Truck driver pay isn’t keeping pace with other career fields or inflation, with a $3,500 gap in wage growth, according to a recent report by FinditParts.
The report, which aimed to understand truck driver job satisfaction, analyzed data between 2019 and 2023 from various third-party sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Trucking Associations, American Transportation Research Institute, and industry analytics reports from DriveMyWay and Conversion Interactive Agency and PDA.
BLS data indicates that from 2019 to 2023, the average truck driver’s annual earnings rose $46,850 to $55,990. However, despite wage growth in the trucking sector, average earnings across all occupations increased even more significantly from $53,490 to $65,470, which is nearly a $3,500 difference in annual growth.
“This widening gap demands attention from fleets and service centers alike,” the report noted. “Compensation must be competitive to attract and retain talent, and the numbers clearly show drivers are falling behind.”
It also noted that nearly 46% of Americans say they would consider a career in trucking if the pay were higher, suggesting an opportunity the industry could easily tap into with more competitive compensation packages.
Drivers are leaving for predictable pay and schedules
The report highlighted that driver dissatisfaction has turned into turnover, with four in 10 truckers actively seeking new employment with a different fleet.
The top reasons drivers are considering a change are predictable pay (81.9%), more time at home (65.7%), and consistent miles (49.1%). Truckers want reliability in their income and schedules.
Another factor is stress of the job, which includes long hours, heavy traffic, tight delivery windows, and limited flexibility. The report suggested addressing stress and improving work-life balance to offer a more fulfilling career path.
Despite challenges, 51% of drivers remain optimistic about the industry’s future.
“This suggests that drivers will stay in the industry if conditions improve,” the report noted.
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Older and female drivers happier behind the wheel
A surprising trend revealed that job satisfaction rises with experience in trucking. Drivers with eight or more years under their belts experience a 60% satisfaction rate, which is significantly higher than the 44% seen among those with just one to two years on the job. In fact, 76% of newer drivers are already looking for a new employer.
Female drivers also report slightly higher job satisfaction than their male counterparts (53% vs. 51%). The report indicated that one explanation may be that women are more selective in choosing companies with reputations of fair treatment and balanced workloads, which could contribute to better experiences on the job.
Stressors impacting job satisfaction
While a majority (51%) say they’re happy in their jobs, the report noted that the industry still ranks among the bottom 10% for overall job satisfaction.
The contradiction suggests that while some drivers find contentment despite the challenges, many are still struggling with issues such as pay stagnation, high stress, lack of parking, and fuel cost volatility, among other issues that ATRI highlights in its findings.
