Taylor Swift gave a $100,000 bonus to each truck driver on her Eras Tour.
Swift honored her committed team who did the heavy lifting throughout the country as the Eras Tour came to a close in the United States. Among them were the tour’s truck drivers, whom Swift surprised by handing each of them a $100,000 check, according to Michael Scherkenbach, the founder and CEO of Shomotion trucking firm.
Shomotion is one of two transportation companies used by Swift.
“My company handles transportation of the stage and structure, pretty much the skeleton that everything hangs on at the concert venue,” Scherkenbach told CNN.
Scherkenbach would not say how many of the company’s truck drivers earned the incentive, but he did affirm that over 50 members of the combined trucking crews did, and he highlighted that the normal bonus sum is $5,000 to $10,000.
“These men and women, they live on the road. They sleep during the day and work all night,” Scherkenbach told CNN. “It’s a grueling task. They leave their families, young children for weeks. For Taylor’s tour, they’ve been away from home for 24 weeks.”
He claimed that his drivers were summoned to what appeared to be a typical production meeting ahead of a concert. Scott Swift, Swift’s father, paid an unexpected visit.
The “Taylor family is always present and kind to our drivers, but Scott doesn’t generally lead the meeting,” Scherkenbach told CNN. “Scott gave a speech in which he stated that he had discussed this with Taylor and that they both agreed that it was only fair that everyone received a bonus.” Taylor insisted on handwriting a card to each driver and sealing the package with her monogram.”
According to CNN, the cheques were distributed together with the proper tax form after the letter. Sherkenbach stated that his drivers were taken aback when they realized how much money they had been handed.
“They didn’t want to be overly rude and look at it.” But one driver thought it stated $1,000, another thought it said $10,000, and the third replied, ‘Well, this has to be a prank!'” Scherkenbach explained.