WASHINGTON – In the ongoing clown show that is U.S. freight economics, truck driver cash raises have slowed to a snail’s pace, just 0.9% in early 2025. Drivers collectively shrugged, pulled into rest stops, and demanded that employers start paying extra for sarcasm to keep morale afloat.
According to ATRI, after massive wage jumps in 2021 and 2022, increases dropped to 7.6% in 2023 and 2.4% in 2024, and now this slow crawl continues. Meanwhile, non-fuel costs continue to rise, eroding carrier profits that already hover near zero.
One driver, leaning against his rig at the I-95 rest area, shook his head. “I’d laugh at a 1% raise, but I need paid time for night shifts, lane merges, and especially my perfectly timed eye-rolls.”
Dispatchers revealed that sign-on bonuses and token snack bags are being used like Band-Aids on bullet wounds. “A $500 bonus covers a new tire,” said one recruiter, “but not my kid’s braces or my sanity.”
Truckers have formed an emotional labor union: “We want hazard pay for every blind curve, flatbed tarping session in 100°F, and mandatory four-hour comedic soliloquies at weigh stations.”
One owner-operator quipped, “I’ll accept 0.9% if they’ll pay me actual dollars and not just gas mileage increases,” as other drivers nodded sagely.
Even tech startup pilots have joined the fray. “We tested a ‘PayMeNow’ app that tips drivers $0.27 for each sarcastic retort,” said a UX engineer. “It’s about the only way to keep them smiling.”
Industry analysts argue this slowdown is a correction. But truckers see it differently. “They took our boom, handed us crumbs, and now call it balanced,” said a veteran driver, cackling.
Despite the gloom, drivers say they still love the open road, just not the shrinking paycheck on it.
“I’ll believe they appreciate us when my CSA score doesn’t penalize me for eye-roll Gs,” one joked.
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