Per-Mile vs Hourly Pay: What’s Best for Truck Driver Payroll?
Per-Mile vs Hourly Pay: What’s Best for Truck Driver Payroll? Trucking isn’t like typical industries where employees clock in, clock out, and get paid a predictable wage. Drivers operate under constantly shifting conditions—traffic delays, weather, shipper schedules, detention, layovers, and multi-state routes. Because of that, fleets have historically paid per mile, compensating drivers for productivity instead of time. But the industry is changing. Driver shortages, compliance rules, and a shift toward transparency are pushing more companies to rethink their traditional pay structures. So which method is truly better for modern fleets? The answer isn’t as simple as choosing one over the other. It’s about understanding how each works—and where it fits into your business goals. Understanding Per-Mile Pay Per-mile pay has been the backbone of trucking for decades. Drivers earn a fixed amount per mile driven, often referred to as CPM (cents per mile). It’s easy for fleets to...