Washington—Professional truck driver pay continued to climb in 2025, even as motor carriers navigated the final stages of a prolonged period of soft freight, falling rates, and rising costs, according to new data from the American Trucking Associations.
ATA’s 2026 Driver Compensation Study found sustained pay growth across major segments of the trucking industry. A majority of surveyed carriers also reported plans to raise driver pay in 2026, signaling continued competition for qualified professional drivers as the freight market begins to recover.
The study draws on data from more than 130 fleets representing over 140,000 employee drivers and 9,000 independent contractors.
Key findings include: (....)