Tracking Sick Time for Michigan Trucking Under New ESTA Rules

In this article, we’ll explain what the new law says, why it’s a challenge for trucking companies, and how you can track sick time the right way — without changing how you pay your drivers.

What Is Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act? (2025 Update)

Michigan’s new ESTA rules went into effect on February 21, 2025. Here’s what employers need to know:

That last point matters most. If your drivers are paid by the mile, by the load, or a flat rate, they’re not salaried — and you must track their hours.

Why Sick Time Tracking Is Hard for Trucking Companies

Most industries track sick time by the hour. But in trucking, that’s not how drivers are paid.

You might be asking:

Yes — unless your drivers are true salaried employees, you need to track “hours worked” to stay compliant.That’s where the real challenge begins.

How to Calculate Hours Worked for Sick Time Accrual

Figuring out how many hours your drivers actually “worked” can be confusing — especially when you don’t pay them by the hour. But Michigan’s 2025 ESTA rules require it. The good news is, you don’t need to change how you pay your drivers — you just need a consistent way to track their time.

Now, if tracking hours sounds like a hassle, there’s another option — front-loading. Let’s look at how that works next.

Should You Front-Load Sick Time Instead?

To skip all that tracking, you might consider front-loading the full 72 hours (or 40, if you’re a smaller company).
This can work — but there’s a catch:

That means giving drivers the full amount of sick time up front each year.

It’s easier upfront, but you’ll need a good tracking system to back it up.

Can You Use a PTO Policy Instead?

Yes, and this can make things simpler.

Michigan allows companies to combine sick time with vacation and personal time into a single PTO (Paid Time Off) policy — as long as it meets or beats ESTA’s rules.

What If You Don’t Track Hours Now?

That’s common in trucking — but now you’ll need a plan.
Here’s what we suggest:

How Superior Trucking Payroll Service Helps You Stay Compliant

We know trucking — and we understand how tricky these new laws can be.
That’s why we offer:

We help you track — you stay focused on the road.

The Bottom Line for Michigan ESTA and Your Truck Drivers

Now you know how to calculate sick time for truck drivers under Michigan’s 2025 ESTA. Whether your drivers are paid by the mile, load, or flat rate, they still need to have hours tracked — and you now have a clear method for doing it.

Many trucking companies assume these rules don’t apply because they don’t pay hourly or overtime. But unless a driver is truly salaried, Michigan still requires you to track and report hours worked for sick time.

Start pulling on-duty and driving time from your ELD logs and add those hours to your payroll records. That way, you’re ready to track accrual and stay compliant all year long.

At Superior Trucking Payroll Service, we don’t guess — we guide. When you send us your drivers’ hours, we’ll help track and report sick time correctly through your payroll system, so you’re always one step ahead of the law.

And if you’re looking for a trucking-specific payroll partner who understands the ins and outs of laws like ESTA, check us out — we might just be the right solution for your fleet.