Are American Truckers Earning Less? 2025 Wage Growth Hits the Brakes

After years of double-digit wage growth through 2021–2022, driver compensation is slowing fast. Is the industry backsliding—or just hitting cruise control?

What's Behind the Slowdown

• 2023 saw a 7.6% pay increase; 2024 only posted 2.4%. In early 2025, wage growth decelerated to a mere 0.9%. (FreightWaves)

• Demand for drivers softened—despite tight labor markets, broader hiring cooling across sectors capped wage gains.

• Rising operational costs—from maintenance to insurance—crunch margins and suppress salary increases. (FreightWaves)

Does That Mean Pay Is Falling?

• No—wages haven’t decreased. They’re just not rising as quickly. Competition from other industries and fewer freight miles drove the cooling.

• For fleets and brokers, this may mean pressure to renegotiate contracts and welfare packages, especially benefits.

Wrap-Up

Driving wages are coasting, not crashing. In a low-rate environment, carriers need leaner ops or better perks to retain talent. For drivers, perks matter more than pushy annual raises.

📌 Final Thoughts

The trucking landscape in 2025 is defined by layoffs, slower wage growth, a tightening talent pool, and a looming automation horizon. Ghost Dog Trucker stays tuned so you can stay ahead: informed, prepared, and resilient.