Comprehensive Guide: How Truck Drivers Get Paid in 2024

Truck driving is a rapidly growing profession, and the demand for truck drivers is increasing daily. 

The US alone is a $700 billion trucking industry that moves over 10.8 billion tons of freight and provides employment to around 7.4 million people. Trucks move about 70% of all goods transported in the USA.

Therefore, stepping into the trucking industry can help you draw many financial benefits. But, ever wondered how do truck drivers get paid? Are there any bonuses involved? 

So, with no delay, let’s clear all your queries and doubts in this article.

Understanding the Different Types of Truck Driver Pay

To start a small or medium trucking and logistics business, it becomes crucial to understand the different truck drivers’ pay.

Here are the most commonly used pay models for truckers:

1. Hourly pay

The hourly pay model is generally implemented in the cases of intrastate delivery, where the distance between the pickup location and drop location is ‌less than 150 miles. 

You may have to take part in some tasks, like loading and unloading freight and interacting with customers. Also, you have to make stops along the way. 

Sometimes you have to start without a fully loaded truck. Performing these extra tasks can assist the drivers in earning more money and incentives. 

Mostly the grocery chains and local retailers use the hourly based pay structure. An independent delivery contractor must put in more effort and extra time to increase your hourly payout. 

But if you are an owner-operator or run a logistics company, it becomes crucial to analyze the route plan efficiently. Paying hourly pay to your delivery drivers can increase the operational cost if the routes are inefficient.

2. Per mile pay

This is the most commonly used model in the trucking industry and also goes by the term CPM, cents per mile. As stated clearly by the name, a driver gets paid for the miles they drive. The per mile rate differs for various companies and the type of goods. 

There are certain ways by which a company calculates the mileage pay.

Household goods (HHG) mileage 

This payment method is also known as ZIP code miles or short miles. The main post offices of the two locations are identified, and the shortest distance between the two ZIP codes is calculated.

Practical mileage 

The distance here is calculated using the truck’s electronic logging device or ELD. The route between the two locations is calculated and shown to the driver on the ELD. This device will log the miles that you travel. 

Hub mileage

It is the actual mileage that the truck will haul freight. The truck’s odometer is noted when the journey is about to begin and is checked again when the truck reaches its destination. The difference is calculated, and you get paid for the miles driven.  

3. Fixed salary 

Followed by very few, the fixed salary payment method is seen very less in the trucking industry. As the name suggests, being a driver, you will get a salary irrespective of the mileage, hours, or load you haul. Throughout your contract period, you will be paid the same amount only. 

Fixed salary jobs are very few in the trucking industry, which benefits the owner and drivers. 

4. Percentage of the load 

This is one of the most used methods in the industry as it comes in handy while hauling valuable goods or in medium-to-short range deliveries.

Owner-operators most commonly use this method, as they can come across certain shipments which will require more resources than what is available to the owner. 

Instead of hiring new drivers, owners employ freelance drivers or owners and split the profit in an agreed-upon percentage.

5. Team driver pay   

This truck driver pay model will have two drivers in place of one. Team rates are substantially higher than the solo driver paid, but the rate is divided between the truck drivers. 

The ratio at which the salary is split among drivers is up to the team drivers. Many drivers believe they make more money through this model and are happier sharing the journey with someone. Most drivers prefer working in a team. 

The model is generally used for long-range deliveries. A team of two drivers can cover more miles, and that too faster. This is profitable for both drivers and owners.    

Now, let’s jump on to our next topic to know how drivers get paid. 

Multiple Ways Truck Drivers Can Earn Income

It’s important to note, however, that truck drivers are typically not paid an annual salary or hourly wage, as with many other careers. Company drivers are paid on a cents per mile basis.

Having understood the different pay payment models, the next question that demands attention is:

What are the multiple ways and types of payment a truck driver receives? Have a look.

1. Per diem pay 

It is a non-taxable allowance paid to the driver. It includes the expenses for hotels, meals, and other expenses a driver may incur on the road. 

If the company pays the per diem expenses, it will come up in the paycheck only, and the IRS will not assess it for taxes. 

