Central Oregon Truck Increases Driver Pay
Central Oregon Truck Co. implemented a pay structure that gives new drivers $65,000 a year in base pay and experienced drivers more than $90,000 a year in pay.
The “Weekly Driver Salary Pay” program guarantees COTC drivers at least 2,430 miles a week with a minimum salary of $1,250, according to CEO Rick Williams.
“That’s minimum, and for drivers who want more home or rest time this provides a stable living wage,” he said.
Drivers willing to travel 3,000 miles per week would see $1,575 in pay. Solo drivers going that far earn up to $2,000 a week.
The new program means a $10,000 to $15,000 increase in annual pay for company drivers, Williams said.
Also, the program offers per diem pay of a flat $68 for five nights out each week.
COTC is an over-the-road, irregular route flatbed trucking company that operates in 48 states and Canada. It operates Kenworth tractors pulling aluminum Reitnouer trailers.
Redmond, Ore.-based COTC also began a team driver program in which drivers can gross from $2,350 to $3,345 weekly and earn an annual salary between $122,000 and $173,000.
“Drivers on the road have always deserved more money, but past market conditions have held wages down,” Williams said. “The reality is, shippers need to pay enough to support a quality wage for drivers and their families.”
Central Oregon also offers medical/dental and vision insurance.
Central Oregon is a unit of Daseke Inc., the Addison, Texas-based carrier ranked No. 42 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
Central Oregon was named the 2018 Best Overall Fleet in the small-fleet category in the Best Fleets to Drive For contest and survey produced by CarriersEdge, in partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association. The carrier was named to the top 20 small-carriers list in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 competitions.
