Montana Trucking – Mountains, Mooing, and Moolah

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Montana is its vast, towering mountains. As beautiful as they are, that’s not the only thing truckers have to look forward to in the state.

Montana is also known for wide-open spaces and grassy plains.13 The “Going to the Sun Road” in Glacier Park is considered one of the most scenic drives in America.

Scenic routes, along with Montana’s popularity in winter and water sports and nature exploration, make for a bit more than mountain driving.13 With only about a million people, let’s just say the pace of life in Montana is far slower than speed limits.

But while trucking in the state is sure to send drivers into a Zen mode due to easy traffic and beautiful sights, drivers should try not to get hypnotized by the constant soothing “mooing” as they travel.

Montana’s 147,040 sq. miles makes it the fourth largest state in the nation in size, but it has twice as many cows as people.

For drivers, the mountains and mooing don’t come without money. The state’s major agriculture, mining, tourism, and timber industries help drive its economy.

Advocacy

The Motor Carriers of Montana (MCM) is a “trade association dedicated to the furtherance of the trucking industry’s goals and interests in Montana and the United States.” The MCM also has a Safety Management Maintenance & Technology Council (SMMTC) that provides members an update on DOT changes and a forum to discuss issues of importance.”

MCM offers member services like:

• Insurance programs
• Safety supplies
• Discounts, and
• Seminars

Freight

Freight shipped by truck drivers in the state include:

• Cigarettes
• Coal
• Copper oxides
• Aircraft parts
• Live cattle
• Hydrides
• Human/animal blood
• Lentils
• Light petroleum oils

Access

Montana is in the upper-Northwestern U.S., bordering Canada. There are roughly 150,446 total lane miles in the state, three primary routes, and two auxiliary highways, totaling 1,200 of the state’s total lane miles of roadway. Interstates are as follows:

• I-15
• I-90, and
• I-94

Work and Wages

Montana has approximately 686 local truck driver jobs, and the state’s average yearly salary for drivers is around $55,584.

In May 2020, the BLS reported a median annual salary of $47,130 for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.

Although there are several big and small companies to choose from, drivers in Montana can anticipate employment opportunities from companies like:

• Carvana – Local CDL A Truck Drivers (Home Daily), and
• LTI - Local Truck Driver