AAM BLOG
Research and financial data provided by ATBS | Business Solutions for Truck Drivers
While 2024 didn’t go down as anyone’s favorite year in trucking, there’s one fact that stands out: independent truck drivers—Owner Operators—earned slightly more money compared to 2023. But they had to push harder and drive further to get there.
According to ATBS, one of the top business management and tax service firms for Owner Operators in the U.S., the average independent driver made around $64,000 last year, a modest $1,000 increase over 2023. But that number includes part-time drivers. For full-time runners, the average income hit $86,000, again a slight bump from the previous year.
As for the top 10% of drivers under ATBS’ wing? They pulled in around $215,000, up from $212,000. But that kind of money didn’t roll in easy—these are the guys doing the specialized jobs: windmill blades, hazmat, and the kind of freight that’s more about precision than miles.
But here’s the catch: income didn’t rise because rates were up—drivers had to run more miles to make it happen. Full-time Owner Operators covered an average of 93,000 miles in 2024, a 4% increase compared to 2023.
As Todd Amen, president of ATBS, told “They’ve been working harder for two years to make a little bit more money.” And we see that ourselves—this market isn’t soft, it’s heavy. Only the real hustlers are winning.
Lower Diesel Prices Helped—But Not Enough
The drop in diesel costs over the second half of 2024 helped a bit—about 7 cents per mile, Amen estimates. But with freight rates down around 10 cents per mile, that benefit wasn’t enough to offset the struggle. As Amen points out, “It was still a tough year.”
In our experience at AAM NETWORK INC., this is where strong dispatching and strategic planning step in. With our dedicated lanes and an experienced dispatch team, we’ve been able to maximize short local runs when possible and still come out ahead. But let’s keep it real—OTR is still where the money is when the spot market isn’t showing much love.
Stop Saying “No” to Every Load
We hear it on social media all the time: “Don’t haul cheap freight!” While the frustration is valid, Amen offers a reality check. Once your fixed costs are covered—think truck payment, insurance, your own paycheck—every mile after that is about contribution margin. If you’re running smart, even that 15 cents-per-mile backhaul can push you into profit.
It’s not about accepting bad rates—it’s about knowing your numbers and making decisions that make sense for your business.
So, What’s the Bottom Line?
This market isn’t for everyone—but if you’re willing to work, the opportunity is still there. The drivers who kept moving, who tracked their expenses, who said yes to the right loads—they made it work in 2024.
And that’s exactly what we’ve been saying at AAM NETWORK INC. This is the time where hard runners make numbers. There’s no shortcut. There’s just smart strategy, strong partnerships, and a team that knows how to dispatch a truck for both profit and longevity.
Whether it’s cross-country OTR or a smart local lane—if you stay in motion, you stay in the game.