Financial Wellness

What is Financial Wellness?

Financial wellness isn’t just about having money — it’s about having control over it. It means being able to meet your financial responsibilities, handle unexpected expenses, and feel confident about your future.

Now you might be thinking: What does that have to do with truck drivers?
At JBS Trucking, our answer is simple: everything.

Truck drivers face a unique set of financial challenges — from variable pay and long hours to rising fuel and living costs on the road. That’s why financial wellness matters. When your money is managed well, you’re not just getting by — you’re building toward something greater.

At JBS, we don’t just value our drivers — we invest in their future. We aim to be more than just an employer. We’re a partner you can count on to help you reach your goals — both on the road and in life.

Understanding your finances gives you freedom:
– To plan ahead
– To weather the unexpected
– To stop stressing and start building
Because when you’re financially strong, everything else runs smoother.

Understanding Your Finances

Ask yourself: What do I want to achieve in the next year? What about five or ten years from now? Whether it’s building an emergency fund, buying a home, or preparing for retirement, having a clear goal gives your financial planning purpose and direction.

Once your goals are defined, the next step is understanding your money flow. That begins with knowing how you’re paid—whether it’s per mile, per load, hourly, or salary. Understanding your average weekly or monthly take-home pay makes it easier to track expenses and plan how much you can realistically save for the future. Even a small step—like setting aside money each week—can build momentum toward long-term financial wellness.

Track your spending to take control of your money.
Start by identifying whether your expenses are fixed (like rent, insurance, or truck payments) or variable (like fuel, meals, or repairs). This helps you understand where your money is going—what’s essential, what can be adjusted, and how much you can realistically save each month. Most banking apps now offer tools to track your income and spending automatically. Use them to review your money in/money out flow on a regular basis—they’re simple and effective.

If you’re an owner-operator, it’s especially important to stay organized. Track all your deductions and use separate accounts or credit cards to divide personal and business finances. This keeps things cleaner for budgeting—and makes tax time a whole lot easier. Once you’ve set your goals and understand your financial picture, you’re on the road to building a real financial wellness plan—one that puts you in the driver’s seat of your future.

Increasing Your Financial Wellness

In today’s world, the cost of living feels like an all time high. Everyone is saving as much as they can, but a lot of people do not know where to start in building towards financial success. Keep in mind that financial success looks different in the eye of the beholder.

Start by creating a budget because having a clear budget helps you manage your cash flow and ensures you do not overspend, especially when income fluctuates. You can budget using a budgeting app online or a notebook (can get it from a discounted retailer or online). 

Build an emergency fund. Set aside 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund. Aim to save at least $100-$200 per week to gradually build this up. This can be easier said then done, so please remember that every penny helps. If you cannot meet the average standard, do not feel bad as progress is different for everyone. 

So is retirement. Saving for retirement might include opening a Roth IRA or 401k account. Even small contributions add up over time. As an independent contractor or owner-operator, you don’t have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, so it is essential to plan for the future on your own. Starting a retirement fund at a young age, will help you achieve your success easier. The moment you have a stable job, start saving. Just like trucks, the wear and tear on the road has a significant impact on your health. Finances do not have to be this way. 

Managing Debt

The key to managing debt is to understand the interest rates, repayment terms and impact on your wallet. Debt is manageable if it serves a productive purpose and helps you generate more wealth. If you can avoid it, stay away from high-interest debt. Try to pay down any credit card balances and avoid taking on new debt if possible. If you do need to use credit, choose cards with low interest rates and rewards. The best debt for your credit score that sometimes cannot be avoided is mortgage, student, business, or a low-interest car loan. High-interest loans will negatively impact your finances in a major way.

Everyone has debt in some capacity. Picking which debt payoff strategy will help you achieve your financial goals. There are two types of debt payoff strategies:

Snowball-Pay off the smallest debt first for quick wins. 

Avalanche-Pay off the highest-interest debt first to save more money over time. 

Snowball means paying off your smallest debt first, while making minimum payments on others. It helps to earn you quick wins to keep you motivated with payoff. The method is regardless of interest rate and can be used to motivate paying off balances. Examples of Snowball is:

$300 credit card=paid off

$1,200 loan= next up!

$9,000 truck loan= last one standing 

The other side of the coin is debt avalanche. This method is for paying off debt with the highest interest rate first to minimize overall interest paid. The remaining funds after the highest interest debt is paid off, are then allocated to the next highest interest debts until everything is paid off. 

Determining which method to choose is dependent on the person. If you are someone who needs to have weekly rewards to keep you motivated, choose to snowball. If you can wait and tackle the big debt first, you should choose avalanche. However, both are extremely effective with paying down debt. If you need additional resources to help you pay off your debt, check out Dave Ramsey, a host of a personal finance radio show and best-selling author who made the snowball method popular. 

Increasing Your Financial Wellness

Finances and mental health are deeply connected-especially for truck drivers. When money is tight, it can take a serious toll on your mind, mood, and physical health. Interesting enough, the number one cause of divorce in America is often cited as financial problems – including money-related stress. 

Bottom line is that money itself is not the problem, it is how it’s handled. Understanding your finances, saving and budgeting, and managing your debt will help increase your financial health. 

At J.Boren and Sons Trucking, we believe that financial wellness improves our environment and our employees. Take care of your mental, financial, and physical health this year and every year.