**Podcast Summary: "Paid by the Mile"
What We Spend – Audacy
Host: Courtney Harrell
Release Date: May 21, 2025
Introduction: Meet Maxine
In the episode titled "Paid by the Mile," host Courtney Harrell introduces listeners to Maxine, a 60-year-old long-haul truck driver based in North Carolina. Maxine has been in the trucking industry intermittently since 2004 and currently manages a dedicated route, consistently delivering home goods across specific regions. Her dedication embodies the essential role truckers play in maintaining the lifeblood of American commerce, transporting goods that keep shelves stocked and services running nationwide.
Understanding Trucking Pay Structures and Financial Struggles
The episode delves into the complexities of trucking compensation. Maxine explains the various payment methods in the industry:
- By the Mile: Maxine is currently paid by the mile, which is common for long-haul routes. "Companies choose how to pay you based on the route," she explains.
- By the Hour: Typically used for local routes with frequent stops.
Despite her extensive experience, Maxine's income has plummeted. Last year, she paid $44,000 in taxes but saw her weekly earnings drop from $1,600 to between $380 and $500 due to declining freight rates and fewer available loads. "I've had paychecks where it was zero, where I owed the company," Maxine recounts, highlighting the precarious nature of mileage-based pay.
Cost of Living and Mounting Debt
Maxine's financial woes are not isolated. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average trucker earns around $57,000 annually, which is slightly higher than Maxine's earnings. However, the unpredictable nature of mileage-based pay means that some drivers, like Maxine, may end up earning less than minimum wage if they spend excessive time waiting for loads.
Maxine has accumulated significant debt, primarily through debt consolidation loans meant to manage her financial instability. "It's from me not making the money that I need," she admits. Her monthly expenses include:
- Rent: $1,400 for a one-bedroom apartment in North Carolina.
- Utilities and Other Bills: Approximately $645 for her car and insurance, plus additional expenses for utilities, phone, and gas.
Despite these expenses, Maxine often resorts to using credit cards for groceries and essential supplies. She emphasizes the hidden costs of trucking, such as maintaining makeshift bathroom facilities, which require frequent purchases of paper towels and cleaning supplies. "I spend quite a bit because of toiletries," she notes, illustrating the day-to-day financial pressures faced by truckers.
Life on the Road: Maxine's Audio Diaries
The heart of the episode features Maxine's audio diaries, which chronicle a typical week in her life as a trucker. These diaries provide an intimate glimpse into her daily routines, challenges, and coping mechanisms.
Day One: A Good Start Maxine begins her week in Polk, Florida, describing a smooth morning drive and a brief, pleasant stop at a clean rest area. Despite occasional frustrations with drivers cutting trucks off, she successfully completes her deliveries.
Notable Quote:
"It's normal for cars to cut trucks off, but we trucks can't stop on a dime" ([Episode Transcript, 07:17]).
Day Two: Managing Supplies She visits a "Gas and Go" truck stop, where she spends $42.06 to stock her truck's freezer with essential groceries. Maxine highlights the importance of budgeting for bulk purchases to sustain her on the road.
Notable Quote:
"I have food in the freezer that'll last me a month" ([Episode Transcript, 22:40]).
Day Three to Five: Routine and Reset Maxine details her routine working within the 34-hour reset period mandated by regulations, which restrict truckers to 70 hours of work within an eight-day span. During these resets, she engages in personal activities like cooking, listening to music, and communicating with family, while keeping expenses minimal.
Day Seven: Packing Up Tough Decisions As financial pressures mount, Maxine shares the painful process of packing up her belongings and moving out of her apartment. "I don't believe [the industry] should leave truckers homeless" she asserts, expressing her frustration with the lack of supportive regulations in the trucking industry.
Notable Quote:
"No truck driver should be homeless. They need a home" ([Episode Transcript, 35:57]).
Industry Issues and Systemic Problems
Maxine's story underscores broader systemic issues within the trucking industry:
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Deregulation: Since the 1980s, deregulation has left truckers responsible for many expenses previously covered by employers, such as parking, supplies, and vehicle maintenance. This shift has exacerbated financial instability among drivers.
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Living Conditions: With dwindling pay, many truckers like Maxine are forced to live in their trucks, sacrificing personal comfort and safety. "You gotta give full trust to the company," Maxine explains, highlighting the vulnerability truckers face without adequate support.
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Debt and Housing: The lack of a living wage has led to severe financial strain, resulting in mounting debt and the loss of stable housing. Maxine's inability to keep up with her $1,400 rent payment exemplifies this crisis.
Notable Quote:
"The trucking industry needs to pay a living wage. No truck driver should be homeless" ([Episode Transcript, 35:29]).
Maxine's Future and Closing Thoughts
Despite her struggles, Maxine remains passionate about trucking, viewing driving as a source of calm and freedom. She dreams of a stable future where she can afford a home with land, possibly transitioning to teaching or reducing her driving hours as she ages. Maxine is also exploring additional training in phlebotomy to diversify her employment options.
"Driving makes me calm. The road can be healing" ([Episode Transcript, 14:21]), she reflects, emphasizing the therapeutic aspects of her job despite the financial hardships.
In the closing segments, Courtney Harrell acknowledges the persistent challenges truckers face and highlights the need for industry reforms to ensure fair compensation and support for those who keep America moving.
Notable Quote:
"We need rental caps all across the United States... a living wage" ([Episode Transcript, 35:29]).
Conclusion
"Paid by the Mile" presents a poignant exploration of the financial and personal toll of trucking through Maxine's experiences. It sheds light on the critical yet undervalued role truckers play in the economy and underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to support and sustain these essential workers. Maxine's resilience and dedication serve as a testament to the challenges faced by millions of truckers across the nation.
Credits:
- Host: Courtney Harrell
- Producers: Margot Gray and Kristen Torres
- Editor: Jonathan Menhivar
- Executive Producers: Maddie Sprunkheiser and Leah Rhys Dennis
- Music: Matt McGinley, APM Music, Pedro Alvira
- Special Thanks: Melissa Akiko Slaughter, Joel Lovell, Jenna Yspurman, J.D. Crowley, Maura Curran, Josefina Francis, Kurt Courtney, Hilary, Chef Shawn Cherry, Laura Berman, and Hilary Van Ornam
Notable References:
- Book Mentioned: The Big Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream by Steve Vaselli
- Industry Experts: Alex Leslie at the American Transportation Research Institute and Steve Vaselli