Market Saturation Index

CDL Truck Drivers Market Saturation
by State (2024)

Commercial truck drivers operate heavy vehicles to transport goods across states and locally. Use this data to find states with the most demand and the least competition before you commit to getting licensed.

1:164

National average

North Dakota

1 per 76 residents

Most competitive market

District Of Columbia

1 per 846 residents

Most opportunity

Nationally, there is 1 cdl truck driver for every 164 residents. States below this ratio have more professionals per capita than average — a more competitive market. States above it have fewer — more room for new entrants.

All States — Ranked by Saturation

Sorted from most saturated (most competitive) to least saturated (most opportunity).

Rank	State	Employed	Population	Ratio	vs. National	Saturation
1	North Dakota	10,510	796,568	1 per 76 residents	54% above average	🔴 Very High
2	Nebraska	24,160	2,005,465	1 per 83 residents	49% above average	🔴 Very High
3	Iowa	37,430	3,241,488	1 per 87 residents	47% above average	🔴 Very High
4	Wyoming	6,530	587,618	1 per 90 residents	45% above average	🔴 Very High
5	Arkansas	32,290	3,088,354	1 per 96 residents	41% above average	🔴 Very High
6	Wisconsin	52,980	5,960,975	1 per 113 residents	31% above average	🔴 Very High
7	Tennessee	63,130	7,227,750	1 per 114 residents	30% above average	🔴 Very High
8	Mississippi	25,490	2,943,045	1 per 115 residents	30% above average	🔴 Very High
9	Indiana	57,870	6,924,275	1 per 120 residents	27% above average	🔴 Very High
10	Kansas	23,250	2,970,606	1 per 128 residents	22% above average	🔴 Very High
11	Ohio	91,090	11,883,304	1 per 130 residents	21% above average	🔴 Very High
12	Missouri	47,530	6,245,466	1 per 131 residents	20% above average	🔴 Very High
13	Idaho	14,860	2,001,619	1 per 135 residents	18% above average	🟠 High
14	Kentucky	33,430	4,588,372	1 per 137 residents	16% above average	🟠 High
15	Alabama	37,490	5,157,699	1 per 138 residents	16% above average	🟠 High
16	Maine	10,180	1,405,012	1 per 138 residents	16% above average	🟠 High
17	Oklahoma	29,080	4,095,393	1 per 141 residents	14% above average	🟠 High
18	Utah	24,280	3,503,613	1 per 144 residents	12% above average	🟠 High
19	Pennsylvania	90,160	13,078,751	1 per 145 residents	12% above average	🟠 High
20	Texas	212,700	31,290,831	1 per 147 residents	10% above average	🟠 High
21	Georgia	75,700	11,180,878	1 per 148 residents	10% above average	🟠 High
22	Minnesota	38,530	5,793,151	1 per 150 residents	9% above average	🟠 High
23	West Virginia	11,560	1,769,979	1 per 153 residents	7% above average	🟠 High
24	South Dakota	5,990	924,669	1 per 154 residents	6% above average	🟠 High
25	Virginia	55,430	8,811,195	1 per 159 residents	3% above average	🟠 High
26	Montana	7,050	1,137,233	1 per 161 residents	2% above average	🟡 Moderate
27	Illinois	76,650	12,710,158	1 per 166 residents	1% below average	🟡 Moderate
28	South Carolina	32,700	5,478,831	1 per 168 residents	2% below average	🟡 Moderate
29	Michigan	59,910	10,140,459	1 per 169 residents	3% below average	🟡 Moderate
30	North Carolina	64,610	11,046,024	1 per 171 residents	4% below average	🟡 Moderate
31	Oregon	24,720	4,272,371	1 per 173 residents	5% below average	🟡 Moderate
32	Louisiana	26,260	4,597,740	1 per 175 residents	7% below average	🟡 Moderate
33	Delaware	5,950	1,051,917	1 per 177 residents	8% below average	🟡 Moderate
34	Arizona	42,270	7,582,384	1 per 179 residents	9% below average	🟡 Moderate
35	California	211,740	39,431,263	1 per 186 residents	13% below average	🟡 Moderate
36	Nevada	17,430	3,267,467	1 per 187 residents	14% below average	🟡 Moderate
37	New Jersey	49,450	9,500,851	1 per 192 residents	17% below average	🟡 Moderate
38	Vermont	3,370	648,493	1 per 192 residents	17% below average	🟡 Moderate
39	Washington	40,700	7,958,180	1 per 196 residents	20% below average	🟢 Low
40	New Mexico	10,850	2,130,256	1 per 196 residents	20% below average	🟢 Low
41	New Hampshire	6,730	1,409,032	1 per 209 residents	27% below average	🟢 Low
42	Colorado	27,840	5,957,493	1 per 214 residents	30% below average	🟢 Low
43	Florida	105,730	23,372,215	1 per 221 residents	35% below average	🟢 Low
44	Massachusetts	32,170	7,136,171	1 per 222 residents	35% below average	🟢 Low
45	Alaska	3,240	740,133	1 per 228 residents	39% below average	🟢 Low
46	Connecticut	15,860	3,675,069	1 per 232 residents	41% below average	🟢 Low
47	Maryland	23,910	6,263,220	1 per 262 residents	60% below average	🟢 Low
48	New York	61,410	19,867,248	1 per 324 residents	98% below average	🟢 Low
49	Rhode Island	3,260	1,112,308	1 per 341 residents	108% below average	🟢 Low
50	Hawaii	4,100	1,446,146	1 per 353 residents	115% below average	🟢 Low
51	District Of Columbia	830	702,250	1 per 846 residents	416% below average	🟢 Low

