Are truck driver pay scales putting people in danger?

In most professions, people are going to be paid by the hour. A worker in a warehouse might make $20 an hour, for instance, or they may be put on salary for a set amount of money every pay period.

For truck drivers, however, the system of payment can often be very different. These drivers tend to be paid for every mile that they drive during a shift. This pay can range from $.40 all the way up to nearly 2 dollars a mile, depending if the driver owns and operates the truck themselves or drives for a company.

Some drivers like this pay system because it allows them to have some control over how much money they make. But is there a hidden danger lurking behind the scenes?

Pressure to earn more

The problem is that these types of pay scales put a lot of pressure on drivers to try to earn as much money as they can. For instance, a driver who feels like they are too tired to drive safely may continue to press on for mile after mile. They may know that it’s unsafe, but they are just thinking about their budget and their total earnings.

Or, a driver could find themselves caught in heavy traffic. If the truck isn’t moving, even if they’re still on the road, they’re not making any money. This is so much different than workers who are being paid by the hour. As a result, the truck driver may be tempted to speed or drive aggressively once they get out of that heavy traffic, trying to make up for all of the earnings that they feel they have lost.

If this type of financial pressure leads to a catastrophic car accident and you suffer injuries that were caused by someone else, you may be able to seek financial compensation.