Truck Driving in Mississippi

State Overview

There are over 4,670 trucking companies in Mississippi and the industry employs 22,080 drivers. The highest paid truck drivers earn $49,430 ($23.77 hourly). The highest paying areas are Jackson with a Median Annual Salary of $42,320, Northeast Mississippi non-metropolitan area ($37,830), and Hattiesburg ($37,300).

Pros and Cons of Truck Driving in Mississippi

GOOD: 

• Plenty of different opportunities with many types of equipment
• Traffic is amazing as comparatively, it’s mostly country highways
• Plenty of spots to pull over for a break

BAD: 

• The pay is the worst in Mississippi
• Scales on both sides, east/west of state on I-10
• Unnamed roads with no signs make things difficult

Truck Driving Tips for Mississippi

• As far as driving on I-10, follow the 6 seconds rule, keep it bellow 70 mph
• Stay fit and realize you’ll be away from home
• Get your year experience OTR and then your options on who you can drive for is unlimited
• Go to a school where they have a simulator, they teach you how to drive before sending you out

Fellow Truck Drivers in Mississippi Say:

“Driving makes you live the moment.”

Ahmed M. – 1 year driving OTR

GOOD
The good thing about driving is the outside life, freedom : not having a boss on your head nagging you and telling you what to do, and driving especially in day time makes you feel life : meaning that you can feel the day, time, weather change .. not like being in an office or enclosed space walking in at 9 am and walking out at 5 pm not feeling time at all and you wonder where did my twenties go, or where did my thirties go. Driving makes you live the moment.

BAD
The pay is the worst in Mississippi. As far as driving, on I-10, do not flock, follow the 6 seconds rules, keep it below 70 mph.

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
Stay the hell away from CDI/TDI School because they are nothing but CDL MILL.. go to a school where they have a simulator, where they teach you how to drive before sending you out there, where they take you drive down town and busy highways so you get to taste the good/the bad/ and the ugly, where they fix your mistakes weather you were there 3 weeks or 10 weeks. Most importantly know that: as new driver know that you are not going to make much money during your first year. companies sales people coming to school will tell you that you going to make $75 K DON’T BELIEVE THEM. There is only 52 weeks in a year. If you work every week and make $1000/week, you only making $52 K Max. DO YOUR MATH. If you have a wife, or wife and kids, or someone you care about, you may sure you give them the facts about being a way for weeks at a time. One more thing, You know you will be driving under a trainer’s supervision, so you ll be together 24/7 for few weeks, so plan on a boot-camp

 

“Try to talk to someone who has worked for the company”

Edward F. – 40 years behind the wheel

GOOD
Not a ton of traffic. Lot of working folks so not so many jerks getting in the way. Plenty of spots to pull over for a break.

BAD
Scales on both sides, east/west of state on I10, Not a lot of really good truck stops.

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
Look around, ask questions, try to talk to someone that has worked for the company before. Watch your speed, stay away from the lot lizards.

 

“You’ll be away from home”

 

“Pay attention to everything “

Jon S. – 20 years on the road

GOOD
Plenty of different opportunities with many different types of equipment

BAD
Traffic and unnamed roads

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
Listen to the older more experienced drivers

 

“You’ll be on the road a lot”

Catherine M. – less than one year driving experience

GOOD
Open road, traveling, seeing the world, good pay

BAD
Traffic

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
Be prepared to be on the road a lot