Heartland Express
About Heartland Express
Heartland Express is a major irregular-route truckload carrier focused on short-to-medium haul lanes. Known for getting drivers home more frequently than typical OTR carriers, Heartland operates primarily in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S.
Key Information
Pay Range
$55,000 - $80,000
Min Experience
1 year CDL-A preferred (some recent graduate programs)
Fleet Size
5,000+ trucks
Headquarters
North Liberty, IA
Job Types Available
Driver Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid orientation
- Late-model Freightliner equipment
- Weekly home time options
Where Heartland Express runs
Heartland Express is strongest in Iowa, Texas and Georgia. If you want to be domiciled in one of those, this is a carrier worth a call; if you do not, check that they have a terminal near you before applying.
Their freight leans toward short-haul, dedicated, irregular route, which is what shapes the day-to-day: the equipment you are on, whether you touch the freight, and how predictable the schedule is.
On pay. We do not publish a salary for Heartland Express, because we have no source for one that is specific to them. For scale, heavy and tractor-trailer drivers nationally earn an annual mean of $59,710 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025). What this carrier pays sits above or below that depending on division, lane and experience — their own posting is the place to get it.
Pay & Benefits
Overall Pay
$55,000 - $80,000
Pay Schedule
Weekly direct deposit
Sign-On Bonus
Up to $5,000 for experienced drivers
Heartland Express Driver Review
Read our in-depth 2026 review covering pay breakdown, home time policy, equipment, training programs, hiring requirements, and honest pros & cons.
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