Leading Reefer Carrier Boosts Driver Pay 30%

C.R. England Inc. will boost its driver pay scale as much as 30% effective Aug. 1, a move the Utah-based truckload carrier said is part of an effort to show its appreciation for workers and to attract and retain drivers who are “committed to customers’ needs.”

“This pay scale increase reflects our commitment to our front-line employees, especially in conjunction with other benefits, such as our state-of-the-art driver facilities, excellent equipment and more,” said Daniel E. England, chief executive officer.

The new pay plan raises the rate paid for each mile and features a mileage bonus for about 2,500 of C.R. England’s 3,500 drivers who work in the company’s North American and regional trucking divisions. Drivers in other C.R. England divisions will also get more money as contracts and terms are renegotiated with shippers.

For solo drivers, the current pay of 21 cents to 30.5 cents a mile will go to 24 cents to 32.5 cents, with a bonus of 3 cents for each mile driven over 10,000 miles each month. Driver teams now are paid 25.5 cents to 33.5 cents, will earn 29 to 40 cents, with a bonus of 6 cents a mile over 16,000 miles a month and 16 cents a mile over 20,000 miles a month.

Owner-operators will receive 83 cents a mile for hauls up to 500 miles, 82 cents up to 1,000 miles and 81 cents over 1,000 miles. The company also pays 81 cents for all dispatched deadhead miles. Previously, owner-operators were paid a flat rate of 81 cents for all loaded and dispatched empty miles.

With an average trip length of 1,600 miles, the pay increase will make C.R. England among the top-paying carriers in the nation, company officials said.

For the full story, see the July 19 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.