Laredo, TX
Looking for tanker OTR CDL-A work around Laredo? Here's the pay, the home time, and a fast way to get matched with carriers hiring right now.
Laredo is the busiest land port in the Western Hemisphere, handling about 35% of all U.S.-Mexico trade with roughly 20,000 commercial truck crossings a day along the I-35 corridor.
Long-haul freight across multiple states or coast-to-coast, paid mostly by the mile — the highest-mileage and typically highest-paying route type for company drivers. For CDL-A drivers based in Laredo and nearby communities like Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, Mines Road, that translates to steady freight and tanker OTR runs you can actually build a schedule around.
OTR CDL-A pay in this market typically runs about $97k to $123k a year for company drivers, before sign-on bonuses, detention, and per diem. Tanker is among the highest-paying segments; drivers often earn roughly $8,000–$20,000 more per year than dry-van drivers, with hazmat-certified tanker work paying the most. The number that matters most is weekly miles times your rate — a strong rate on thin miles loses to a steady seat every time.
Liquid and bulk cargo such as fuel, chemicals, and food-grade liquids — pays a premium and usually requires a tanker endorsement plus skill managing liquid surge.
Tanker is among the highest-paying segments; drivers often earn roughly $8,000–$20,000 more per year than dry-van drivers, with hazmat-certified tanker work paying the most.
Texas rates run about 1% above the national average for the same freight, which is baked into the numbers below. Figures assume 2,750 paid miles a week (typical for OTR out of Laredo) plus ~7% in accessorials (detention, stop pay, per diem), over 50 working weeks.
| Experience | Rate (typical–good) | Weekly gross | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | $0.66–0.72/mi | $1,932–$2,110 | $96,588–$105,503 |
| 2–5 years | $0.70–0.77/mi | $2,051–$2,259 | $102,531–$112,933 |
| 5+ years | $0.75–0.84/mi | $2,199–$2,467 | $109,961–$123,335 |
From the CDL Lane pay model — cents-per-mile researched across 100+ carriers (how we calculate), adjusted for Texas and tanker freight. Run your own numbers in the pay calculator.
Tell us your experience, freight, and schedule. We'll line up OTR carriers hiring near Laredo — free, fast, no obligation.
Get matched →OTR CDL-A drivers in the Laredo market typically earn $97k–$123k a year, with the exact number driven by experience, weekly miles, and freight type — the table above breaks it down by experience band.
The N (tanker) endorsement at minimum; hazmat (H) — together the X endorsement — unlocks fuel hauling, which is the top of the pay scale. The tests are knowledge-based and the hazmat background check typically runs a few weeks.
Many tanker fleets take drivers with 6–12 months of general CDL-A experience and train the liquid-surge handling. The endorsement plus a clean record is usually the real gate.
Typically 2–3+ weeks out with a few days home between runs. OTR pays the most because of the miles — the figures above assume a normal 2,750-mile week.
A valid CDL-A and a reasonably clean driving record cover most openings. Tell CDL Lane your experience, preferred freight, and home base and we'll match you with carriers hiring near Laredo — including Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, Mines Road.