How truck driver pay is calculated
Mileage pay = pay per mile × paid miles Weekly pay = mileage pay + stop pay + detention + layover + bonuses Yearly pay = weekly pay × weeks worked Hourly pay = weekly pay ÷ hours worked
Example: 62¢ a mile on 2,400 paid miles is $1,488. Two extra stops at $25, two hours of detention at $20 and a $50 bonus bring the week to $1,628, about $78,000 over 48 weeks. Over a 60-hour week that is about $27 an hour.
Compare job offers the right way
- Miles, not just the rate. 58¢ on 2,800 miles ($1,624) beats 65¢ on 2,300 miles ($1,495).
- Practical vs HHG miles. Practical miles follow the real route. Household goods (HHG) miles are shorter, so the same CPM pays less for the same trip.
- Paid extras. Ask when detention starts (often after two hours), what layovers pay, and whether extra stops and breakdowns are paid.
- Home time. Fewer weeks worked lowers yearly pay. Use your real number.
Other ways drivers are paid
Percentage pay: a share of the load revenue, often 20–30% for company drivers. It rises and falls with freight rates. Hourly pay: common for local and regional jobs. Salary: a fixed weekly amount, often for dedicated routes. Owner-operators leased to a carrier are usually paid a larger percentage of the load or a higher rate per mile, but they pay the truck costs. Use the owner-operator income calculator for that.
Common questions
How is truck driver pay per mile calculated?
Multiply the cents-per-mile rate by the paid miles for the week. Add any stop pay, detention, layover pay and bonuses for total weekly pay.
What is layover pay in trucking?
Pay for a day when a driver is held away from home without driving, for example when a load isn't ready. Many carriers pay about $50 to $150 a day for company drivers; owner-operators usually bill more.
How much does a truck driver make a year at 60 cents a mile?
At 2,500 paid miles a week for 48 weeks, 60 cents a mile is $72,000 a year before extras and taxes. At 2,000 miles a week it is $57,600.