Hartley Law Firm Logo

The Best States for Delivery Drivers During the Holidays

November 4, 2025

As online shopping surges and parcel delivery ramps up for the holiday season, truck and delivery drivers play a critical role in keeping the supply chain moving.

Nationwide, the trucking industry recently faced a shortfall of roughly 78,800 qualified drivers. This shortage intensifies demands on drivers and underscores how route conditions, weather, road infrastructure, and regional job markets shape the holiday experience for drivers.

In this study, we analyzed a range of data factors — including average pay, job openings, traffic congestion, truck accidents, holiday package delays, and more — to evaluate which U.S. states offer the most (and least) favorable environment for delivery drivers during the busy holiday season. 

Key Findings

  • North Dakota is the #1 best state for delivery drivers during the holidays, overall. It ties with Minnesota for the most on-time holiday package deliveries and with Massachusetts for the fourth-highest delivery driver annual wage ($51,700). The state also has the second-lowest traffic congestion in the country.
  • Minnesota and Illinois rank second and third best for delivery drivers, overall. Minnesota ranks fifth-lowest in fatal crashes involving trucks nationwide, and Illinois has the most delivery driver job listings per 1,000 job ads (38).
  • The two worst states for delivery drivers during the holiday season are Louisiana and Hawaii, mostly due to poor road conditions, high average annual precipitation, and lower on-time delivery rates for holiday packages. 

The Best & Worst States for Delivery Drivers During the Holidays

A heatmap showing the best and worst-ranked states for being a delivery driver during the holidays.

Top 5 Best States for Delivery Drivers

  1. North Dakota — Overall score: 83.25
    North Dakota leads the nation with one of the highest delivery driver wages ($51,700), second-lowest traffic congestion, and top-tier on-time delivery rates (97.6%). Together with its strong road conditions, lower average annual precipitation, and low accident rates, these factors make North Dakota the best state for delivery drivers this holiday season.
  2. Minnesota — Overall score: 75.89
    Minnesota also ranks on the higher end for delivery driver wages ($50,010) and ranks fifth-lowest in annual fatal crashes involving trucks nationwide. What’s more, 97.6% of holiday packages are delivered on time, and drivers in Minnesota benefit from well-maintained roads — 91% of Minnesota’s roads are in acceptable condition.
  3. Illinois — Overall score: 71.46
    Illinois stands out for having the highest volume of delivery job listings—38 per 1,000 job ads and above-average annual wages for delivery drivers ($51,120). Illinois also has an on-time delivery rate for holiday packages above 95%, balancing high job availability with dependable delivery performance during the holiday rush.
  4. Iowa — Overall score: 71.16
    91.6% of Iowa’s road miles are rated in acceptable or better condition—well above the national average of 82.4%. The state also ranks sixth for gas stations with convenience stores, with 48.7 per 100,000 residents, making it ideal for quick delivery driver pit stops.
  5. Idaho — Overall score: 69.75
    Idaho boasts the third-highest delivery driver wage in the study at $51,730 annually, with 93.8% of its road miles rated in acceptable condition. It also delivers on reliability, maintaining an impressive 96.5% on-time holiday package rate.

Bottom 2 Worst States for Delivery Drivers

  • Louisiana — Overall score: 33.07
    Louisiana ranks last due to poor road conditions, high crash rates involving trucks, and the highest average annual precipitation (60.09 inches). While its delivery driver wage ($42,390) sits far below average, limited infrastructure support adds to difficult driving conditions during the holidays.
  • Hawaii — Overall score: 41.19
    Hawaii’s limited road network, along with the fifth-lowest number of job listings (11 per 1,000 ads), makes it challenging for drivers to find opportunities. With only 90.2% of packages delivered on time and one of the lowest acceptable road condition percentages (60.9%), it’s among the toughest states for holiday delivery drivers.

The Best & Worst States for Delivery Drivers By Category

Each state was evaluated across eight ranking factors, including driver pay and job opportunities, as well as traffic volume and weather conditions, among others. Below are the top-performing states in each category, compared against the national average.

Alaska – Highest Annual Mean Wage
Delivery drivers in Alaska earn an average of $60,900, more than $13,000 above the national average of $47,759. High wages reflect the premium placed on essential transport roles in the state’s remote regions and challenging winter driving conditions.

