Do you hear those jingle bells ringing?

You’re perusing new trucking companies to drive for when you see the following information about pay from different companies: 60 percent of the linehaul 70 percent of the linehaul 80 percent of the linehaul It’s pretty obvious which one you’re going to choose, right? You want to make the most money possible. Even though your natural inclination might be to choose the company that will pay you 80 percent of the linehaul, that may not be the best decision.

When you accept a new job, what’s one of the first questions you ask? If you’re like most other truck drivers, you ask how much you’ll make. After all, pay can be your primary deciding factor. Are you joining the Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) team or thinking about it? Understanding how you’ll get paid here is important. It may even influence your decision to be a company driver or an independent contractor.

Are you tired of the unpredictable ups and downs of pay in the trucking industry? Do you crave stability and certainty in your earnings, without sacrificing the freedom of the open road? Well, buckle up because we're about to dive into a game-changer: guaranteed pay programs.

Tax Day is April 15. Have you filed yet? The number one tip for filing your taxes each year: Actually file your taxes. Taxes are confusing, certainly, but failing to file them entirely — or doing it incorrectly — can lead to some major issues for you. Issues that will follow you.

The trucking industry is starting to feel like a bad game of Monopoly. A few bad investments and you owe everyone money. The moment you get paid, you’re immediately paying someone else. You don’t get to go home, you can’t pass go. It’s a game you can’t get out of — and believe me, everyone in the transportation industry is frustrated by this game.

Did your trucking company pay you later than they were supposed to? Understandably, you’re probably pretty upset. You need that money to cover your expenses, support yourself, and maybe support someone back home. If my check didn’t hit my account on the first and the fifteenth, I’d be a frustrated lady over here too, so I get it. Maybe your mind is reeling…what does it mean? Is the company in trouble? Will you be without a job soon?

Pay is top of mind for most (if not all) truck drivers right now. A lot of drivers have had to adapt in recent years, making little changes — like making sure their truck is as fuel efficient as possible — to big changes — like completely changing their running style and running more miles.

Why did you become a truck driver? If you are like a majority of truck drivers, you did it for the pay. And while the reason you got into the industry isn’t solely because of pay (perhaps you enjoy the freedom of the road or you grew up with family members in the trucking industry), it’s likely at least one of your top reasons for staying.

Do you want to know a frightening statistic? The average retirement age of a truck driver is 62. The average life expectancy for a truck driver is 61. You don’t need me to explain to you that these numbers suggest that drivers may be more likely to pass away before they have the chance to retire.