4 min read · Updated September 26, 2026
1099 or W2: what changes for you as a driver
Taxes, benefits, deposits and who you work for. What to know before you take a 1099 seat in a company truck.
Many of the jobs listed here are 1099 positions in a company truck. That is neither good nor bad on its own, but it is different, and you should choose it on purpose.
What 1099 means
You are an independent contractor, not an employee. The carrier pays your business entity, not you personally, and does not withhold income tax, Social Security or Medicare. You are responsible for your own taxes, usually through quarterly estimated payments. Talk to an accountant before your first check. Carriers, including the one on our job pages, say plainly that they do not give tax advice.
What you usually do not get
Health insurance, paid time off, a retirement match and unemployment coverage are employee benefits. On 1099 you arrange your own or go without. When you compare a 1099 per-mile rate with a W2 one, the 1099 number has to cover those.
Deposits and escrow
Some contractor positions hold an equipment security deposit. On the Green Line offer it is $2,000, withheld at $200 a week for the first ten weeks and returned in full 30 days after departure (next day in California). Ask how much, how it is withheld, and when it comes back.
Business entity
To be paid as a contractor you need a business entity in good standing. The structure is your choice with your accountant. The recruiter will tell you what the carrier needs to see before your first check.
When 1099 can make sense
Drivers who already run their own books, who want a higher per-mile rate than a comparable W2 seat, and who have their own coverage often prefer it. Drivers who want predictable withholding and benefits usually prefer W2. Neither is wrong. Decide with the numbers in front of you, not on the call.
Ready to look?
Every job here shows pay from the carrier's own document and says what it does not state.