Flatbed company drivers at Prestige Hauling earn $0.75 per mile plus $100 tarp pay. Here is exactly what that means in a real week, what extra pay to ask about, and how flatbed pay compares with other trucking jobs.
If you are comparing flatbed driving jobs, pay is the first thing you should understand in detail — not just the headline number. Two carriers can advertise a similar cents-per-mile rate and produce very different weekly paychecks depending on miles, tarp pay, stop pay, and how well dispatch keeps you loaded. This page breaks down flatbed driver pay the way a settlement would, using Prestige Hauling's published rates.
What flatbed drivers get paid at Prestige Hauling
Prestige Hauling is a family-owned flatbed carrier in Lemont, Illinois, recruiting CDL-A company drivers. Our flatbed company drivers are paid:
- $0.75 per mile — every loaded mile, at a rate most flatbed carriers reserve for their most experienced drivers.
- $100 tarp pay — every time you tarp a load, paid on top of mileage.
Because tarped loads are common in flatbed work, tarp pay is not a small bonus. A driver who tarps several loads a week adds meaningful money to every settlement, and the per-tarp rate rewards careful, professional securement work rather than rushing it.
How much do flatbed drivers make a week? The real math
Weekly flatbed pay comes down to two numbers: how many miles your freight actually lets you run, and how many loads require tarping. Industry averages for long-haul flatbed drivers typically land between 2,000 and 2,600 dispatched miles a week. Here is what Prestige's rate structure looks like at realistic weekly workloads:
| Weekly scenario | Miles | Mileage pay | Tarps | Tarp pay | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slower week | 2,000 mi | $1,500 | 3 | $300 | $1,800 |
| Typical week | 2,400 mi | $1,800 | 4 | $400 | $2,200 |
| Strong week | 2,800 mi | $2,100 | 5 | $500 | $2,600 |
That is gross mileage and tarp pay only — before any additional stop, detention, or bonus pay a recruiter will detail for the position you are discussing, and before taxes and deductions. No honest carrier can promise a fixed annual figure, because your income follows the freight. But the structure is simple and predictable: miles times $0.75, plus $100 per tarp. Ask any recruiter you talk to — including other carriers — to put their offer in exactly those terms so you can compare real numbers instead of slogans.
Flatbed driver pay per mile in context
Industry pay surveys and driver forums show flatbed company-driver rates commonly running from the high $0.60s per mile at large carriers to $0.80 or more at smaller, freight-focused flatbed carriers. Prestige's $0.75 per mile sits at the top of that band while you still get the working style of a smaller family company: direct access to dispatch and the office, a newer fleet of 48' and 53' flatbeds, and people who know your name.
Mileage rates are only half the comparison. When you evaluate a flatbed job, ask:
- What is the realistic average loaded miles per week on your lanes?
- Is tarp pay per load or included in the rate? What happens when a load needs multiple tarps or a smoke tarp?
- Is there stop pay for multi-stop loads, and detention pay when you are at a dock longer than expected?
- How often are drivers paid, and through what system?
- What is the actual home-time pattern — weekly, weekends, or every few days?
What is tarp pay?
Tarping means covering freight so rain, wind, and road grime do not damage it. It is skilled work: tarps for a standard flatbed load can weigh over 100 pounds, and a proper tarp job protects the edges and corners of the freight with the tarp secured tightly enough that it does not flap at 65 mph. Because it takes time and effort beyond driving, many carriers — including Prestige — pay tarp as a separate flat amount per load. Our $100 tarp pay recognizes the labor, and it applies every time your load needs a tarp.
Does flatbed pay more than dry van?
In most cases, yes. Flatbed work requires physical labor, load-securement skill, and weather judgment that dry van freight does not, and flatbed carriers generally pay more per mile than van carriers to reflect it. Combined with tarp pay at $100 per load, a flatbed company driver with the same experience level usually out-earns a dry van company driver. The trade is a more physical job; drivers who like working outside and taking pride in a well-secured load tend to prefer it.
Frequently asked questions
How much do flatbed drivers make a week?
It depends on miles and loads. At $0.75 per mile plus $100 per tarp, a Prestige driver running 2,400 miles with four tarped loads earns about $2,200 in mileage and tarp pay before other extras. Slower weeks land near $1,800; strong weeks can exceed $2,600.
What is flatbed driver pay per mile?
Prestige Hauling pays $0.75 per mile for CDL-A flatbed company drivers. That is at the top of the typical flatbed carrier range of the high $0.60s to $0.80+ per mile.
Why is tarp pay separate from mileage?
Tarping is skilled physical work that takes real time. Paying tarp as a flat rate per load compensates that effort on top of miles, so a driver is paid for the labor a tarped load demands.
Does flatbed pay more than dry van?
Generally yes — flatbed carriers pay a higher cents-per-mile rate plus tarp pay compared with equivalent dry van positions, because flatbed work adds securement skill and physical labor.
Is flatbed pay the only income?
Confirm with recruiting what additional pay applies to your position — stop pay, detention, and any bonuses vary by opening. The mileage and tarp figures on this page are the core of the settlement for every tarped load-hauling position.
Questions first? Call (630) 566-5366.
Ready to put the math to work? Compare flatbed driving jobs in Illinois or jump straight to our CDL-A flatbed driver jobs.