Most truck drivers average 500–600 miles per day, a range consistently observed across the trucking industry. Daily mileage varies based on route type, freight, and Hours of Service (HOS) rules. Daily mileage differs between local, regional, and long-haul drivers. Federal regulations cap driving time, but real-world conditions like traffic, weather, and loading delays affect actual miles covered, making fuel planning and cost management critical.
Table of contents:
- How many miles do truck drivers drive a day?
- Average daily mileage by truck driving type
- What limits how many miles a truck driver can drive?
- How daily miles impact fuel costs
- How to manage fuel costs on long driving days
- Frequently asked questions
- Mileage varies, but costs always matter
Key takeaways
- Most truck drivers average 500–600 miles per day. Daily mileage depends on route type, freight requirements, and Hours of Service regulations.
- Long-haul drivers typically log the highest mileage. Interstate routes with fewer stops allow drivers to maximize their 11-hour driving window.
- Local drivers cover fewer miles due to stops and city driving. Multiple deliveries and urban congestion reduce daily mileage to 300–500 miles.
- HOS rules cap driving time at 11 hours per day. Federal regulations limit actual driving hours, with a 14-hour on-duty window that includes all work activities.
- Fuel costs scale directly with miles driven. High-mileage routes mean frequent fuel purchases that require careful management.
How many miles do truck drivers drive a day?
On average, truck drivers drive 500 to 600 miles per day, depending on driving type, traffic, freight requirements, and Hours of Service regulations.
The realistic breakdown looks like this:
- Realistic average speed: 50–60 mph
- Maximum driving time: 11 hours
- Typical daily range: 400–650 miles
Average daily mileage by truck driving type
Daily mileage varies widely depending on the type of trucking work you do. Local drivers face completely different conditions than long-haul operators running coast to coast.
Local truck drivers
Local truck drivers typically cover 300–500 miles per day. City traffic slows average speeds, and multiple stops for deliveries or pickups cut into driving time. Loading and unloading add hours to the workday without adding miles to the odometer.
Common roles include:
- Delivery routes with frequent stops
- Construction material transport
- Last-mile freight operations
These drivers usually operate within a single metropolitan area or region and return home each night.
Regional and OTR drivers
Regional and over-the-road drivers typically cover 500–600 miles per day. Interstate routes allow for more consistent cruising speeds with fewer stops than local work.
This category represents the most common type of driving for owner-operators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo.
Running regional routes often means covering multiple states in a single trip while still returning home regularly. The combination of highway speeds and fewer delivery stops pushes daily mileage higher than local work.
Long-haul drivers
Long-haul drivers typically cover 550–650 miles per day. Multi-state routes and extended driving windows allow drivers to maximize their available hours. Higher daily mileage also means higher fuel consumption, making fuel planning critical for profitability.
These drivers might spend weeks on the road before heading home. Routes often span the entire country, requiring careful attention to fuel prices across different regions.
Team drivers
Team drivers can cover 1,000+ miles per day combined. One driver rests while the other drives, keeping the truck moving almost nonstop. This setup doubles the productive driving hours and significantly increases weekly mileage compared to solo operations.
What limits how many miles a truck driver can drive?
Several factors cap daily mileage, even when drivers want to push further. Federal regulations set hard limits, while real-world conditions determine what's actually achievable.
Hours of service regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governs driving time through Hours of Service rules. The FMCSA Summary of Hours of Service regulations establishes these specific limits for property-carrying drivers:
- May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty
- Must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
The 14-hour on-duty window includes all work time, not just driving. Loading, unloading, inspections, and breaks all count against this limit, reducing actual driving time below the 11-hour maximum.
Average speed vs. maximum Speed
Theoretically, 11 hours of driving at 65 mph equals 715 miles. Reality falls short of this calculation.
Real-world factors that reduce daily mileage:
- Traffic slows average speeds, particularly when crossing urban areas or driving during peak hours
- Terrain matters too, mountain grades reduce speed and fuel efficiency
- Fuel stops, weigh stations, and inspection delays all cut into productive driving time
The practical outcome lands most drivers at 500–600 miles per day, even when they use their full 11 hours of driving time.
Freight type and stops
Certain types of freight naturally limit how many miles a driver can cover in a day because they require more time off the road. Flatbed loads, for example, must be carefully secured and inspected, which takes significantly longer than simply closing trailer doors. Tanker drivers face additional safety checks and slower loading procedures, while specialized freight may involve permits, escorts, or restricted routes that further reduce driving time.
Even when traffic is light and road conditions are ideal, this added loading and inspection time often means fewer miles driven overall.
Traffic, weather, and terrain
Road conditions play a major role in how far drivers can travel each day. Urban congestion cuts into average speeds, especially when navigating through major metropolitan areas during peak hours. Mountain terrain presents its own challenges, forcing drivers to reduce cruising speed and shift gears more frequently as they navigate steep grades.
Weather adds another layer of unpredictability:
- Snow creates hazardous conditions requiring reduced speeds
- Wind makes vehicle control more difficult, especially for high-profile trailers
- Rain reduces visibility and increases stopping distances
What might be a straightforward 10-hour route in clear weather can easily stretch to 12 hours in a snowstorm, pushing drivers closer to their HOS limits without covering the expected distance.
These real-world conditions make route selection critical. Carriers who prefer local routes with predictable daily mileage often choose intrastate over interstate driving to minimize exposure to unpredictable long-haul variables.
