Trucking Companies Hiring CDL Drivers in Texas

Truck driver pay in Texas

According to 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for truck driving jobs in Texas, the statewide median pay is roughly $53,000 per year. Actual earnings depend on your experience, endorsements, freight type, and whether you run local, regional, or OTR.

Drivers hauling specialized freight such as tankers, hazmat, oversized loads, or energy-related freight may earn more, especially when you factor in accessorial pay, safety bonuses, and performance incentives. Many Texas carriers also offer benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and rider or pet policies that add value beyond your base pay.

Types of Truck Driving Jobs in Texas

Texas carriers hire for almost every route type, from home-daily metro runs to long-haul lanes that cross multiple regions. Your best fit usually depends on the home time you want, the equipment you prefer, and whether you want steady freight or higher-paying specialized work.

Local and home-daily routes

Local jobs are most common around major metropolitan areas and distribution hubs. Expect more stops, more city driving, and more consistent home time—often with early start times.

• Common freight: LTL, beverage, foodservice, retail distribution, building materials, fuel
• Great for: drivers who want predictable schedules and nightly home time

Regional routes across Texas and the Southwest

Regional work often balances miles and home time with frequent weekends home or multiple nights per week, depending on the carrier and lane.

• Common lanes: Texas to NM, AZ, OK, LA, AR, and broader Southwest corridors
• Great for: drivers who want solid miles without full-time OTR schedules

OTR and coast-to-coast lanes

OTR roles typically offer the highest weekly miles and the widest carrier selection. Home time varies by employer, fleet, and region.

• Common freight: dry van and reefer network lanes
• Great for: drivers who prioritize miles, variety, and long-haul experience

Oilfield and energy-related hauling

Energy-focused freight can pay well, but it may involve variable schedules, remote locations, and more physically demanding work. Always confirm schedule expectations and safety requirements.

• Common work: sand, water, fuel, equipment, and other energy-related loads
• Great for: drivers open to changing schedules and higher-intensity operations

Ports and border-region lanes

Texas port and border-region freight can be steady and fast-paced. Ask about appointment windows, wait time policies, and any required credentials.

• Common areas: Houston-area ports and border-region freight corridors
• Great for: drivers who want consistent freight and understand time-on-site policies

Specialized freight (flatbed, tanker, heavy haul)

Specialized roles often pay more because they require additional skill, endorsements, securement, or experience. Confirm training and minimum experience requirements up front.

• Examples: tanker, hazmat/tanker combos, flatbed securement, oversized/heavy haul
• Great for: drivers seeking higher pay and a more skills-based career path

How to Earn More as a Truck Driver in Texas

Texas driver pay varies by region and freight, so the best raises come from matching your  CDL license, experience, and home-time goals to the right type of operation, comparing total compensation, not just headline CPM. Other considerations include:

• Add endorsements that expand options (tanker, hazmat, doubles/triples where applicable)
• Move into specialized freight (tanker, flatbed, heavy haul) once qualified
• Ask about pay protections: detention, layover, breakdown, and stop pay
• Compare CPM vs. percentage vs. hourly (and how bonuses are calculated)
• Confirm home-time policies in writing for local/regional fleets
• Keep a clean safety record—many carriers tie raises and bonuses to safety

Trucking job outlook in Texas

Texas employs more truck drivers than any other state, with well over 200,000 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers moving freight across highways, ports, and border crossings. State labor market data projects that Texas could need around 270,000 heavy truck drivers by 2032, with more than 30,000 job openings each year when you factor in both new growth and driver turnover.

At the national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver employment to grow at a pace similar to the average for all occupations through 2034, with hundreds of thousands of job openings each year as freight demand stays strong and experienced drivers retire or change careers.

Texas workforce agencies classify heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving as a high-demand occupation. With major freight corridors like I-10, I-20, I-35, and I-45, strong manufacturing and warehousing, booming population growth, and ongoing energy production, qualified CDL drivers can expect steady work and diverse job opportunities across the state.

How to get your CDL in Texas

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for issuing commercial driver’s licenses in the state. To earn your CDL in Texas, you will generally need to:

• Meet minimum age and residency requirements (typically 18 for intrastate and 21 for interstate driving).
• Meet medical qualifications and obtain a valid DOT medical certificate.
• Complete required Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with an approved training provider, if you are a first-time CDL applicant or upgrading your license.
• Obtain a Texas commercial learner permit (CLP) by passing the appropriate knowledge tests.
• Practice driving with a qualified CDL holder and log any required training time.
• Pass a CDL skills test in the class and type of vehicle you plan to drive.

Once you have your Texas CDL, you can add endorsements for tankers, hazmat, doubles/triples, or passengers to expand your job options and earning potential. For the most up-to-date requirements and forms, always refer to the Texas DPS.

Texas Truck Driving Jobs: FAQs

How much do truck drivers make in Texas?

Are there local or home-daily trucking jobs in Texas?

What types of freight do Texas truck drivers haul?

Do I need experience to get a CDL job in Texas?

How strong is the long-term outlook for truck driving jobs in Texas?

Find Texas trucking jobs near you

CDLjobs.com works with trucking companies hiring across the entire state. Start your search in one of these key Texas freight markets, then use our job search tools to find CDL jobs near your ZIP code:

• Dallas–Fort Worth: Major distribution hub with dry van, reefer, and LTL freight moving to and from warehouses, retail centers, and manufacturers.
• Houston: Port, petrochemical, and refinery freight with strong demand for tanker, hazmat, and port drayage CDL drivers.
• San Antonio: Steady regional and local routes serving military installations, manufacturing, and cross-state retail distribution.
• Laredo: One of the busiest U.S.–Mexico border crossings with heavy cross-border, intermodal, and dedicated dry van freight.
• El Paso:  Border and Southwest corridor freight connecting Texas to New Mexico, Arizona, and Western long-haul lanes.

No matter where your home base is in Texas, you can use CDLjobs.com to compare trucking companies hiring in Texas, search by ZIP code, and apply to regional and national carriers that match your preferred freight, equipment, and home-time schedule.