Despite the uncertain economic climate, wages for truck drivers and warehouse staff surged in the first quarter amid strong demand for frontline workers nationwide, according to a report from resume-building platform Resume Now and talent-matching platform Talroo, released this week.
The companies’ Q1 frontline worker demand index found that wages in trucking and warehousing rose 16% and 15%, respectively, year-over-year as job openings in both sectors remained strong. This was the strongest wage growth across frontline industries, followed by administrative, customer service, caregiving, and retail, all of which experienced wage increases above the national average of 3.8%, according to the data.
The index tracks job posting demand, resume supply, wage trends, scheduling shifts, and the broader economic forces shaping the frontline labor market. Based on Talroo’s own data, the index processes 26 million job posts monthly, capturing 187 million data points across industries and regions.
According to the index, trucking wages rose from an average $22.05 an hour in the first quarter of 2024 to $25.49 an hour in 2025 and warehousing wages rose from an average $17.23 an hour a year ago to $19.78 an hour in 2025.
The jump followed a protracted softening of wages dating back to 2023, according to the report, which also noted that the effects of tariffs and other changing government policies will influence how employers respond in Q2.
The Q1 data also found that trucking and warehousing are among the top 10 frontline industries with the largest talent gaps. Especially in trucking, job openings far outstrip applicants.
“The trucking industry continues to face a qualified labor shortage, resulting in fewer applicants per job and steady demand for new drivers,” the report’s authors wrote in a statement announcing the Q1 findings. “Job seekers with a CDL or logistics experience can find strong opportunities with competitive wages, although policy and economic changes in Q2 2025 may result in shifts.”
The report found that applicant availability is improving in warehousing, but noted that staffing flexibility, shift demands, and worker retention remain key challenges.
“Despite continued uncertainty across sectors and broader economic concerns, the need for skilled frontline workers remains strong—and in many industries, it’s growing,” said Thad Price, CEO of Talroo. “From trucking to healthcare, employers are still struggling to fill essential roles that keep our communities running.”
