-operators varies significantly based on experience. It can start at around $90,500 annually for those new to the field and go up to $343,000 per year for highly experienced drivers.
The compensation rates for drivers are influenced by several factors, including the type of hauling, their experience, and notably, their location. According to Talent.com the states with the highest pay for flatbed truck drivers are West Virginia, Wyoming, Kentucky, North Dakota, Indiana where the average annual salary is around $60,200. Idaho also offers competitive pay, with an average annual income of $88,330 as reported by Zippia.com.
In contrast, other states like Alabama, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and New Mexico have a lower average income for flatbed truckers, typically around $52,000, with only minor variations between these states. This data also comes from sources like Talent.com and Zippia.com. On the lower end of the spectrum, states like Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts and Alaska has some of the least lucrative rates for truckers, where the average salary is approximately $44,000 for similar work, as indicated by Zippia.com. This highlights the significant impact that geographic location can have on a trucker's earning potential.
What Are the Highest-Paying Cities for Flatbed Truck Drivers?
High freight density and regional manufacturing hubs directly influence driver pay. Major industrial metropolitan centers offer the strongest earning potential for flatbed drivers in 2026:
- Chicago, IL: $88,400 average annual salary ($1,700/wk) driven by heavy steel and industrial machinery corridors.
- Houston, TX: $86,200 average annual salary ($1,655/wk) supported by energy, pipe, and oilfield equipment transport.
- Gary / Indianapolis, IN: $84,900 average annual salary ($1,630/wk) anchored by Midwest steel mills and manufacturing hubs.
- Pittsburgh, PA: $83,750 average annual salary ($1,610/wk) with steady demand for structural steel and commercial construction freight. Running freight corridors near major industrial hubs unlocks consistent weekly miles and higher accessorial earnings.
Conclusion
So, like in any other driving job, the rates for flatbed truck driving differ depending on the location, driver title, and qualifications. The best thing you can do before applying for a commercial truck driver jobs is to conduct a little research of your own and decide for yourself whether you are ready to change your place of residence for higher pay. Trucking companies are abundant, however we suggest checking out HMD Trucking, which offers above-average compensation always paid on time, while letting you maintain a healthy work-life balance with ample hometime. If you want to become a flatbed truck driver, then we recommend that you read our article on the pros and cons of flatbed trucking.
Joining HMD Trucking connects you to premium flatbed freight, transparent compensation, and late-model equipment:
- OTR Flatbed Solo Drivers: Earn 70 to 80 CPM (combining base pay, load tarp/securing pay, and monthly mileage bonuses), averaging $1,505 to $2,175 in weekly gross pay with a $5,000 sign-on bonus.
- Team Flatbed Drivers: Split 77 to 82 CPM with achievable productivity bonuses, generating over $4,000 weekly gross per truck.
- Accessorial Pay & Perks: Receive $175 layover pay per 24 hours, $25/hr detention pay (after 2 hours), $100 clean inspection bonuses, and a $2,000 driver referral bonus.
- Fleet Equipment & Programs: Run modern 2023–2027 Peterbilt 579 tractors with comprehensive health, dental, vision, and 401(k) benefits, or explore zero-down lease purchase and owner-operator programs.
On long trips, truckers need to somehow pass the time. To do this, we advise you to study our article on the best trucking songs, in which you will find a playlist on Spotify.