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 · US Census Vintage 2024 · SOC 53-3032

🟢 LOW Saturation — Most Opportunity

Fewer cdl truck drivers per resident means less competition for clients, higher potential rates, and easier path to building a sustainable book of business. Ideal if you're entering the profession or relocating.

🔴 VERY HIGH Saturation — Need to Differentiate

Many cdl truck drivers per resident means you'll face more competition. Success in these markets requires a niche specialization, strong referral network, or competitive pricing. Not impossible — just harder.

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← Back to Market Saturation Index

CDL Truck Drivers Market Saturation
by State (2024)

1:164

National average

North Dakota

1 per 76 residents

Most competitive market

District Of Columbia

1 per 846 residents

Most opportunity

All States — Ranked by Saturation

Sorted from most saturated (most competitive) to least saturated (most opportunity).

Rank	State	Employed	Population	Ratio	vs. National	Saturation
1	North Dakota	10,510	796,568	1 per 76 residents	54% above average	🔴 Very High
2	Nebraska	24,160	2,005,465	1 per 83 residents	49% above average	🔴 Very High
3	Iowa	37,430	3,241,488	1 per 87 residents	47% above average	🔴 Very High
4	Wyoming	6,530	587,618	1 per 90 residents	45% above average	🔴 Very High
5	Arkansas	32,290	3,088,354	1 per 96 residents	41% above average	🔴 Very High
6	Wisconsin	52,980	5,960,975	1 per 113 residents	31% above average	🔴 Very High
7	Tennessee	63,130	7,227,750	1 per 114 residents	30% above average	🔴 Very High
8	Mississippi	25,490	2,943,045	1 per 115 residents	30% above average	🔴 Very High
9	Indiana	57,870	6,924,275	1 per 120 residents	27% above average	🔴 Very High
10	Kansas	23,250	2,970,606	1 per 128 residents	22% above average	🔴 Very High
11	Ohio	91,090	11,883,304	1 per 130 residents	21% above average	🔴 Very High
12	Missouri	47,530	6,245,466	1 per 131 residents	20% above average	🔴 Very High
13	Idaho	14,860	2,001,619	1 per 135 residents	18% above average	🟠 High
14	Kentucky	33,430	4,588,372	1 per 137 residents	16% above average	🟠 High
15	Alabama	37,490	5,157,699	1 per 138 residents	16% above average	🟠 High
16	Maine	10,180	1,405,012	1 per 138 residents	16% above average	🟠 High
17	Oklahoma	29,080	4,095,393	1 per 141 residents	14% above average	🟠 High
18	Utah	24,280	3,503,613	1 per 144 residents	12% above average	🟠 High
19	Pennsylvania	90,160	13,078,751	1 per 145 residents	12% above average	🟠 High
20	Texas	212,700	31,290,831	1 per 147 residents	10% above average	🟠 High
21	Georgia	75,700	11,180,878	1 per 148 residents	10% above average	🟠 High
22	Minnesota	38,530	5,793,151	1 per 150 residents	9% above average	🟠 High
