Philadelphia, PA — The owner‑operator community has taken a stand at a recent OOIDA driver compensation committee meeting, demanding overtime pay and a re‑evaluation of the pay‑by‑mile model that leaves many hauling crews overworked and undercompensated.

The meeting, convened by the National Academies of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board, highlighted the gap between the median salary reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the reality of drivers who clock 60‑70 hour weeks to reach that figure. The committee’s focus is on how different compensation methods affect safety, retention, and the overall health of the industry.

Board members Doug Smith and Bryan Spoon, joined by life member Stu Hochfelder, voiced frustration with the lack of overtime protection. “When you’re loaded, you want to get empty. When you’re empty, you want to get loaded. There’s constant anxiety. This has developed into a 70‑hour work week,” Smith told the committee. Hochfelder added, “We should all be paid for our time.” The group noted that drivers are often not compensated for essential tasks such as loading, unloading, equipment checks, and refueling under the prevailing pay‑by‑mile system.

What This Means for Drivers

Without overtime, CDL‑A drivers and OTR truckers face a pay structure that rewards distance over time, pushing many into unsafe schedules. If the overtime exemption were removed, shippers and receivers would bear the responsibility of valuing a driver’s hours, potentially leading to higher rates for owner‑operators and better job security for fleet managers. The change could also reduce the number of hours drivers log, improving safety and compliance with FMCSA regulations.

Industry Reaction

Representative Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey called the exemption “unconscionable” and urged Congress to pass the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act, a bill backed by OOIDA. Trucking companies hiring today have expressed concern that higher wages could increase operating costs, but many acknowledge that fair pay is essential for retaining skilled drivers in a tight labor market.

Key Points

• Median heavy‑haul truck driver salary in 2021 was $48,310, but many earn it after 60‑70 hour weeks.
• Current pay‑by‑mile systems often exclude loading, unloading, and other time‑intensive tasks from compensation.
• The Fair Labor Standards Act exempted truck drivers from overtime, a stance OOIDA seeks to overturn.
• Removing the exemption would shift the burden of valuing driver time to shippers and receivers.

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