Trucking myths, checked against the rules and the data
Some trucking myths keep good people from applying to drive. Others lead new carriers to budget for the wrong things. Both are easy to check against federal data and regulations.
Written by Gabriel Gonzalez
Trucking in numbers
The most common trucking myths say drivers are underpaid, never home, overworked, untrained, and about to be replaced by self-driving trucks. Federal data and rules say otherwise. New carriers believe a second set of trucking myths, about which rules apply to them, and those cost real money.
Myths about trucking are not just an image problem. The ones about the job shape who applies to drive for you. The ones about the rules shape what a new carrier plans and pays for in its first two years.
I have spent more than 22 years at Simplex, nearly 16 of them as COO, and I now lead revenue strategy. Below are ten myths I would want any driver candidate or new owner to see checked, each against an official source you can open yourself.
The full briefing, read aloud
8 chapters. Select one to jump to it.
Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Gabriel Gonzalez.
Key takeaways
Driver pay is above the national median
BLS puts heavy and tractor-trailer drivers at $58,640 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all occupations.
Hours are capped by federal rule
11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after 10 hours off, plus 60- and 70-hour on-duty limits.
New CDL drivers must be trained first
Since February 7, 2022, first-time Class A and B applicants complete training from a registered provider.
Federal projections still need drivers
BLS projects 4% job growth and about 214,500 openings a year from 2025 to 2035.
DOT rules start well below the CDL line
Interstate vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more are commercial motor vehicles under 49 CFR 390.5T.
Owner-operators still need random testing
A CDL driver who employs only himself must be in a random pool with at least one other driver.
In this articleContents
What are the most common trucking myths?
The most common trucking myths fall into two groups: myths about the job, which the public and driver candidates believe, and myths about the rules, which new carriers believe. The table checks each one.
| Myth | What the record shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Truck drivers are poorly paid | Median pay of $58,640 in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations | BLS |
| Truckers are never home | Long-haul drivers can be away for days or weeks; drivers using the short-haul exception are released within 14 hours | BLS; 49 CFR 395.1(e) |
| Drivers drive as long as the load needs | 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after 10 hours off | 49 CFR 395.3 |
| Anyone can climb in and drive | New Class A and B applicants complete registered training, then pass state knowledge and skills tests | 49 CFR 380.609; BLS |
| Only men drive trucks | Women held 7.7% of driver/sales and truck driver jobs in 2025 | BLS |
| Self-driving trucks will replace drivers soon | BLS projects 4% growth and about 214,500 openings a year through 2035 | BLS |
| DOT rules start at the CDL line | Interstate vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more are commercial motor vehicles | 49 CFR 390.5T |
| Once your authority is active, FMCSA is done with you | New carriers are monitored for 18 months, with a safety audit within 12 months | 49 CFR 385.3, 385.307 |
| Owner-operators don't need drug testing | A self-employed CDL driver must run a random program with a pool of two or more | 49 CFR 382.103 |
| UCR is only for for-hire carriers | Interstate private carriers of property pay UCR too | UCR Plan |
Are truck drivers underpaid and never home?
Not on pay: the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at $58,640 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all occupations. Home time depends on the type of run.
Myth 1: Truck drivers are poorly paid
The spread is wide: the lowest 10% earned under $40,140 and the highest 10% over $79,380. BLS notes most drivers are paid by the mile plus bonuses, and some owner-operators are paid a share of the revenue.
For a carrier, that range is the real competition. Candidates compare your pay to it, so publish how you pay, not just a headline number.
Myth 2: Truckers are never home
Home time depends on the run. BLS describes long-haul driving as a lifestyle choice, with drivers away for days or weeks at a time. Short-haul is different by rule: a driver using the 150 air-mile exception in 49 CFR 395.1(e) returns to the normal work reporting location and is released within 14 hours.
If your freight allows local or regional runs, say so in every job post. It answers the first objection most candidates have.
Myth 3: Only men drive trucks
Men still hold most of these jobs, but not all of them. In 2025, women were 7.7% of the roughly 3.6 million people BLS counts as driver/sales workers and truck drivers. Our post on women in trucking covers their role in more depth.
Can truck drivers drive as long as they want?
No. Under 49 CFR 395.3, a property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, and only after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
Myth 4: Drivers drive as long as the load needs
- A 30-minute break from driving is required after 8 hours of driving time
- No driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days if the carrier runs every day
- An off-duty period of 34 or more hours can restart that 7- or 8-day count
The 14 hours run whether the truck moves or not, so a long dock wait uses up driving time. Our guide to time management for truck drivers shows how to plan around that window. For a carrier, these limits cap how many miles a truck can earn, so price every load on them.
