Fleet Focus: New pay packages for Transport America, Cargo Transporters, J&R Schugel

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Transport America announced a pay increase that will allow all of its owner-operators to make $1 per mile. The pay increase, which goes into effect July 1, eliminates the difference between hazmat and non-hazmat base pay.

The Eagan, Minn.-based company also announced a pay increase for company drivers in its Over-The-Road and Regional divisions, effective Sept. 1. All current solo OTR and regional drivers will see at least a 1 cent-per-mile increase, moving the company’s top pay rate to 47 cents per mile for solo OTR drivers and up to 42 cents per mile for regional drivers.

Transport America also plans to increase the speed of its trucks, allowing a maximum cruising speed of 64 mph for solo drivers and 68 mph for teams.

Meanwhile, here’s some news from another familiar name when it comes to pay boosts. Cargo Transporters announced a 5 percent pay increase for over-the-road drivers effective July 5. The latest increase comes on the heels of multiple pay hikes at the Claremont, N.C.-based company.

All OTR drivers received a 2½ percent increase in February and a 10.1 percent increase given in calendar year 2014 – yielding a total 17.6 percent increase for OTR drivers in a 15-month period.

Finally, the good folks at J&R Schugel Trucking Inc. announced plans to increase driver compensation as much as 22 percent. A first-year driver for the employee-owned company can earn more than $51,000 a year, and top veteran drivers can earn more than $78,000 a year.

Base pay now is 38 cents per mile, with the potential to add an additional 6 cents per mile in performance-based incentives such as utilization, miles per gallon and safety. The New Ulm, Minn.-based company also increased its per diem to 11 cents per mile and added $100 of holiday pay for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.