Do truck drivers get paid by the hour or mile or both?

Question

I read that the average hourly salary for a new Truck Driver Heavy is $14 per hour and they average 50-60 hours a week.

Would you agree with that statement for a new truck driver?

I also read you don't get overtime for the hours above 44.

Is this true?

Do truck drivers get paid by the mile also?

Thanks,

Dan

Answer 1

They get paid by the mile. like 20 cents a mile, they work 70 hours a week, you work 14 hours a day and there is no overtime, you don't get paid for waiting to get loaded or unloaded until 2 hours after you get to the stop, then its like $10 an hour. You can make more money with a regular $10 an hour  job doing overtime and you will get home every night and eat regular food and get to shower everyday and not die of stress.

Answer 2

The starting wage for a truck driver varies.

If you are driving a straight truck, you will earn less than if you were to drive a tractor trailer.

It also depends on the company, and what you are hauling.

Typical starting wages are between $13 - 16 per hour... if you are working locally, and being paid by the hour.

Local drivers are usually paid by the hour.  Regional or line haul drivers are often paid by the load.  Some local 'peddle' runs are often paid by the load as well.  

Pay by mile is usually reserved for drivers that are OTR.  

It is extremely rare to find a trucking company that pays OT unless it is a union operation.  The government has different 'rules' for trucking companies, and the employers take full use of these.  Overtime is practically non-existant... and there is no law stating that they need to pay it... yet if you work in just about any other profession... it is law.  Sucks.  

Usually OTR drivers that are paid by the mile only get hourly pay if they are delayed more than 2 hours at the border, at a shipper, or at a delivery.  After 2 hours they would start earning the same hourly rate as the local drivers, but you need clear documentation regarding your delay to get paid for it.  So, some companies provide a stamp that needs to be put on the paperwork and signed by the shipper/receiver... and the company will then try to charge the delay back to them.  Border delays are usually documented by your truck's GPS and satellite messages between yourself and dispatch.

Answer 3

My husband used to be an otr driver for cummins tools. He made 34 cents per mile. No hourly pay. money was awesome!!! 2,000 to 3,000 per week. but he was not home very much. maybe 3 or 4 days a month.

Answer 4

They do get paid by mile, In some cases depending on who they are working for they can get paid for extras i.e. deliveries. But they most definitely get paid by mile.

Answer 5

local truck drivers who don't leave a small area are paid by the hour.  Over the road truck drivers(state to state) are paid by the mile.

Answer 6

I think its by load.

Like every delivery they make and such.