Myth 5: Anyone can climb in and drive
Not since February 7, 2022. Under 49 CFR 380.600 and 380.609, anyone applying for a first Class A or B CDL, or upgrading to one, must first complete training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. BLS adds that the CDL itself requires passing a knowledge test and a driving test.
Our guide to entry-level driver training explains what the training covers and who is exempt.
Will self-driving trucks replace drivers?
Not on the federal government's current forecast. BLS projects employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 214,500 openings a year, most of them to replace drivers who retire or change careers.
Myth 6: Self-driving trucks will replace drivers soon
BLS ties that demand to freight growth and online shopping. A small carrier hiring today is hiring into that market, not out of it.
Which trucking myths cost new carriers money?
The trucking myths that cost the most are about which rules apply to you. Each of these four leads to a missed requirement, and a missed requirement shows up as a fine, a failed audit, or an out-of-service order.
Myth 7: DOT rules start at the CDL line
They start much lower. Under 49 CFR 390.5T, a vehicle used in interstate commerce is a commercial motor vehicle at a rating or weight of 10,001 pounds or more. A CDL is required only at 26,001 pounds and in a few other cases. Our guide to CDL vs non-CDL requirements sorts out which rules apply on each side of that line.
Myth 8: Once your authority is active, FMCSA is done with you
Active authority starts a test, not the end of one. Under 49 CFR 385.3 and 385.307, a new property carrier is monitored for 18 months and must have a safety audit within 12 months of receiving its USDOT number. Our new entrant safety audit steps show how to prepare, and our audit guidance and support team can help.
Myth 9: Owner-operators don't need drug testing
If you drive a truck that requires a CDL, you do. Under 49 CFR 382.103(b), a self-employed driver must meet both the employer and the driver duties, and must run a random testing program with at least two covered drivers in the selection pool. In practice, that means joining a consortium. Our post on DOT random drug testing covers the pool and the yearly rates.
Myth 10: UCR is only for for-hire carriers
The UCR Plan's own Q&A says the agreement covers every interstate for-hire carrier of property or passengers and every interstate private carrier of property. Hauling your own goods across state lines does not exempt you. Our UCR renewal guide covers fees and filing.
How Simplex helps you start on facts, not myths
Most expensive surprises for new carriers come from a rule they didn't know applied. We help you find them first.
Start with the right filings
Our trucking business startup team sets up your USDOT number, authority, and the registrations that follow.
Drug and alcohol testing
Our substance abuse testing program covers random pools for owner-operators and small fleets.
Ready for the new entrant audit
Our compliance programs keep driver files, hours, and maintenance records audit-ready.
Frequently asked questions
What are some common myths about truck driving?+
Do truck drivers make good money?+
Can truckers drive 11 hours straight?+
Will self-driving trucks replace truck drivers?+
Do owner-operators have to do DOT drug testing?+
Where this information comes from
The figures and requirements below come from federal labor data, federal regulations, and the UCR Plan, checked on October 19, 2026.
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1
BLS — Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
May 2025 pay, home time on long-haul runs, CDL tests, and the 2025-35 job outlook.
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2
BLS — Employed people by detailed occupation and sex (CPS Table 11)
Women's 7.7% share of driver/sales workers and truck drivers in 2025.
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3
eCFR — 49 CFR 395.3
The 11-hour, 14-hour, 30-minute, and 60/70-hour limits.
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4
eCFR — 49 CFR 380.609
Entry-level training from a registered provider for new Class A and B applicants.
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5
eCFR — 49 CFR 390.5T
The 10,001-pound commercial motor vehicle definition.
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6
eCFR — 49 CFR 385.3
New entrant monitoring for 18 months and a safety audit within 12 months.
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7
eCFR — 49 CFR 382.103
Self-employed drivers and the random pool of two or more.
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8
UCR Plan — Frequently Asked Questions
UCR covers interstate for-hire carriers and interstate private carriers of property.
Written by
Gabriel Gonzalez
Chief Revenue Officer, Simplex Group
Chief Revenue Officer at Simplex Group, with more than 22 years at the company, including nearly 16 years as Chief Operating Officer. His background combines revenue strategy with deep operational experience, giving him a strong perspective on how compliance, risk, permits, cash flow, and operational readiness affect a carrier's ability to grow profitably.
Published · Updated
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Plan your trucking business on facts, not myths
The job myths shrink your hiring pool, and the rule myths show up later as fines and failed audits. Both cost less to correct now than after a load is booked.
If you want a second look at which rules apply to your operation, talk to our team.