According to a survey whose results were published this past week, driver wages have been increasing in the past few years about 50% faster than pay for the average American worker.
The Driver Compensation Study conducted and published by the American Trucking Associations surveyed over 97,000 company drivers and over 7,000 independent contractors. Those drivers all worked for one of 85 fleets.
Pay rates from 2017 were compared with data from 2013, the last time the ATA conducted a similar study. Median salary for a truckload driver in the U.S. increased about 15% to $53,000 from 2013 to 2017. During that same period, pay for independent contractors rose almost 18% to over $86,000. Median pay for the average American worker rose 10% during that same period according to a report by Bloomberg.
“Fleets are reacting to concerns about the driver shortage by raising pay and working to make the job more attractive,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “I expect that trend to continue as demand for trucking services increases as our economy grows.”
Source: atabusinesssolutions, truckinginfo, ttnews, bloomberg
Jax says
Pay is going up? Why are my checks getting smaller?
Robert says
You are working for the wrong company buddy. Go out and get that 50-55cpm. It’s out there
RenoBlues says
Hell I’ve seen people advertising all the way up to 62 cents a mile.
Russ says
I offer .55 cpm to start for Dry Van. And if rates go up i will increase pay. My 3 driver make 1500 to 2000$ week. And its still hard to find a good driver. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place.
Randy Touchet says
I been driving for 30 hrs and seen drivers today is bad
John Porter says
They are paying the drivers less so they can afford self driving trucks at which point you will get their generous “don’t let the door hit you” retirement plan.
F D. Trump says
Considering JB Hunt went to 45 cents a mile back in the 90’s. That 53K confirms this industry hasn’t received a pay increase in over 20 years. Generation X has been working around the clock for 30 years now. You better start paying to get some new professionals or join uber in paying some lawsuits. We are tired.
24×7= 168 hours x 50 weeks a year = 8,400 hours responsible for equipment.
$53,000/8400 = $6.30 an hour. Last time I checked that was far below minimum wage and trust me when I say you give up everything including many of your constitutional rights.
Bobbie says
Try Veneasuala i heard they are working for the people there not for the greedy capitalists !!!
Mark says
🤣🤣🤣
Mark says
Where do you get 24?
Last I heard we could only drive 11…
Steven says
I run 14k+ a month on elog if you have old trucks and paper I can do 16k+ I’m based out of north east pa so have no problems with east coast freight. 1 and a half years experience driven in every state but Maine. Have a few tickets from rushing around in personal vehicles in my time off so
It’s really just an insurance thing. If you can get me on your insurance I’m your guy I love to drive 36 single no kids no obligations for home time I don’t really need it
Kris says
I don’t trust any study any more. Got 5c up rate and fuel and assurance went up too. Mast be fake news.
RT says
That 60 cent mileage pay has some strings attached to it..up to 60 cent..the catch
Randy Gould says
Where is this .50-.55? Please tell me.
Russ says
Here. I pay .55 cpm all miles
Juls says
Russ where’s here?
Location?
Russ says
I am out of IL Midwest runs, dry van. My drivers take truck home if they out of state.
Erika says
Do you have team drives
Darko says
You can’t compare American workers and drivers. Our work week is not 40 hrs or 70 some might think. If you are OTR driver your work week is 168hrs because you are not home. Some of you spend whole month on the road. As a company driver, 7 days on the road if you bring home $1250, that means you made $7.45 per hr. Average American worker gets paid more if they do field work far from home. If they need to stay in motels for days or weeks far from their families they get paid for it a lot, and especially if they have work related stress. What driver gets for it? So don’t you dare comparing drivers with anyone else!
We Drivers are all under constant stress. And I am not talking about personal problems or economy, weather etc. Talking about your senses, reflexes that has to be very sharp constantly and they are. We are not even aware of it. The state of being aware of oneself and one’s surroundings, without hindrance from sleep, illness, drugs, or hypnotism. This awareness is not purely of external events or phenomena, but also of one’s own feelings, beliefs, and mental events.
Such introspective self-awareness, as opposed to merely responding to external stimuli, is generally taken to be a prerequisite for consciousness. This sidesteps the question of animal consciousness, which is largely believed to be very different or even nonexistent. Sigmund Freud once said consciousness differs from unconsciousness in that it recognizes distinctions of space and time and is consistent. The unconscious frequently switches the meaning of symbols or events, as in dreams, and regularly accepts contradictions. That’s what you get after yrs of driving 7, 8 or 11 hrs straight (know it from personal experience, did it for yrs). Later on even when you sleep in your truck your body is under stress.
Lisa says
I disagree, I love what I do. It probably just wasn’t right for you, – we’re not all the same.
