Truck Driving in Maryland

State Overview

There are over 15,000 trucking companies in Maryland and the industry employs 20,250 drivers. The highest paid truck drivers earn between $41,400 and $60,310, or more. The highest paying areas are St. Mary’s County, Baltimore-Towson, and Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick.

Pros and Cons of Truck Driving in Maryland

GOOD: 

• Good state to run local due to the ports
• Lots of companies to choose from
• Easy access to major highways going north, south, and west

BAD: 

• Not great for owner-operators because of taxes and heavy regulation
• The laws on 95 with 2 lane restrictions are not safe
• Not many truck stops or places to rest if you are OTR

Truck Driving Tips for Maryland

• Just be patient find a hands on touch freight job first, they pay the most money
• Not a very business-friendly state
• Evening hours are the best time to go through Baltimore
• Slow down and give yourself time among your fellow drivers
• Give yourself plenty of stopping distance

Fellow Truck Drivers in Maryland Say:

“Slow down, you make mistakes when you’re in a hurry.”

Leslie L. – 19 years experience

GOOD
Easy access to major highways north south and west

BAD
95 and 695 during morning and evening rush hour

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
Slow down and pay attention, you make mistakes when your in a hurry. Evening hours are the best time to go through Baltimore.

 

“NO TRUCK/TRAVEL PLACES TO REST!!!”

Anthony L. – 20 years and over one million miles

GOOD
If you live and work here your home more. Other than that really not many good things. Time consuming traffic & congestion. High cost of real estate and taxes, coupled with heavy regs, MD not very business friendly so O/O is not great in MD. For OTR NO TRUCK/TRAVEL PLACES TO REST!!! As OTR you drive through MD. There is no place to stop & MSP & DOT are what you would expect. Based on cost of living, pay really is not better than industry standard.

BAD
Traffic. 2nd worst in the country. Many surrounding states that any local company could travel to for business. No continuity in regulations among the states especially regarding weight restrictions hard to know if your compliant.

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
If your local and this is home and your happy? Excellent you’re good. If you were gonna O/O, I would look to the surrounding states for better options in operating cost & regulation. If you’re starting a trucking company in MD, good luck I applaud your commitment.

 

“Watch our for those cheaper companies”

 

“Slow down and give yourself time”

Gary B. – 2 years driving experience

GOOD
Independence, Freedom, No boss, Time management, and if you’re an OTR, then you get paid to travel! See things you have never seen before.

BAD
The short stops, Truck blowing through red lights, and tailgating.

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
It is a great field to get into whether local or over the road, because you are your own boss, as long as you make those deliveries on time.

 

“Always be aware of your surroundings”

Torey B. – over 16 years experience

GOOD
It’s a major city but the areas is not over populated that would cause any major delays.

BAD
Some drivers like to drop in directly in front of you when changing lanes. If there is flashing lights roadside or an accident you have a lot of rubber neckers that will cause traffic jams.

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
Always be aware of your surroundings and plan ahead and be predictive of other drivers around you and a rule of thumb always have a way out. Make sure you are confident in the equipment you are control as well as hauling.

 

“No rush, just enjoy the drive”

Lamont F. – 2.5 years on the road

GOOD
Here is the peace of mind you’ve been asking for

BAD
Rush hour just like in other states

TIP TO NEW DRIVERS
There’s no rush enjoy the drive