23	West Virginia	11,560	1,769,979	1 per 153 residents	7% above average	🟠 High
24	South Dakota	5,990	924,669	1 per 154 residents	6% above average	🟠 High
25	Virginia	55,430	8,811,195	1 per 159 residents	3% above average	🟠 High
26	Montana	7,050	1,137,233	1 per 161 residents	2% above average	🟡 Moderate
27	Illinois	76,650	12,710,158	1 per 166 residents	1% below average	🟡 Moderate
28	South Carolina	32,700	5,478,831	1 per 168 residents	2% below average	🟡 Moderate
29	Michigan	59,910	10,140,459	1 per 169 residents	3% below average	🟡 Moderate
30	North Carolina	64,610	11,046,024	1 per 171 residents	4% below average	🟡 Moderate
31	Oregon	24,720	4,272,371	1 per 173 residents	5% below average	🟡 Moderate
32	Louisiana	26,260	4,597,740	1 per 175 residents	7% below average	🟡 Moderate
33	Delaware	5,950	1,051,917	1 per 177 residents	8% below average	🟡 Moderate
34	Arizona	42,270	7,582,384	1 per 179 residents	9% below average	🟡 Moderate
35	California	211,740	39,431,263	1 per 186 residents	13% below average	🟡 Moderate
36	Nevada	17,430	3,267,467	1 per 187 residents	14% below average	🟡 Moderate
37	New Jersey	49,450	9,500,851	1 per 192 residents	17% below average	🟡 Moderate
38	Vermont	3,370	648,493	1 per 192 residents	17% below average	🟡 Moderate
39	Washington	40,700	7,958,180	1 per 196 residents	20% below average	🟢 Low
40	New Mexico	10,850	2,130,256	1 per 196 residents	20% below average	🟢 Low
41	New Hampshire	6,730	1,409,032	1 per 209 residents	27% below average	🟢 Low
42	Colorado	27,840	5,957,493	1 per 214 residents	30% below average	🟢 Low
43	Florida	105,730	23,372,215	1 per 221 residents	35% below average	🟢 Low
44	Massachusetts	32,170	7,136,171	1 per 222 residents	35% below average	🟢 Low
45	Alaska	3,240	740,133	1 per 228 residents	39% below average	🟢 Low
46	Connecticut	15,860	3,675,069	1 per 232 residents	41% below average	🟢 Low
47	Maryland	23,910	6,263,220	1 per 262 residents	60% below average	🟢 Low
48	New York	61,410	19,867,248	1 per 324 residents	98% below average	🟢 Low
49	Rhode Island	3,260	1,112,308	1 per 341 residents	108% below average	🟢 Low
50	Hawaii	4,100	1,446,146	1 per 353 residents	115% below average	🟢 Low
51	District Of Columbia	830	702,250	1 per 846 residents	416% below average	🟢 Low

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 · US Census Vintage 2024 · SOC 53-3032

CDL Truck Drivers Market Saturationby State (2024)

All States — Ranked by Saturation

Found your target state? Get your personalized CDL Truck Driver licensing roadmap.

CDL Truck Drivers Market Saturationby State (2024)

All States — Ranked by Saturation

Found your target state? Get your personalized CDL Truck Driver licensing roadmap.

CDL Truck Drivers Market Saturation
by State (2024)

CDL Truck Drivers Market Saturation
by State (2024)