Jay Lamothe says
Well said
Totally agree
John says
Absolutely correct. You can’t compare driver pay to any thing else. After 3 weeks on the road, my wife says it takes me 24 hours to unwind and calm down. Constant stress from everything around you is not good. And the compensation we get for it has been lagging for decades. 50% increase? That would mean I should be making at least 75 cents a mile as a company driver. And independent drivers should be getting $3.50 per mile. But wait….the distances have decreased between cities. So we still get the same pay anyway.
J says
Anytime the pay go up ur bills go up so ur not getting a raise that’s how I look at it.
RT says
Remember this year you lose the cost for meals on your taxes..can’t claim it no more..O/O perators can not company drivers..
Amardeep maan says
I am an owner operator let me know when this pay increase happens.
Kevin Ellenburg says
It’s all B S! We get worked to death just so we can eat dog food when we get old, and can’t drive no more. I hope this industry burns to the ground.
Bobbie says
Our lives suck here in America due to greedy capitalists steeling everything from the workers !!! They are spreading the wealth around in Veneasuala thanks to the socialism !! We can drive our trucks there brothers and live like the kings we should be , who is with me ???
Mark says
🤣🤣🤣
Rodney Huhn says
Move to veneasuala
Anthony Suarez says
I do not see the increase. I see a decrease in pay. I work as a driver for a large store we all shop at. The pay has dropped and still dropping.
Lisa says
I’m an o/o and I’ve seen a huge rate increase. Across the board brokers and carriers have used the ELD mandate as a jumping off point to raise rates. I have company driver friends who are on track to make $65k-80k+ this year. Keep in mind though that we’ve all stuck with it for twenty or more years.
I don’t consider the time I spend off duty/sleeper as work, and those of you that seem to think you should be paid during those hours because you’re not at home are on crack. You know what you signed up for, no one forced you to take a job trucking. Being an otr driver isn’t for everyone, but for those that enjoy it, it’s an incredibly fulfilling way of life.
I hike, collect rocks, and photograph wildflowers- all in areas I can access from my rig. I keep thinking I should start fishing too but I’ve got plenty enough to keep me occupied during my breaks as it is.
I can’t even imagine the drudgery of a 9-5 desk job!
Mark says
You got the right attitude Lisa. 👍
Phil A says
Stockholm Syndrome.
Sheriff John says
Good point. The best $$$ is pulling oversize and overweight loads. My income as an o/o increased 38% in year. Folks working for large companies are not making the money they could. If a company is taking more than 11% of the load, they are getting screwed. When an o/o is averaging $600-$900 a day (based on time out and gross pay), life is good on the the road.
Gary says
I’m with you Lisa… I am an owner operator pick my own loads go wherever I want and go home when I want… And I run an ELD…i have a brand new truck and a great life…I know what I signed up for …I like being free on the road just wish there wasn’t so many cars ….. but it is what it is… If you don’t make enough money and you complain about it…easy …go find a better job …
Zavetta Taylor says
If u don’t believe u should b compensated for time away from home, u probably don’t have a home life. Every other profession pays for meals, lodging and time spent on work related travel. This is a job. Not a lifestyle and referring to it as such keeps wages low. I monetize every second I’m at work and can’t compete with drivers who believe their time is worth so little.
Phil A says
Stockholm Syndrome.
Charli says
Zavetta! Exactly!!!
Robert Allard says
You people are fortunate to reach 50 to 55 cpm us here in Canada it is good if you get 50cpm canadian currency and going to your country with the exchange a canadian driver gets about 30 cpm us. No aking money for the Canucks.
Andrew H says
Yeah and that’ll go away when public highway tolling starts, or they keep increasing fuel taxes. Any “increase” in driver pay will always be nickel and dimed out of us somewhere.
I pay 1/4 of my weekly pay to federal, state and FICA taxes.
William france says
I have been retired for over 3 years my cell is on hold .I was planning to renew it in a few months .but I will be 77 in October I am in great shape and would to run regional or relay loads.
Sheriff John says
Im puzzled? Did some of you buy into your recruiters lies, or are you gullible? Most of us entered this profession for one reason or another. When a potential employee signs on to be an OTR driver, that employee is told there is no pay for 34 restarts or sleeping in your truck. We are in a unique industry that requires unique people. But, unfortunately this industry has been forced to put any moron in the driver’s seat who cant bend over and tie their velcro shoes (fill in the blank) or dresses like a ghetto smurf!
Milton Johnston says
Russ, what kind of equipment? I’ve got 40 years experience, no accidents, no tickets, where do I find out more? Plus what is insurance like? Seen this before, insurance was worthless, but pay was good.
Charli says
I get 65
Kelly says
Drivers do need to reevaluate and value their time more. The world is changed. Why don’t we??? Oh that’s right! Then master will make less!!! Stockholm Sydrome indeed!!
Danimal says
Hay all, I have been driving trucks since I was 18 straight with trailers ,got a B LICENSE when the government changed the rules held that spotless for 27 years got an A hazmat tanker can’t get in a door unless it’s corporate America ,western express, averitt any suggestions ??? Comments ???thanks