Truck driver pay continued to rise through the freight downturn, even as motor carriers dealt with weaker demand, lower freight rates and higher operating expenses. According to a new study from the American Trucking Associations (ATA), compensation increased across several major trucking segments in 2025, and most surveyed carriers planned additional raises for 2026.
The findings came from ATA’s 2026 Driver Compensation Study, which collected information from more than 130 fleets representing over 140,000 employee drivers and 9,000 independent contractors. The report examined earnings across truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), private fleets and specialized operations, along with detention pay, bonuses and benefits.
The increases were especially notable given the conditions carriers had been operating under. While the prolonged freight slowdown affected revenue and operating margins, the study found that many fleets continued increasing compensation for their existing workforce.
Dry Van Truckload Pay Rose More Than 8%
Among the largest increases reported was compensation for dry van irregular-route employee drivers at for-hire truckload carriers. Median annual earnings reached $73,639 in 2025, an 8.3% increase from the comparable figure in 2023.
Dedicated-route drivers at those carriers also earned more, with median compensation increasing 4.2% over the same period. Their earnings remained higher than those of irregular-route drivers, although ATA did not provide a specific dedicated-route median in its published summary.
Both increases covered the two years between the study’s compensation benchmarks, rather than representing raises received during 2025 alone. That distinction matters because the figures describe how pay changed across the surveyed fleets, not the percentage increase an individual employee necessarily received.
The results also showed that compensation continued moving upward in truckload operations despite the difficult freight market. However, the size of the increase depended on the type of position, with irregular-route and dedicated operations reporting different rates of growth.
LTL and Private Fleets Showed Different Pay Levels
Outside for-hire truckload operations, ATA reported median annual compensation of $85,000 for LTL linehaul drivers and $72,942 for local LTL drivers.
Private fleets also remained an important part of the compensation picture. Dry van dedicated-route employees at private carriers earned a median of more than $75,000 annually, while tank truck and refrigerated operations reported higher earnings.
The figures reflected the range of compensation available across the industry, but they were not direct comparisons of identical jobs. Linehaul and local LTL positions have different operating patterns, while private fleets and for-hire carriers may structure their schedules and compensation differently.
Location added another layer to the findings. Among the seven regions examined for dry van drivers at for-hire truckload carriers, the Northeast reported the highest median annual compensation at just over $78,000, excluding benefits.
That regional figure was specific to the operation examined in the study and did not establish that the Northeast was the highest-paying region for every type of trucking job.
Independent Contractor Earnings Require a Different Comparison
The study also reported median gross annual compensation exceeding $170,000 for independent contractors leased to truckload carriers. Those leased to private fleets received more than $200,000.
While substantially higher than the employee compensation figures, these amounts represented gross compensation rather than income remaining after business expenses. Independent contractors may be responsible for costs associated with equipment, fuel, maintenance, insurance and other aspects of operating their businesses.
For that reason, the figures describe a different compensation arrangement and should not be treated as equivalent to employee wages. The report included both categories to provide a broader view of trucking compensation, but their financial responsibilities differ considerably.
Detention Pay and Hiring Bonuses Moved in Different Directions
ATA’s findings extended beyond annual compensation to the additional payments carriers offered.
Among surveyed for-hire truckload fleets, 74% reported compensating drivers for excessive detention time. The finding was particularly relevant to operations where extended waits at shipping and receiving facilities can reduce the time available to complete other work.
Signing bonuses, meanwhile, became smaller. The median bonus declined by $500 to $2,000, with ATA pointing to a less competitive driver labor market during the freight slowdown.
That difference was one of the more revealing findings in the report. Although carriers continued raising regular compensation, they were not necessarily increasing the incentives offered to attract new employees. The data suggested that the conditions influencing hiring bonuses were different from those affecting ongoing pay.
For truckers evaluating compensation, the study also highlighted the distinction between annual earnings, recurring additional payments and one-time incentives. Each contributes differently to the total amount a position may pay.
More Carriers Expected to Raise Pay in 2026
The study found that a majority of participating fleets planned additional compensation increases in 2026, despite the challenging market conditions reflected in the previous year’s data.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello attributed the continued growth in part to carriers’ efforts to retain experienced, safety-conscious employees during the downturn. He also indicated that improving freight conditions and changes in trucking capacity could affect competition for qualified professionals as the market recovered.
Those planned increases were not guarantees of future raises across the industry, and the survey did not suggest that every trucker had experienced higher earnings. Its findings reflected compensation reported by participating carriers, with differences across freight types, operating models and regions.
Still, the results documented an important development during a difficult period for trucking. While freight demand and carrier revenue faced sustained pressure, compensation continued increasing in several major segments, and many fleets entered 2026 expecting to raise pay again.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Source: Truckers News