How daily miles impact fuel costs
Fuel operates as a per-mile expense. More miles driven means higher daily fuel spend, and costs scale directly with distance covered.
Daily fuel consumption example:
- 600 miles per day at 7 MPG = approximately 86 gallons of diesel
- A $0.10 difference in diesel price = $8.60 more per day
- Monthly impact: over $250 in added costs
Multi-state routes create pricing challenges:
High-mileage routes cross multiple fuel markets with varying prices. Drivers covering 600 miles might pass through three or four states with different fuel costs. Choosing where to fuel becomes a daily financial decision that directly affects profit margins.
Fleet and fuel management practices help control costs as daily mileage increases, with driver behavior playing a significant role in fuel efficiency.
How to Manage Fuel Costs on Long Driving Days
Long driving days mean frequent fuel purchases. Managing fuel costs requires planning and the right tools to track spending against mileage.
Plan fuel stops before you start driving
The most expensive fuel stops are the ones you don't plan for. Mapping fuel stops along your route before you start driving gives you control over where and when you fuel up, helping you avoid the premium prices that come with last-minute desperation stops.
Smart fuel planning means:
- Prioritizing truck stops with consistent pricing and discounts
- Eliminating unnecessary detours that add miles and burn fuel
- Avoiding high-price stations near major interchanges
Drivers who wait until the low fuel warning lights up typically pay for that decision at the pump. Route planning tools like Fuel Finder in the OTR Mobile App take the guesswork out of the equation, showing you where to find competitive fuel pricing along your planned route so you can make smart stops instead of costly ones.
Track fuel Purchases by mile, not just by day
Compare gallons purchased to miles driven each day to spot inefficiencies early. Sudden spikes in fuel usage can signal:
- Route changes that add unexpected miles
- Traffic or idling issues that waste fuel
- Fuel theft or card misuse
A fuel card with purchase tracking makes it easier to connect fuel spend directly to mileage. Weekly reviews help identify patterns that monthly statements miss.
Fuel where prices are lower rather than convenient
Diesel prices vary widely by state and even by exit. Long-haul routes often cross both high- and low-cost fuel markets. Choosing to fuel earlier or later along a route protects margins on high-mileage days.
Tools that show real-time fuel prices help drivers make informed decisions about when and where to stop. Planning fuel stops around price rather than just tank level keeps operating costs under control. Finding the cheapest diesel fuel along your route can save significant money when covering 500–600 miles per day.
Use fuel controls to avoid overspending
Set purchase limits to fuel-only transactions when possible. Restrict fueling to approved locations or networks. Controls help prevent accidental non-fuel purchases and reduce fraud risk on long days.
Fuel cards with built-in purchase controls let drivers focus on the road while protecting against unauthorized spending or card misuse.
Protect cashflow on high-mileage routes
Driving 500–600 miles per day means frequent diesel purchases. Paying out of pocket can strain cashflow, especially between settlements.
A fuel card line of credit helps:
- Cover fuel without draining operating cash
- Keep trucks moving even when payments are delayed
- Match fuel spending to revenue timing
Review fuel spend weekly, not just monthly
Weekly reviews help identify:
- Routes with higher fuel costs
- Drivers or trips with abnormal fuel usage
- Opportunities to adjust fueling strategy before costs compound
The difference between weekly and monthly fuel spend reviews comes down to timing. When you wait for monthly statements to arrive, you're discovering problems weeks after they happen; often too late to do anything about them. Weekly reviews catch issues while you still have time to adjust driver behavior, reroute inefficient trips, or address mechanical problems before they drain your budget.
Small inefficiencies compound quickly when you're covering 500–600 miles per day. A driver idling excessively or a route with consistently higher fuel costs might cost you hundreds of dollars before a monthly statement even arrives. Catching these patterns early protects your margins and gives you actionable data to make better decisions going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a truck driver drive 700 miles in a day?
No, not legally as a solo driver. Hours of Service regulations limit drivers to 11 hours of driving per day. At realistic average speeds of 50–60 mph, this caps daily mileage around 500–650 miles.
How many miles do truckers drive daily?
Most truck drivers average 500 to 600 miles per day, depending on route type, traffic and weather conditions, freight requirements, and Hours of Service limits.
Can a truck driver drive 500 miles a day?
Yes. 500 miles per day is very common, especially for regional and long-haul drivers. This mileage fits well within HOS limits and aligns with realistic average speeds.
Is driving 20,000 miles a year a lot for a truck driver?
No. 20,000 miles per year is very low for a truck driver. Most full-time truck drivers log 100,000 to 125,000+ miles per year.
Why don't truck drivers drive the full 11 hours every day?
Real-world factors often reduce usable drive time, including loading and unloading delays, traffic congestion, weather conditions, and mandatory breaks and inspections.
How does daily mileage affect fuel costs?
More miles driven means higher fuel consumption and more frequent fuel purchases. Drivers averaging 500–600 miles per day often burn 70–90 gallons of diesel daily.
Mileage varies, but costs always matter
Daily miles depend on route type, freight, and regulations. Most drivers land in the 500–600 mile range, though local and long-haul operators see different numbers. Fuel remains the biggest variable cost tied to mileage, and managing fuel spend directly affects profitability.
Drivers covering 500–600 miles per day face consistent fuel expenses that add up fast. The right fuel tools help manage these costs mile after mile, keeping operations running smoothly without cashflow strain.
Get started with tools that help you manage fuel costs on every route.
