Crete, Shaffer Announce Driver Pay Increases
Crete Carrier Corp. and Shaffer Trucking have become the latest fleets to raise driver pay in response to growing demand.
Crete Carrier’s national over-the-road drivers on Jan. 1 will receive 2 cents more per practical mile as part of an 11% increase in the overall pay package, the company said in a statement.
Shaffer is increasing pay by 4 cents per practical mile. Shaffer’s increase over 2013 pay levels is 17%, and Crete’s hike is 13%.
Driver pay has been rising across the industry this year as fleets’ higher profits facilitate pay increases and driver retention efforts have accelerated. More than four of every 10 truckload fleets raised pay in the third quarter, a recent survey found.
“As a company, we have tremendous opportunities to grow. Hiring the best drivers allows us to retain our leadership in the industry,” Crete CEO Tonn Ostergard said. “This pay increase is not an expense, but an investment in our most valuable asset.”
In addition to higher pay, the statement from Crete, which owns both companies, said that miles driven have increased at both carriers, producing even greater pay for drivers. Crete ranks No. 30 on Transport Topics Top 100 For-Hire Carriers in the United States and Canada.
The statement also noted that Crete and Shaffer equipment now on average is less than two years old as part of an ongoing fleet modernization effort.
