KLLM, Pride Transport Increase Pay for Truck Drivers

Pride Transport

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KLLM Transport Services and Pride Transport joined the surge of trucking companies set to raise driver pay.

Pride Transport increased driver pay by 4 cents per mile Dec. 1.

KLLM announced the same day that it is rolling out one of the largest driver pay increases in company history over the coming weeks.

KLLM is rolling out driver pay increases. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)

“The resolve and determination of our KLLM company drivers and independent contractors throughout the last year has been remarkable,” President Jim Richards said in a statement. “They have kept America moving throughout the ongoing COVID-19 crisis by keeping food and pharmaceuticals stocked and on the shelves despite unprecedented challenges.”

Pride Transport said pay will increase by 4 cents per mile. Drivers can also expect an additional 4 cents per mile for two years as part of Pride Transport’s $10,000 sign-on bonus payout.

The company first announced its plans to increase pay Nov. 25.

“This is an exciting announcement,” Steve Schelin, director of recruiting at Pride Transport, said in a statement. “What does that mean for a driver coming to Pride Transport? It means our base pay rate is 45 to 47.5 cents per mile and then we add so many extras.”

Schelin

Schelin added the $10,000 sign-on bonus is paid over two years at $100 per week — the equivalent of another 4 cents per mile.

Pride Transport also touted its 401(k) program that matches contributions by 20%, and its health care plans.

KLLM said over-the-road and regional independent contractors will see their compensation potential increase more than 9% each month with their fuel surcharge now covering both loaded and empty miles. This means average over-the-road independent contractors will be compensated $1.05 per mile. Regional independent contractors will get an average of $1.38.

Both companies announced the pay increases amid a surge of other carriers doing the same thing.

Trucking has been working to respond to low capacity because of a driver shortage in a year that has generally seen high demand. Both trends have been driven in part by the coronavirus pandemic.

KLLM is a temperature-controlled and truckload carrier. It ranks No. 41 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of for-hire carriers in North America.

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