Know Your Worth

At many companies, the perception can be that the drivers’ roles are sometimes understated and undervalued. Massive corporate overhead and increased operational expenses, coupled with soaring diesel costs, can leave many drivers locked into a dismally low pay scale in the range of $25 - $31 per hour or receiving a set number of cents per mile (CPM), with increases that come at the rate of a cent more per mile, often at tier ranges of after 3, 4, and 5 years of service, etc. The proverbial dangling carrot of earning six figures more often remains just out of reach or is regarded as reserved for a seemingly elite class and rewarded only to the most seasoned and specialized drivers. 

In fact, commercial truck drivers make $64,512 per year on average, or $31.02 per hour, in the United States. Drivers on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $41,000 a year, while only the top 10% earn $100,000.

Why is this, though? Is it the old corporate ideology of working you harder and paying you less while larger profits cycle back to owners, shareholders, and/or investors? Is it a fair exchange and proper pay commiserate to work being performed, the capital expenditure, and associated risk thereof, that the company has inherently taken on to create the opportunity? Or is it a properly reverse-engineered formula based on a variety of factors, including all associated costs, including the average rate per mile a shipper is paying, shipping distance, weight, density, freight classification, handling needs, routine maintenance and repair expenditures, and the value of the product being shipped? While there is no single, all-encompassing answer, the latter of these explanations is more probable. 

Some might even say that being too ambitious in the corporate arena can sometimes have adverse effects. If it becomes known that you may have other long-term or future ambitions or if it becomes known that you do not necessarily plan to be a company man or woman into retirement, or if you speak of empowering others, you may be seen as one who spreads dissent or one who is against the ideals of the company and its founders. 

This can break your entrepreneurial spirit, stifle your growth, and limit your ability to make your mark on this world. After all, you were created to push yourself to your limit, reject mediocrity, and strive to reach the zenith of your potential. Were you not?

With the Wilson Direct Advantage philosophy, we shatter those ceilings and tear down those barriers. We want to see all our employees and affiliate partners do well and even become their own bosses if that is what they aspire to do. Moreover, the road to earning 100K and more, even as a driver with little experience, has never been more attainable!