If there’s a rare case where the company is not paying for per diem charges and all of it is included in your base pay, then a driver can take up to a $59 per day deduction while filing for taxes.

2. Stop pay  

If you, being a delivery driver, must make multiple stops along the way, you may be eligible for stop pay. 

All the delivery-related stops you make apart from loading and delivery make you eligible for stop pay. It is of huge importance to drivers since any time not spent on the road will lead to less income. Stop pay is a great source for some additional pay.

Multiple companies use intelligent route planning tools to help them reduce costs by planning the stops to reduce time, cut distance, and be well divided among the drivers. 

So if you run a logistics business or operate your truck, ensure you use an intelligent, reliable, and fast tool for route and stop planning.

3. Detention pay

It is much like stop pay, but drivers get extra pay when a driver is stuck on a layover or detention. 

Stop pay covers multiple stops, but detention pay is awarded to the driver when any unnecessary delay happens because of loading, unloading, or other instances where the driver is not responsible.

4. Fuel and safety bonuses 

It is not hidden from anyone that trucks require a ton of fuel to work. Multiple companies provide a bonus to drivers for maintaining good mileage. 

It reduces the company’s operating cost, and drivers are often awarded a bonus.

Safety is a major concern for trucking companies. A truck accident, including an injured person, can result in an average cost of $148,279; if a fatality is caused, it can shoot up to $7 million. So it is not unusual for companies to pay safety bonuses to drivers for safe driving.

5. Accessorial pay

A great way truckers can make more money is by making a bonus by fulfilling certain other activities. It is also called driver activity pay. A few examples are mentioned below.

• Undock deliveries
• Paying for tolls or border crossings
• Loading and unloading trailers
• Handling and operating a forklift
• Shrink wrapping pallets

These bonuses are awarded to the drivers working with cents per mile or percentage of load models only. Company drivers and hourly workers are usually not compensated for such activities. 

Being an independent delivery driver or a business owner, you must ensure an efficient delivery process to increase your profits or income. 

Integrate a professional route planner like Upper to avoid inefficiencies and streamline your route planning process. 

The software can deliver optimized delivery routes, minimizing operational costs and increasing productivity and earnings.

Average Truck Driver Salaries and Earnings

The average truck driver’s salary in the United States is approximately $60,326 per year. However, it’s important to note that truck driver salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, education, and experience. Salaries typically range between $40,000 and $90,000 yearly, with some experienced drivers earning even more.

If you prefer to look at earnings on an hourly basis, the average hourly rate for truck drivers is around $29.0 per hour. Your specific salary as a truck driver may also be influenced by the type of trucking you’re involved in, such as long-haul trucking, local routes, or specialized transport.

It’s important to note that truck drivers are typically not paid an annual salary or hourly wage, as with many other careers. Company drivers are paid on a cents per mile basis. Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week.

In summary, while the average truck driver’s salary provides a good benchmark, it’s essential to consider the various factors that can impact your earnings and tailor your career path to best meet your financial goals. Exploring opportunities in the tow truck business could also offer different avenues for income and career growth in the trucking industry.

Maximizing Your Truck Driving Income

Route planning is tedious; it takes hours to develop a perfect plan. The task gets more complex if you have to make stops or deliveries along the way. 

At Upper, we understand your pain that may not exist with a centralized routing platform to reduce your work and stress. Upper will help you create an optimized route that will save time, fuel, and other resources.

By doing so, our robust truck route scheduling software gives you the time and freedom to make more deliveries. Planning routes are not all we do. You can use all the features mentioned below to streamline your business.

Try out the free trial and experience the transformation in your delivery earnings.

Takeaways

The trucking industry is growing at a stable pace. It is a bridge that connects consumers and products. It is a market segment that has been experiencing growth for decades and is expected to grow further. 

If you want to become a part of this ever-expanding sector, this might be the right time to dive in. 

The aforementioned factors will help you get more insights into truck driver’s salary or trucking company income. But, when it comes to driver’s performance, Upper could be your go-to tool in analyzing your team’s daily performance.

Access a free trial and know handy route planning features offered by Upper.