Driver pay rose 2.5% in 2025, lagging inflation for second year

What did truck drivers earn per mile in 2025?

Driver wages across truckload, specialized, and LTL averaged $0.818 per mile in 2025, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). Benefits added another $0.210 per mile. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) 2024 Driver Compensation Study put median annual pay at $76,420. Adjusting for the 2.5% wage increase in 2025 brings that figure to approximately $78,330.

The 2.5% wage increase lagged general inflation for the second consecutive year. Real purchasing power for drivers continued to erode despite nominal pay gains.

Specialized fleets pay more, face lower turnover

Specialized fleets paid drivers slightly more per mile than truckload carriers and experienced lower turnover rates. ATRI found that the largest truckload fleets, which faced the highest turnover rates, also paid the most within the truckload segment at $1.007 per mile.

The inverse relationship between fleet size and turnover in truckload suggests that higher pay alone does not solve retention problems. Large truckload carriers paying top-of-segment wages still lost drivers at higher rates than specialized operations.

2026 pay increases accelerate

Several major carriers announced driver pay increases in 2026, including Werner, J.B. Hunt, and Schneider National. The increases coincide with a dramatic rise in for-hire rates this year, giving carriers margin to fund higher wages.

Small fleets competing for drivers in 2026 face a tighter labor market. When large carriers raise pay, owner-operators and small fleets must match or lose drivers. The 2026 rate environment provides some cushion, but fleets running on thin margins in prior years may struggle to keep pace.

What small fleets need to know about driver pay benchmarks

The $0.818 per-mile average and $78,330 median annual pay are useful benchmarks for small fleets setting driver compensation. Fleets paying below these levels risk higher turnover. Fleets in specialized niches may need to pay above the average to match segment norms.

Benefits spending at $0.210 per mile represents a significant cost beyond wages. Small fleets should budget total driver compensation at approximately $1.028 per mile when planning rates and margins. Fleets that underprice benefits or fail to communicate their value to drivers lose recruiting leverage against competitors.

The 2.5% wage growth in 2025 sets a floor for 2026 negotiations. Drivers who saw real pay decline in 2024 and 2025 will expect catch-up increases in 2026, especially as fleets raise pay and sign-on bonuses as capacity tightens. Small fleets that froze pay in 2024-2025 should prepare for driver requests above the 2.5% baseline.

Compliance angle: no FMCSA wage floor, but CSA and retention intersect

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not set minimum driver wages. Driver pay is a market issue, not a regulatory one. However, low pay correlates with high turnover, and high turnover correlates with weaker safety outcomes and higher CSA scores.

Fleets with turnover above 90% annually face constant new-driver onboarding. New drivers have higher crash rates in their first 90 days. Fleets that cycle through drivers quickly accumulate more crashes, inspections with violations, and CSA points. Paying below-market wages to save costs can raise insurance premiums and trigger FMCSA interventions if safety scores deteriorate.

Small fleets should track turnover alongside CSA percentiles. If your Crash Indicator or Unsafe Driving BASIC percentile rises while turnover exceeds 80%, the two problems are likely connected. Raising driver pay to reduce turnover may lower long-term compliance costs more than it raises short-term labor costs.

What to budget for driver compensation in 2026

Use $0.818 per mile for wages and $0.210 per mile for benefits as baseline planning figures. Add 3-5% for 2026 to stay competitive with large-carrier pay increases. Total driver compensation should land near $1.06 to $1.08 per mile for a small truckload fleet.

Specialized fleets should budget higher. If your niche requires tanker endorsements, hazmat certification, or regional expertise, expect to pay 5-10% above the truckload average to attract and retain qualified drivers.

Fleets that cannot afford $1.06 per mile in total driver compensation need to re-evaluate their rate structure. Running below-market driver pay to preserve margin will cost more in turnover, recruiting, training, and CSA points than the wage savings deliver.