What is Interstate Trucking?
When a truck driver is tasked with taking a load of freight from one state to another, this is referred to as interstate trucking. The term applies anytime you must cross state lines in the course of duty.
This is a very common type of trucking, and you’ll see it a lot with large providers in particular. It’s a regular part of long-haul travel, which is where truckers know that they’ll be gone for days or even weeks at a time while traveling very long distances.
What is Intrastate Trucking?
Intrastate trucking, however, involves a trucker transporting freight within the boundaries of a single state. If you’re a truck driver in Ohio, you never have to take anything into Michigan or another state that borders your own – you stay strictly in Ohio while on the job.
Interstate vs Intrastate: Types of Vehicles Used
First and foremost, the type of vehicle used in any type of trucking will always come down to the requirements of the job. If you’re talking about transporting consumer goods, you’ll have different considerations to account for than if you were transporting heavy machinery. That is to say, the demands of the job and safety requirements will always dictate the type of vehicle used, regardless of whether you’re talking about interstate vs intrastate jobs.
Having said that, interstate trucking vehicles are typically designed for long-haul trips because they travel over great distances. This can include tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and more.
Intrastate trucking vehicles tend to be on the smaller side because they’re not expected to be used for the same distances. These can include smaller box trucks, local delivery trucks, and others.
Interstate vs Intrastate: Pay Differences
In terms of pay, interstate truck drivers tend to make more money than intrastate drivers – or at least, the potential for a higher earning is there.
This is because interstate trucking companies need to pay for long distances and extended hours. Depending on the complexity of the job, they may also have to pay more per mile. Drivers may also get additional bonuses and other types of compensation for completing a job quickly or for finishing a particularly dangerous job as safely as possible.
That is not to say that it is a guarantee that interstate drivers will always make more money than their intrastate counterparts. It’s just that, given the myriad of factors that impact the pay structure, it is likely.
Interstate vs Intrastate: Rules & Regulations
As you would expect, any truck driver who is working across state lines will need to comply with federal laws. These cover everything from the safety standards that the vehicle itself must adhere to, as well as how long that driver can be on the road at all. Intrastate truck drivers, on the other hand, are only subject to the rules and regulations of that particular state. If you work in Ohio, you don’t have to worry about trucking laws in Florida.
Interstate vs Intrastate: Insurance
Similar to the differences dictated by rules and regulations, there are also several factors to consider when it comes to insurance coverage and interstate vs intrastate trucking. Because interstate trucking involves traveling across state lines, the insurance requirements are usually higher. Federal law mandates that interstate carriers carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance, though this amount can vary depending on the type of cargo being transported.
When it comes to interstate trucking insurance, the exact coverage depends on the state, but many states have lower minimum insurance requirements for local operations. However, insurance providers still often require certain levels of liability and cargo insurance to protect both the driver and the public.
Similarities Between Interstate & Intrastate
Even though interstate and intrastate truck drivers are different in a lot of ways, they’re also very similar in others. Whether it’s interstate or intrastate, trucking is crucial for moving goods across the country or within a state. Businesses of all types depend on their services. Truck drivers, in general, are a core part of the economic backbone of the United States. Without them, entire sectors would cease to function. Whether you’re driving a truck from one corner of the state to the other or from coast to coast doesn’t change that.
Both interstate and intrastate truck drivers also need to have commercial driver’s licenses. This is because they’ll be operating large vehicles during the course of a day, though some vehicles are obviously larger than others. Depending on the type of job they’ve been tasked with, they may also have to possess a license for a specific type of vehicle.
Truck drivers also need to put in a lot of work before they ever get out on the open road – something that people who are just coming into the profession tend to overlook. Essential tasks that would fall under this description include but are not limited to planning routes, managing logistics, maintaining records, and coordinating with customers for the timely delivery of goods. Naturally, the extent to which these are requirements will vary depending on whether you’re an owner/operator or you work for a trucking company.
Which Path is Right for You?
With all that in mind, the answer to the question of whether you should become an interstate vs an intrastate truck driver will always be a resounding “It depends.”
If pay is your top concern and you’re trying to enter the industry to make as much money as possible, interstate trucking will certainly allow you to do that. The potential earnings are higher faster.
But interstate trucking also requires longer hours and for you to drive much further distances – both things that you might not necessarily be comfortable with. If you’re someone who wants to sleep in your own bed at the end of every night, interstate trucking is likely not for you. If you don’t mind being away for long periods, it might be.
Because of that, you need to carefully weigh your options in terms of what you’re looking to get out of a career and what level of risk you’re comfortable with. Don’t start with a career and hope that it meets your needs. Make a list of your top priorities and work your way back to a type of trucking that meets them. Whether that is interstate vs intrastate trucking will come down to the individual, exactly as it should be.
If you’d like to find out more information about the intricacies of interstate vs. intrastate trucking, or if you’d just like to discuss your own needs with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Advanced Commercial Capital today.