Wages for American truckers rose considerably in 2021 as demand for drivers elevated competitors for expertise, in response to the outcomes of a brand new business survey launched immediately by the American Trucking Associations.
Among the many key findings on this 12 months’s survey:
- The median truckload driver earned greater than $69,000 in 2021 – an 18% enhance from the earlier survey in 2019.
- Greater than 90% of truckload fleets raised pay in 2021, with the typical enhance hitting 10.9%.
- Ninety-six p.c of fleets supplied referral bonuses for brand spanking new drivers, and 54% supplied sign-on bonuses.
- Each less-than-truckload fleet surveyed raised pay in 2021, with the median wage hitting $73,000.
- Much less-than-truckload drivers who hauled freight over the highway had been paid an estimated median quantity of $73,000 in 2021.
- Much less-than-truckload worker drivers on native routes had been paid an estimated median quantity of $55,000 final 12 months.
- The median wage for a driver at a personal fleet was $85,000.
- Non-drayage owner-operators that responded to the survey noticed estimated median gross revenues of $235,000 in 2021. Proprietor-operators within the drayage sector noticed median gross revenues of $164,000.
- Drivers making ultimate mile deliveries for truckload carriers earned a median of $65,000.
“The info helps what business sources have been saying for a while – the motive force scarcity has been nice for drivers who noticed their salaries rise final 12 months,” stated ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Pay will increase had been broad-based throughout the business, for instance between wage will increase and bonuses, the typical truckload driver noticed a wage enhance of 10.9% final 12 months.”
Throughout a name with members of the media immediately, Costello stated half of the carriers indicated they might elevate pay this 12 months.
“The motive force scarcity, coupled with elevated demand for items within the post-pandemic financial system, actually drove driver salaries. These pay will increase ought to put to lie the myths in regards to the nature of this job – trucking is a path that may present a well-paid profession for Individuals searching for one.”
Additionally throughout his name with reporters, Costello stated that one of many advantages of trucking employment is that it “is a path to the center class.” He additionally stated that truck driving is likely one of the few occupations the place compensation is surpassing the speed of inflation.
The survey information included data from 185 fleets with over 135,000 worker drivers and almost 20,000 impartial contractors.
