Newsletter Archive

Find out how much drivers are being paid

Plus: Major border drug bust | Small fleet challenges

Drivers saw a major pay bump last year — find out how much and whether your earnings match up. Meanwhile, a huge drug bust at the southern border is a wake-up call for supply chain security. -Bianca Prieto, editor

Today's Lineup
🔷 A 480-driver trucking company suddenly stops operations.
🔷 Keeping drivers cool in 90-degree heat.
🔷 The challenge of being a small fleet.
🔷 Are private fleets taking market share?
🔷 Werner's $100M legal battle.
-written by Shefali Kapadia

⬇️$3.56 per gallon

AVG. COST OF DIESEL AS OF 09/09. Down 7¢ from last week.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

INSIDE LOOK

Driver pay rollercoaster, new report says wages up

There’s a bright spot among the doom and gloom of a lingering freight recession and low trucking rates: Drivers are actually earning more money.

The American Trucking Associations just came out with its latest driver compensation study. TL drivers earned a median of $76,420 last year. That’s a 10% increase over the last two years. Meanwhile, leased-on independent contractors for truckload carriers earned a median of $186,016 in 2023.

Why this matters: Driver pay hasn’t followed the same pattern as trucking rates. Fleets realize how critical it is to recruit and retain drivers, and they’re paying up to show the importance of a strong workforce. Get more details from The American Trucking Associations.

FAST LANE

NEWS

Small fleets: balancing safety and profits

Small fleets have to navigate many of the same challenges and regulations as large fleets, but with tighter budgets and fewer resources. Everything from nuclear verdicts affecting insurance rates to regulations mandating ELDS and EVs can put the pressure on small fleets.

One expert’s advice: Focus on safety programs, embrace AI, and get involved in industry associations.

Why this matters: Small fleets can’t risk a dent on their safety record or reputation, so they often have to work even harder to keep operations smooth and safe. (WorkTruck Online)

Private fleets ship record freight

Fleets owned by shippers transported 75% of the companies' outbound freight, up from 70% last year. For years, that figure was just 67%. During the 2017-2018 freight boom and the pandemic, it was tough to source capacity, so many manufacturers invested in their own fleets.

Why this matters: More shippers using in-house operations to transport freight could mean fewer available loads for carriers and owner-operators. (Transport Topics)

Texas Supreme Court to hear $100M Werner appeal

The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to hear Werner Enterprises’ appeal related to a hefty nuclear verdict, totaling more than $100 million. The case dates back 10 years, when a Werner driver slid across a median in poor weather conditions, resulting in a fatal car crash.

Why this matters: The result of Werner’s case could set a precedent for how judges ultimately rule on nuclear verdicts. That, in turn, could impact insurance costs for fleets, large and small. (Land Line)