Study shows that driver pay may increase

A study from the National Transportation Institute revealed that driver pay may increase by an average of 3 to 5 cents per mile for company drivers and 4 to 6 cents for owner-operators over the next year, Trucker News reports.

At the recent Truckload Carriers Association meeting, researchers showed that driver pay hikes were closely tied to freight rate increases and performance measurements filed under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program.

Researchers also found current developments that created the driver shortage situation. For instance, carriers have downsized their driver force to deal with the recent recession. Also, many drivers are unqualified for the new, tougher safety standards, like the CSA.

Safety directors may wish to enroll their new employees in online truck driver safety training courses to give them CSA 2010 compliance training.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in transportation and material moving occupations are expected to increase by nearly 13 percent over the next seven years, which equates to more than 1,400 available jobs.

By Andie Martin

Study shows that driver pay may increase

Monday, March 21st, 2011