Illinois – Most Delivery Driver Job Opportunities
Illinois leads the country with nearly 38 delivery driver job listings per 1,000 job ads, more than twice the national average of 18.9. Dense population centers and year-round consumer demand create consistent employment opportunities for drivers.

Indiana – Best Road Conditions
Indiana maintains 97.4% of its roads in acceptable condition, compared to a national average of 82.4%. Well-maintained infrastructure enables safer, smoother deliveries, particularly in winter, when poor roads can quickly delay shipments.

Montana – Lowest Average Daily Traffic
Montana reports the lowest daily traffic volume, with fewer than 2,000 vehicles per lane on average, compared to the national average of 6,338. Low congestion and open highways make it one of the least stressful states for drivers during the holidays.

Massachusetts – Fewest Fatal Truck-Involved Crashes
Massachusetts records just 5.51 fatal truck-involved crashes per 100,000 residents, less than half the national average of 13.62. Strong traffic laws and robust infrastructure contribute to safer conditions for both commercial and personal drivers.

Minnesota & North Dakota – Best On-Time Holiday Delivery Rates
Minnesota and North Dakota tie for the nation’s top on-time delivery rate at 97.6%, outperforming the national average of 95.6%. Both states benefit from efficient logistics systems, reliable weather management, and strong infrastructure.

Nevada – Lowest Average Annual Precipitation
Nevada averages only 8.26 inches of precipitation annually, including rain, snow, and sleet. This is nearly 80% less than the U.S. average of 38.46 inches. The dry climate reduces the risk of weather-related delays and contributes to smoother travel conditions for drivers year-round.

Mississippi – Most Gas Stations with Convenience Stores
Mississippi ranks first for roadside access, offering 64.4 gas stations with convenience stores per 100,000 residents, nearly double the national average of 33.1. The state’s dense network of fueling and rest stops provides essential support for delivery drivers covering long routes, especially during peak holiday travel periods.

States with the Most & Least Reliable Holiday Package Delivery

A heatmap showing the on-time holiday package delivery rate for each U.S. state.

Using USPS quarterly service performance data, we analyzed on-time delivery rates across the country to identify which states deliver packages most reliably in Q4 during the holiday season. High on-time delivery rates during the holidays can signal smoother routes, better logistics support, and potentially fewer delays—factors that can directly impact a delivery driver’s workload and stress levels. Here are the states with the highest and lowest on-time delivery rates. 

States with the Highest On-Time Holiday Delivery Rates

  • North Dakota – 97.6% on time
  • Minnesota – 97.6% on time
  • Pennsylvania – 97.4% on time
  • Washington – 97.4% on time

States with the Lowest On-Time Holiday Delivery Rates

  • Hawaii – 90.2% on time
  • Kansas – 92.8% on time
  • Missouri – 92.8% on time
  • Louisiana – 93.2% on time

Full Data

Interested in diving deeper into the numbers for the top states, or wanting to see how your state stacks up? We’ve compiled our full data study for all 50 U.S. states into the interactive data table below. Search for the state you call home or click on the heading of each column to sort by that category!

Methodology

To determine the best and worst states for delivery drivers during the holidays, we evaluated all 50 U.S. states across eight key ranking factors reflecting driver pay, job opportunities, road infrastructure, traffic, safety, weather conditions, and more. 

The factors were weighted based on their importance and relevance to delivery drivers. Based on these weights, the individual factors were given scores from 0 to 5 and then combined to reach a total score of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for delivery drivers. Each data source provided the most recent publicly available state-level data.

Ranking factors, weights, and data sources include:

Closing Thoughts

This analysis highlights how dramatically conditions can vary for delivery drivers across the U.S.—from reliable infrastructure and favorable weather to congested roads and difficult terrain. States like North Dakota and Minnesota demonstrate how strong logistics systems, good roads, and fair pay can make a demanding job more manageable. In contrast, states with high traffic and poor road quality can quickly turn the holiday rush into a safety challenge.

As deliveries increase during the holidays, so does the risk of roadway incidents. Drivers who find themselves injured due to another party’s negligence should know their rights. Hartley Law Firm is committed to representing individuals affected by truck and car accidents and ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve.

Fair Use

You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.

Austin F. Hartley
Austin F. Hartley

Attorney

J. Seth Madden Photo
J. Seth Madden

Attorney

Go Back