Driver Pay Rose 15% in 3 Years, Study Shows
The typical truck driver earned an average of $40,883 in salary in 2000 — up more than $5,400, or 15.3%, from three years ago — according to a study released last week by American Trucking Associations. In addition to salary, the typical driver was also eligible for three bonuses and a menu of fringe benefits.The association’s 2000 Driver Compensation Study shows how 316 of the nation’s trucking companies paid their drivers and owner-operators, and struggled to keep their tractors seated and rolling. The last such survey in 1997 found the typical driver earned an average of $35,456 a year.
Based on information from the W-2 forms reported by the companies to the Internal Revenue Service, the median salary for a driver last year was $39,648 — that means half made more than that, the other half less.
The top 25% of drivers made $47,000 a year or more; and at the low end of the scale, the least well-paid quarter of drivers made $35,000 a year or less. These results applied to company drivers among all carriers surveyed.
6733
