Heartland Express Truck Driver Jobs: Pay, Requirements & Application Guide (2026)

4,200
Power units
4,500
Drivers
51073
USDOT

Complete guide to driving for Heartland Express: pay structure, hiring areas, driver requirements, benefits, and application process. Sourced from FMCSA SAFER, carrier filings, and verified 2026-04-22 03:37:05.957455+00:00.

Last verified: · FMCSA SAFER

Carrier identity (FMCSA SAFER)

USDOT
51073
Carrier Type
Mega Carrier
Fleet Size (Power Units)
4,200
Drivers
4,500
Operation Type
Interstate
Headquarters
901 N Kansas Ave, North Liberty, IA 52317

Source: FMCSA SAFER snapshot (verified 2026-04-22T03:37:05.764202+00:00)

Driver types and requirements

TrackCDL ClassMin ExperienceMin AgeMVR / DAC policy
OTR Company Driver A 6 mo 21 (interstate) ≤ 2 moving violations / 36 months / case-by-case; conservative on termination history
Regional Company Driver A 6 mo 21 (interstate) ≤ 2 moving violations / 36 months / case-by-case

Where Heartland Express hires

48 states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY

Priority metros: North Liberty, IA, Indianapolis, IN, Dallas, TX

Source: Heartland Express careers page (verified 2026-04-20)

Heartland Express pay structure (2026)

Company driver

  • Solo CPM: $0.58–$0.72 per mile
  • Per diem election: up to 20% of miles pulled into tax-free reimbursement
  • Detention: Paid after 2 hours
  • Layover: Layover pay policy

Bonuses: safety: True, referral: True, longevity: True

Source: Heartland Express recruiting page

Model your expected earnings with the CPM → Annual Salary calculator.

How to apply to Heartland Express

  1. Start application: Heartland Express driver application portal
  2. Phone screen: expect questions like:
    • CDL-A tenure?
    • MVR / DAC?
    • Home-time preference?
    • Pre-employment drug test?
  3. Road test: conducted in a automatic truck.
  4. Pre-employment drug test: urinalysis

Before you hit submit: run your resume against the Heartland Express job description with the ResumeGeni ATS analyzer, or build a Heartland Express-optimized resume in the resume builder.

FMCSA safety record

Review Heartland Express's CSA Safety Measurement System data directly at the FMCSA: Heartland Express on FMCSA SMS. URL verified 2026-04-22T03:37:05.957439+00:00.

Frequently asked questions

What does Heartland Express pay CDL drivers?
Heartland Express advertises company-driver pay of $0.58–$0.72 per mile; per diem 20%. These figures come from carrier filings and were verified 2026-04-22 03:37:05.957455+00:00; confirm current rates with a recruiter before you apply.
What do you need to drive for Heartland Express?
For the OTR Company Driver track, Heartland Express lists CDL Class A; 6 months experience; minimum age 21. Requirements were verified 2026-04-22 03:37:05.957455+00:00 and can vary by location and division.
Where does Heartland Express hire CDL drivers?
Heartland Express lists active hiring in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL…. Hiring areas were verified 2026-04-22 03:37:05.957455+00:00.
How do I apply to drive for Heartland Express?
Apply through Heartland Express's official driver portal at https://www.heartlandexpress.com/driver-careers/apply. Application details were verified 2026-04-22 03:37:05.957455+00:00.
What is Heartland Express's FMCSA safety record?
Per the FMCSA SAFER snapshot, Heartland Express operates 4,200 power units and 4,500 drivers. Review the full CSA Safety Measurement System record on the FMCSA SMS site; snapshot verified 2026-04-22 03:37:05.957455+00:00.

Land the job at Heartland Express