Food Distribution Drivers Make More on Average than Rest of the Industry
If you’re wondering where the best money is for drivers, look no further than the food distribution sector, according a new survey conducted by the International Foodservice Distributors Association.

Drivers in foodservice distribution make more on average than drivers in other sectors, according to IFDA.
Source: IFDA 2019 Hourly Compensation Survey: Driver and Warehouse Positions Edition, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018
If you’re wondering where the best money is for drivers, look no further than the food distribution sector, according a new survey conducted by the International Foodservice Distributors Association.
The IFDA released the results for its 2019 Compensation Survey: Driver and Warehouse Positions Edition, in which the group found that average hourly wages for foodservice distribution employees are highly competitive and surpass those of many other occupations for U.S. workers.
In particular, delivery drivers in the food distribution sector had an average annual wage of $67,291 compared to a $51,960-average for all U.S. workers. Against other drivers the disparity is even worse, according to IFDA’s survey.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' numbers, the average for heavy-duty truck drivers is $45,570 and light truck or delivery services drivers average just $36,920.
For comparison to other industries, construction equipment operators average $52,190 per year, roofers average $43,870 and stonemasons average $44,370.
IFDA’s survey was based on data from 93 distribution companies, representing 699 facilities. The report includes salary information for five driver positions and 19 warehouse positions. The full survey is available through IFDA.
More Drivers

Trump Administration Looks to Put More Veterans Behind the Wheel
The Freedom Haulers program pulls together existing and expanded programs at several federal agencies to recruit veterans to drive commercial heavy-duty trucks and cut the red tape for them to get a CDL, training, and employment.
Read More →
Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test
A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.
Read More →
Competition Heating Up for Truck Drivers
New report reveals rising driver hiring costs, the return of sign-on bonuses, growing AI advantages, and the operational factors shaping driver retention.
Read More →
How Fraley & Schilling Improved Logbook Compliance by Over 50%
Fraley & Schilling needed a way to close a compliance workflow gap in its ELD system without adding more work from driver training, reminders, and back-office follow-ups. It found the answer in a custom driver app.
Read More →
Volvo Goes Gaming
Volvo has roared into American Truck Simulator with two new flagship trucks.
Read More →
What the Best Fleets to Drive For Teach About Driver Retention
Survey fatigue, AI-powered routing, owner-operator expectations, and the decline of social media all emerged as themes from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program.
Read More →
Driver Retention Lessons From the Best Fleets to Drive For
What separates trucking's best workplaces from the rest? Jane Jazrawy shares the biggest lessons from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program on driver retention, communication, AI, and workforce trends on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.
Read More →
Farewell, CDL: Why I'm Giving Up My Commercial Driver's License
After more than 20 years as a CDL holder, HDT Executive Editor Jack Roberts is letting his commercial license expire. Not because he wants to — but because trucking's nuclear verdict crisis has made the risks of public-road test drives too great for editors, manufacturers, and everyone involved.
Read More →How Top Trucking Fleets Improve Driver Retention [Video]
What do healthy snacks, optimized routing, and just picking up the phone have in common? They're all strategies the Best Fleets to Drive For are using to retain truck drivers.
Read More →
Trucker Path Adds Verisk CargoNet Theft Data to Navigation Platform
Trucker Path’s new cargo theft risk overlays give drivers and fleets visibility into high-risk areas, stolen commodity trends, and theft hotspots.
Read More →
