ARLINGTON, VA – A new survey reveals that U.S. fleets are opening their wallets in a bid to find and keep new truck drivers.  

The survey, by the American Trucking Associations, showed that in seven of the nine categories, U.S. truck drivers meet or exceed America’s median household income of just over $53,000 per year.

Median pay for drivers ranged from just over $46,000 for national, irregular route dry van truckload drivers to more than $73,000 for private fleet van drivers.

“The data in our Driver Compensation Study, which covered 130 fleets and more than 130,000 drivers, shows that now more than ever, trucking is an excellent career path,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “Fleets are raising pay and offering generous benefit packages in order to attract and keep their drivers in the face of a growing driver shortage.”

Among the study’s other key findings:

* While mileage-based pay was a common method, three out of four fleets used multiple methods to pay drivers including the most frequent approach, paying some drivers by the mile and some by the hour.

* Nearly 80% of truckload fleets offered drivers paid holidays.

* 80% of private carriers not only offer a registered retirement plan, but match employee contributions.

“As the economy grows, we are seeing an ever more competitive driver market,” Costello said. “The data in this report will be critical for fleets looking to recruit and retain the best drivers.”