Truck Driver Salary in South Africa in Rands

Truck drivers’ progress is the main focus of South Africa’s government in the transportation and logistics industry. Previously, they were facing a tough time, but now, an average truck driver’s salary is R12,107 per month. However, different factors contribute to the salaries and responsibilities of truck drivers; come with me to explore them and understand the hardships of truck drivers in South Africa.

Truck Driver Salary In South Africa

South Africa is focusing on the transportation sector to increase the well-being of the people who are associated with it, plus they receive substantial salaries. In this regard, the government has taken action to increase the salaries of truck drivers in South Africa and provide them allowances. Actually, these drivers are associated with companies and organizations, just like in the United States transportation industry; therefore, the government also gives margin to these organizations in terms of determining salaries.

The per year salary of a truck driver in South Africa is R171,001, including allowances. In comparison to the United States, the salary of a truck driver also depends on the organization, but the average income is $6,883 per month. The salary varies from state to state, but per year, the average income is $97,209, including allowances.

In the past few years, these salaries have increased in South Africa, in which the primary reason is the high prices of petrol. According to past reports and current analysis, we can see a 30% increase in the salaries of truck drivers in South Africa. Now, different factors influence, such as the type of truck one drives and the company plus his experience.

Experience	Salary
Entry Level	R10,417
Average	R12,107
Experienced	R52,589

With the passage of time, the salaries of drivers increase not only because they can drive better but also because they can drive bigger trucks. In the beginning, a truck driver starts his career with a small one, and as time passes, he gets a big loader truck, which is hard to control. Further, the salary varies according to the organization; see below to understand better.

Company Name	Average Salary per Month
Kantar	R25,400
MMI Holdings	R24,300
Smiths Manufacturing	R23,004
Exxaro	R21,388
Logitech	R20,194
RTT	R19,486
Gijima Holdings	R18,693

Here, you can see a clear difference between how Kantar and MMI Holdings are paying their employees. There is no big difference between the salaries, but Gijima Holdings and RTT are the lowest in terms of salaries. It could be because of the size of the company and its resources. But in terms of truck driver salaries in South Africa, Kantar is the best company.

Responsibilities Of A Truck Driver In South Africa

Driving Safely

Driving a truck is one of the hardest jobs because it can cause a lot of physical and mental problems, for example, lower back pain and headaches, plus feelings of isolation and cognitive dissociation. With these problems, one has to focus on safely operating the truck and, most importantly, the lives of fellow drivers on the road.

Delivery On Time

Punctuality is the key to success for a truck driver; the more punctual a truck driver is, the more esteemed his reputation becomes. Actually, timing matters a lot in this job because if you delay delivering cargo, the man who owns it can face a business loss. Therefore, the truck driver should deliver the cargo safely and on time.

Vehicle Maintained

Another major thing is to maintain the vehicle of the company because if the driver damages it, he cannot work in the company. For this, a driver should focus on the brakes, angle of the truck, wheels, and engine. He should check and spot problems in the truck before departure, keep the truck clean, and troubleshoot minor issues as soon as possible.

How The Salary Of Truck Drivers Fluctuates?

South Africa is a capitalist state in which the rates of products or services are controlled by the market, not by the government. However, the government determines the minimum range of wages to create a slight influence and play a role in an independent state, but factors other than the government control the salary fluctuations of truck drivers.

Demand

We all know that if the demand is high, the price is high, and the demand for truck drivers in South Africa is increasing day by day. The reason behind the high demand is the new business trends and exports to other countries, for example, Namibia, Botswana, or Zimbabwe. These countries play a major role in the exports and imports business of South Africa, and the major source of transportation is trucks; nowadays, the export business is at its peak; therefore, demands are high.

Truck Unions

Another factor that plays a major role in determining the salaries of truck drivers is the unions in the country; the major one is the South Africa Transport and Allied Workers Union. In the past few years, it has been the most active union in South Africa that has played a major role in raising the voice for the rights of truck drivers. The aim of this union is to tackle the organizations and companies that lower the rates of truck driving services.

Companies

Ultimately, South Africa is a hub of democracy and capitalism that provides its businessmen with a sense of freedom. The companies that control the truck traffic in the country determine the salaries of their truck drivers. All these companies have agreed to a point that they will not decrease the pay of their employees beyond a certain point.

A truck driver has no home; he travels from one place to another to earn his bread and butter. The salaries of truck drivers are not a good payback in return for their efforts and life risks. Anyhow, the salary increases with the passage of time, and according to the experience of the driver, I have mentioned the average energy level and experienced driver salary in South Africa, plus discussed the factors that control salary; I hope this information will help you in the future.