How Much Can You Earn With Covenant Transport?
Covenant Transport has been in the business for more than 30 years, and their family-oriented approach is what attracts so many drivers – new and experienced – to their workforce. With ample driving opportunities available, you’ll find steady work at Covenant. But will you be paid well for it?
Like with so many other trucking companies, the amount you’re paid will depend on your experience level.
And you’ll be working in a team, so you’ll get paid more right from the get-go.
Salaries for Recent CDL Graduates
There are plenty of jobs at Covenant for rookies, and many new drivers come to this carrier because of the benefits they offer.
New drivers are awarded a $15,000 tuition bonus – no matter how much your school costs. Every student receives $125 per month for 60 months for school, and a $7,500 check after working with the company for five years.
Once you’re off the trainer truck, you get paid 42CPM, which is competitive.
And they’ll pay for your HAZ-MAT endorsement.
Here’s a breakdown of the pay for rookies:
- First 35 days: $450-$525 per week
- Next 90 days: 42 CPM ($700 min)
- Next 240 days: 52 CPM ($850 min)
- After 1 year: 52 CPM ($1,000 min)
After one year, you’ll be earning $1,000 per week. That’s not too bad for a team driver. And if you already have a partner that you want to work with, they can actually train with you.
If you’re a rookie, Covenant is a great place to start your career.
Pay for Experienced Drivers
Experienced drivers who are looking to boost their careers will find competitive pay at Covenant, and the opportunity to drive with a partner of your choosing.
As part of a team, you can earn between $0.52 and $0.56 per mile.
Take a look at how much experienced team drivers earn with Covenant:
- $0.52 and $0.56 per mile
- $100 per day, home-time guaranteed
- Minimum $1,000 per week
- $0.72-$0.80 per mile trainer pay
When you split the miles with a driving partner, you can earn more per mile.
And if you drive with an Haz-Mat team, you are guaranteed $1,000 per week minimum.
And you’ll be driving a newer truck, equipped with the state of the art Covenant Transport tracking software and other advanced equipment that most other companies cannot compete with.
Owner Operator Earnings
If new and experienced drivers are paid well, owner-operators must be paid well, too – right? Absolutely.
Covenant says they offer one of the best compensation packages for owner-operators in the industry, and that’s not far from the truth.
On average, owner-operators drive 5,000-6,000 miles per week.
Here are some of the benefits that you’ll receive:
- Annual Equity Bonus: $10,000
- Year-round expedited freight available
- Fuel discounts through the Fuel Network
- No-touch freight
- 80% drop and hook
- Maintenance discounts
- $0.02 CPM safety bonus each quarter
- Permits and base plates included
- Insurance and retirement plans available
If you run at least 35 loads or 50,000 miles every quarter, you’ll receive a $2,500 bonus. That equates to running 9 out of 13 weeks.
- $1.01 per mile plus fuel surcharge for teams with Hazmat endorsement
- $0.94 for non-Hazmat teams
Do You Qualify to Drive for Covenant?
While Covenant offers competitive pay, they don’t have particularly stringent requirements for their drivers.
Take a look at the carrier’s requirement:
- A valid Class A CDL
- At least 21 years of age
- Social Security or personal ID card
- Verifiable employment record of at least 3 years
- Evidence of trucking experience within the last 10 years (if applying as an experienced driver)
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or granted the right to work in the U.S.
- Meet all FMCSA regulations
- Pass a drug test
- Pass a DOT physical
- Pass a physical aptitude test
- Complete Covenant’s orientation
Is Covenant a Good Place to Work?
Like any other trucking company, Covenant has a mix of good and bad reviews from employees but the overwhelming opinion is that they are a very nice group to work for.
Those who enjoy working for the company noted that Covenant allows you to see the country while making great money.
Some employees complained of management not being attentive enough or being overworked.
I do have to note that Covenant states their company is based on “Christian values,” and that may put some drivers off. While the company doesn’t push religious beliefs on employees, Covenant does make it a point to highlight their religious values in their mission statements and “about page” on their website.
Claims of earning a minimum of $1,000 per week may need to be taken with a grain of salt for new drivers. According to other drives, salaries are as follows:
- $39,012 per year on average (Indeed.com)
- $32,200-$74,563 per year on average (Payscale.com)
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Our guess is that the majority of drivers are rookies, which are paid less than experienced team drivers. Those with experience should be earning at least $52,000 per year based on the $1,000 per week minimum.
Even at the low-end, rookies can earn a decent salary working at Covenant. If you don’t mind working long hours or spending lots of time on the road, Covenant has lots of opportunities to earn great money doing a job that you love. Home time is guaranteed, and you can even choose the partner you team up with.
There’s ample opportunity to earn a lot of money working with Covenant if you’re willing to work hard and put your best foot forward. Safety is rewarded, and drivers are given bonuses every quarter for working hard. You’d be hard-pressed to find another company that offers better pay for rookies, and their rates for experienced drivers is highly competitive.