The question of how many miles a truck driver covers in a week does not have a single, simple answer. The actual distance driven is a dynamic figure, heavily influenced by strict federal regulations, the specific type of freight hauling job, and unpredictable operational factors. For the public, the image of a truck driver is often one of continuous movement, yet their weekly mileage is carefully calibrated within legal and logistical constraints. Understanding the weekly distance a driver can achieve requires a breakdown of the maximum allowable driving time and the real-world friction that prevents drivers from reaching that theoretical limit. The resulting mileage figures vary widely across the industry, directly impacting a driver’s career and compensation structure.
Understanding the Regulatory Limits on Driving Time
The maximum distance a truck driver can travel in a week is defined by federal safety laws known as Hours of Service (HOS) rules, which are enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These regulations establish strict limits on driving time to ensure driver alertness. Property-carrying drivers are limited to a maximum of 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window, following a mandatory 10 consecutive hours off duty.
The 14-hour window, which begins when a driver first comes on duty, includes all non-driving work, such as inspections, fueling, and loading, and cannot be extended by taking an off-duty break. Drivers must also take a mandatory 30-minute break after eight cumulative hours of driving time have passed. Furthermore, the regulations impose a weekly limit of 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days, or 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days, capping the total time a driver can spend working each week.
Calculating Maximum Possible Weekly Mileage
By converting the federal time limits into distance, a theoretical maximum weekly mileage can be established for a compliant driver. The weekly on-duty limit of 70 hours over eight days provides the largest allowance for professional drivers operating over extended periods. Since a driver can spend a maximum of 11 hours driving per day, the total possible driving hours before requiring a 34-hour restart period is derived from the 70-hour maximum on-duty time.
Assuming a driver operates for six days under the 70-hour rule, they could theoretically drive 11 hours per day, totaling 66 driving hours for the week. Using an average highway speed of 60 to 65 miles per hour (mph), the highest theoretical weekly mileage falls within the range of approximately 3,960 to 4,290 miles. This calculation represents the absolute maximum distance possible under ideal, uninterrupted conditions, which rarely occur in commercial hauling.
Actual Mileage Driven: Why the Numbers Differ from the Maximum
The actual miles logged by most long-haul drivers are consistently lower than the theoretical maximum because the 14-hour duty clock includes all time a driver is working, not just driving time. Operational friction points consume significant portions of this limited duty period, reducing the available time behind the wheel. Loading and unloading, often referred to as detention time, are unpredictable and non-driving tasks that cut directly into the 11-hour driving allowance.
Mandatory pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections, along with necessary stops for refueling and using weigh stations, further reduce the time available for travel. Traffic congestion in urban areas and unexpected weather delays force the truck to slow or stop, meaning fewer miles are covered within the legally defined 11-hour window. These non-driving activities are often outside the driver’s control, preventing the driver from consistently achieving the calculated maximum daily or weekly mileage.
Mileage Variation by Trucking Sector
The type of trucking job is the primary factor determining a driver’s weekly mileage, leading to significant variation across the industry.
Over-the-Road (OTR) or Long-Haul
OTR drivers typically stay out for weeks at a time, aiming to maximize their distance and consistently achieve the highest weekly mileage figures. A typical OTR driver averages between 2,500 and 3,200 miles per week, with highly efficient team drivers or those on dedicated, optimized routes sometimes exceeding 3,500 miles.
Regional Drivers
Regional drivers operate within a defined geographic area, such as a multi-state region, allowing them to return home weekly or every few days. Their routes are shorter and more predictable than OTR, resulting in a mid-range weekly mileage that generally falls between 1,500 and 2,500 miles.
Local or Short-Haul Drivers
Local drivers operate within a limited radius, often within 150 air-miles of their starting location, completing multiple pickups and deliveries daily. These drivers log the lowest distances, averaging 500 to 1,500 miles weekly, and are frequently paid by the hour rather than by the mile due to the high volume of non-driving work involved.
The Relationship Between Miles Driven and Driver Compensation
The weekly mileage a driver covers is directly linked to their financial outcome because the standard pay structure in the industry is Cents Per Mile (CPM). This model means a driver’s gross income is determined by multiplying their negotiated CPM rate by the total number of miles they are paid for. Carriers often establish weekly mileage targets for their drivers, which represent the distance needed to meet a sustainable income level.
The method used to calculate the paid miles often differentiates between “shortest route miles” and “practical miles.” Shortest route miles, also known as Household Goods (HHG) miles, calculate the distance along the most direct path, which may not be the route the driver actually takes. Practical miles, by contrast, use established commercial routing software to determine a more realistic and efficient route, often resulting in 5% to 8% more paid miles for the driver, better reflecting the distance actually traveled.
The weekly distance a truck driver travels is a calculated balance between the strict 70-hour on-duty limit set by federal law and the realities of logistics and traffic. OTR drivers typically average between 2,500 and 3,200 miles per week. This range represents the practical limit achieved after accounting for operational delays that consume the legally allotted driving time.