Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026. For FedEx Ground service providers that pay day rates, that sets a hard floor. A 10-hour day now needs at least $150, an 11-hour day $165, and a 12-hour peak day $180, before any overtime the driver is owed. The next change isn't until January 1, 2028.
Florida has no overtime law of its own, so overtime follows federal rules. Drivers in step vans rated over 10,000 lbs are usually exempt from overtime, but not from minimum wage. Cargo-van drivers are owed time-and-a-half for hours over 40. Our FedEx ISP overtime rules guide explains the exemption in detail.
How the $15 test works for day rates
Minimum wage is checked one workweek at a time: total pay for the week, divided by total hours worked, must be at least $15.00. Florida's minimum wage law follows the federal FLSA's coverage rules. Hours worked include everything the driver does for you: pre-trip inspection, loading at the station, waiting on late trailers, and the route itself.
Two things make day rates risky:
- The rate doesn't move when hours do. A day rate that's legal at 10 hours can fall below $15 an hour at 11.
- Every week is tested on its own. A slow week doesn't offset a long one.
Minimum legal day rates in Florida (from September 30, 2026)
| Schedule | Hours per week | Minimum day rate | Minimum weekly pay, step van (overtime-exempt) | Minimum weekly pay, cargo van (FLSA overtime) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days × 9 hours | 45 | $135 | $675.00 | $712.50 |
| 5 days × 10 hours | 50 | $150 | $750.00 | $825.00 |
| 5 days × 11 hours | 55 | $165 | $825.00 | $937.50 |
| 5 days × 12 hours | 60 | $180 | $900.00 | $1,050.00 |
| 6 days × 10 hours | 60 | $150 | $900.00 | $1,050.00 |
| 6 days × 11 hours | 66 | $165 | $990.00 | $1,185.00 |
How to read it:
- Minimum day rate is $15 × hours per day. Paying less breaks minimum wage for every driver, step van or not.
- Step van column: drivers exempt from overtime under the Motor Carrier Act still need $15 for every hour worked.
- Cargo van column: adds the federal half-time premium at the $15 floor, which is hours over 40 × $7.50. If you pay more than the floor, the premium is half of the driver's actual regular rate.
The table assumes the same hours every day. Real weeks vary, so always test the actual week: total pay ÷ total hours.
The peak-season trap
For settlement purposes, FedEx peak runs from November 21, 2026 through January 1, 2027 (see our FedEx peak season guide), and route days get longer. A day rate that clears $15 in October may not clear it in December:
| Day rate | 10-hour day | 11-hour day | 12-hour day |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150 | $15.00 | $13.64 (below $15) | $12.50 (below $15) |
| $160 | $16.00 | $14.55 (below $15) | $13.33 (below $15) |
| $170 | $17.00 | $15.45 | $14.17 (below $15) |
| $180 | $18.00 | $16.36 | $15.00 |
Three ways ISPs handle it:
- Raise the peak day rate for the season, in writing, before peak starts.
- Pay make-up pay whenever a week's total ÷ hours comes in under $15.00. For overtime-eligible drivers, also compute the overtime premium on at least $15, because federal rules say the regular rate can't be lower than the applicable state minimum (29 CFR 778.5 (opens in new tab)).
- Move to an hourly or back-into-rate plan, so pay follows hours automatically.
Per-stop drivers: same test
Per-stop pay is checked the same way: stops × rate, plus any bonuses, divided by hours. Light-volume days are where it breaks. A rural route with 120 stops at $1.10 pays $132. If that day ran 9.5 hours, it works out to $13.89 an hour. If the rest of the week doesn't make it up, you owe the difference.
Deductions count against the floor
Deductions for things that mainly benefit the employer, such as uniforms, equipment or vehicle damage, can't take a driver below $15 an hour for the week. Federal rules require wages to be paid "free and clear" (29 CFR 531.35 (opens in new tab)). Take a $150 day rate for five 10-hour days with a $50 weekly damage deduction. That leaves $700 for 50 hours, or $14 an hour.
What a mistake costs in Florida
Florida's Constitution gives workers a direct right to sue for unpaid minimum wages. A worker who wins recovers back wages plus the same amount again in liquidated damages, plus attorney's fees and costs. The statute of limitations is four years, or five for willful violations, which is longer than the federal two or three. Willful violators also face a $1,000 fine per violation (Fla. Const. art. X, § 24 (opens in new tab)). Before suing, a worker must send written notice, and the employer then has 15 days to pay or resolve the claim (section 448.110, Florida Statutes).
That 15-day window is worth knowing. If a driver's notice is right, paying within it is usually far cheaper than litigating.
Florida checklist before your next payroll
- Set every day rate at $15 or more × the longest regular day on that route.
- Put peak-season rates in writing before November 21.
- Record hours from the first task to the last, not from the route plan.
- Run make-up pay whenever a week averages under $15.
- Pay overtime-eligible drivers (cargo vans and mixed weeks) the half-time premium on a regular rate of at least $15.
- Test deductions against the floor before you take them.
- Post the current Florida minimum wage notice from FloridaCommerce.
What changes next
Florida's minimum wage won't change again until January 1, 2028, when annual inflation adjustments resume. The state will calculate the new rate on September 30, 2027. Several other states raise their minimums on January 1, 2027, and we'll publish a state-by-state day-rate table in December. For current rules by state, see our state payroll laws guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum day rate for a FedEx driver in Florida?
At least $15 for every hour worked in the week. For a 10-hour day that's $150, for 11 hours $165, and for 12 hours $180, plus overtime for drivers who are owed it.
Do Florida delivery drivers get overtime?
Florida has no state overtime law, so federal rules apply. Drivers of vehicles rated 10,000 lbs GVWR or less are owed time-and-a-half for hours over 40 in a week. Drivers who spend the whole week in vehicles rated over 10,000 lbs are usually exempt under the Motor Carrier Act.
Are step-van drivers exempt from minimum wage too?
No. The Motor Carrier Act exemption covers overtime only. Step-van drivers must still average at least $15.00 an hour every workweek.
When does Florida's minimum wage go up again?
On January 1, 2028, when annual inflation adjustments resume. The new rate will be calculated on September 30, 2027.
Sources
- Lowndes, Florida's minimum wage reaches $15.00 on September 30, 2026 (opens in new tab)
- Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24 (opens in new tab)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #19: The Motor Carrier Exemption under the FLSA (opens in new tab)
- 29 CFR 778.5 (opens in new tab), 29 CFR 778.112 (opens in new tab) and 29 CFR 531.35 (opens in new tab)
Check every driver against the new floor
FleetWage checks each driver's weekly pay against the state minimum wage, calculates the regular rate and overtime premium automatically, and exports compliant payroll to ADP, Gusto, Paychex and other providers. Book a demo, or run a quick check with the free FedEx paycheck calculator.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Talk to an employment attorney about your specific pay plans.