Where is it easiest to open: Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance
50 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 53-3032” (soc) for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. A blank gate means NO RECORD MATCHED, which is not the same as no licence.
| State | Operators | Avg staff | Pay / employee | Gate | Licence titles matched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | 1,137 | 18.2 | $71,652 | exam | TOW TRUCK OPERATOR |
| CA | 956 | 11.6 | $70,421 | licence | Commercial Driver License |
| FL | 600 | 12.0 | $68,726 | exam | Teaching Driver Education |
| IL | 494 | 11.6 | $63,555 | exam | COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERA; DRIVER |
| GA | 348 | 15.9 | $70,258 | not matched | — |
| IA | 333 | 10.9 | $68,735 | not matched | — |
| PA | 319 | 16.0 | $70,043 | not matched | — |
| OH | 318 | 21.8 | $71,399 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| MO | 308 | 25.2 | $60,402 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| WA | 289 | 9.4 | $72,483 | exam | Commercial Driver |
| NE | 284 | 6.6 | $66,509 | licence | Truck Driver (Heavy); Truck Driver (Light or Delivery Servic |
| IN | 271 | 16.4 | $70,602 | not matched | — |
| WI | 246 | 12.4 | $64,086 | exam | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER |
| MI | 220 | 18.2 | $80,144 | exam | Chauffeur License; Commercial Driver License (C.D.L.) |
| NY | 220 | 10.1 | $71,716 | exam | Bus Driver; Certified Examiner - Bus Driver |
| AL | 212 | 12.9 | $61,440 | exam | CDL Class A |
| AZ | 204 | 26.2 | $51,885 | licence | Commercial Driver (CDL) |
| ND | 189 | 8.0 | $77,807 | not matched | — |
| NC | 184 | 16.8 | $63,541 | exam | Classified Drivers License (Non-commer; Commercial Driver License (Class A, B |
| LA | 172 | 16.1 | $74,214 | licence | Truck Driver, Certified |
| UT | 170 | 19.1 | $62,728 | licence | DRIVER - HEAVY TRUCK & TRACTOR TRAILER |
| OK | 168 | 15.1 | $72,249 | not matched | — |
| CO | 164 | 9.9 | $66,550 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| NJ | 160 | 28.3 | $72,262 | exam | BUS DRIVER; HARNESS RACE DRIVER |
| MN | 157 | 11.4 | $64,687 | licence | Commercial Driver's License (CDL); Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Haza |
| KS | 133 | 21.5 | $65,061 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| TN | 129 | 25.1 | $68,539 | exam | COMMERCIAL DRIVER |
| MS | 113 | 41.8 | $53,933 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| SD | 112 | 4.3 | $64,600 | licence | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| SC | 110 | 12.7 | $68,625 | not matched | — |
| ID | 108 | 8.1 | $59,532 | exam | Commercial Drivers |
| OR | 103 | 20.6 | $64,578 | licence | Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Truck Eq; School Bus Driver Certificate |
| MA | 98 | 12.1 | $80,089 | exam | BUS DRIVER; COMMERCIAL DRIVERS |
| VA | 98 | 19.0 | $58,737 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL); Tow Truck Driver Registration |
| NM | 91 | 12.1 | $75,384 | exam | Commercial Vehicle Drivers License |
| KY | 85 | 24.0 | $85,286 | exam | Driver, Hazardous Materials Endorsemen; Licensed Commercial Driver (CDL) |
| MD | 84 | 13.2 | $57,136 | licence | BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL; BUS DRIVER, TRANSIT AND INTERCITY |
| AR | 71 | 52.0 | $59,001 | exam | Commercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Tru; Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinder Deliv |
| NV | 67 | 7.5 | $65,004 | not matched | — |
| WY | 63 | 8.8 | $63,871 | exam | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER; TRUCK DRIVER |
| MT | 62 | 6.5 | $65,660 | exam | Bus Drivers; Taxi Drivers |
| ME | 48 | 6.3 | $69,777 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL); Driver Education Instructor, School |
| CT | 35 | 11.1 | $66,398 | not matched | — |
| DE | 22 | 6.3 | $70,209 | not matched | — |
| VT | 19 | 8.9 | $93,225 | exam | Commercial Driver |
| RI | 17 | 33.7 | $96,803 | exam | Chauffeur / CDL; Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| WV | 17 | 29.2 | $76,956 | not matched | — |
| AK | 15 | 14.3 | $77,995 | licence | Bus Driver, School; Vehicle for Hire Permit in City of Fai |
| NH | 15 | 10.4 | $98,346 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| HI | 8 | 10.9 | $18,069 | not matched | — |
Axes are shown side by side and deliberately NOT collapsed into a ranking. A composite would be a score with no measured interval, and an unmeasured score is the thing this product exists to argue against. A high licence gate is a cost to enter and a moat once cleared — which of those matters more is the operator's call, not ours.
Licence data courtesy of CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Free to read, no account, always — a condition of the data licence as well as our own position.