Major fleet gives owner-operators per-mile pay increase

Updated Sep 15, 2017
Forward Air has announced a per-mile pay increase for its truckload expedited and LTL owner-operators, effective Oct. 1.Forward Air has announced a per-mile pay increase for its truckload expedited and LTL owner-operators, effective Oct. 1.

Forward Air (No. 36 on the CCJ Top 250) is increasing its per-mile pay for independent owner-operators in its truckload expedited (TLX) and LTL divisions, effective Oct. 1.

Contractors in the TLX division will receive a 10-cent-per-mile boost, while contractors in the LTL division will receive a 3-cent-per-mile boost. Additionally, fleet owners operating more than one truck will receive the tenure rate, up to 5 cents-per-mile, for their entire fleet based on the contract date of their oldest truck.

The company says LTL owner-operators run trailers averaging 26,000 lbs from one Forward Air terminal to another, mostly at night, averaging 3,000 miles solo and 5,800 miles for teams each week. TLX drivers run from one customer to another and average between 2,800 miles solo and 5,000 miles as teams each week.

“LTL has long been the cornerstone of Forward Air, and I’m extremely excited to see that group get an increase,” says Ryan Gilliam, vice president of recruiting. “Our turnover rate on that group is under 40 percent, which is borderline unheard of in this industry, and we hope to see that improve even more with this adjustment.” Gilliam adds, “And the TLX group has such momentum right now, to see that division get such a sizable increase, it’s now truly positioned as a top-notch offering to a prospective IC”

Solo LTL owner-operators can earn between $1.01 and $1.085 per loaded mile plus fuel surcharge, while team LTL owner-operators can earn between $1.11 and $1.20 per loaded mile plus fuel surcharge. Solo TLX drivers can earn between $1.16 and $1.235 per loaded mile plus fuel surcharge, while team TLX drivers can earn between $1.23 and $1.32 per loaded mile plus fuel surcharge.