Can a Truck Driver Be a Salaried Employee?
Professional truck drivers enable commerce to move nationally and internationally. According to the Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS), commercial truck driving is one of the largest occupations, comprising more than 3.2 million jobs. These jobs largely involve delivering goods from one location to another, although job specifics may vary; some drivers may only pick up and deliver freight, while others might also be responsible for loading and unloading their cargo. Truck drivers can be hourly or salaried employees, working directly for a company, or self-employed independent contractors.
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Company Drivers
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Large and small companies throughout the nation depend heavily on commercial truck drivers for day-to-day operations. Shipping companies such as UPS, FedEx and DHL employ thousands of truck drivers to meet consumer demand. Any number of items bought, sold and used on a daily basis, such as groceries and clothing, are delivered using company truck drivers employed by large corporations such as Publix and Old Dominion. Smaller, privately-owned businesses may have a professional truck driver on the payroll to deliver goods to and from suppliers, wholesalers and retailers.
Owner Operators
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Much like company-employed truck drivers, owner-operators -- those professional drivers who own their trucks and operate their own trucking business -- pick up and deliver goods for both large and small companies nationwide. Owner-operators are actually contracted to work for some of the same companies that employ company drivers. UPS and several other large companies use both company drivers and owner-operators to handle shipping needs. Typically owner-operators are used to offset the costs of keeping a professional driver on staff. Small companies benefit from this arrangement by hiring contract drivers on an as-needed basis. Likewise, large companies can supplement their delivery workforce when demand arises without incurring long-term expenses.
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Compensation
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A few company drivers may be paid an annual salary plus benefits. But most truckers who aren't self-employed are paid by the hour -- so are not technically salaried employees. Nevertheless, many truckers enjoy the benefits that generally go to salaried workers -- such as health insurance and paid holidays -- particularly if they're union members.
Heavy truck and trailer drivers earn average wages of $40,440, according to a 2010 BLS study, while light load and delivery drivers made $34,580 per year. Hazardous waste drivers, delivering fuel and dangerous chemicals, are usually provided additional insurance premiums to cover death or disability. Bonuses for safety and on-time delivery are often paid as incentives for company drivers.
Owner-operators are paid per mile, and may receive a percentage of the freight shipping revenue. Various incentives for drivers contracting with large corporations or trucking logistics companies include: dispatch services, fuel buying programs and signing bonuses. These incentives help offset the cost of ownership for self-employed drivers.
Education and Training
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Truck drivers require very little formal education; most positions do not require a high school diploma or GED. Professional drivers operating trucks weighing in excess of 26,001 gross vehicle pounds require a commercial driver's license (CDL). Truckers carrying hazardous materials must obtain a hazardous materials endorsement from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Training for the CDL and all additional job-specific endorsements can obtained by attending a trade or vocational school that offers a truck-driving program. These programs provide classroom study of DOT rules and regulations, as well as driver-training courses.
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