2019 key issues: No. 3 Driver compensation
Higher pay is one way fleets are addressing the driver shortage, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). Fleets also are trying different compensation models, including salary-plus, per-load, and percentage-of-load. While drivers are benefiting from increases, concern persists that driver compensation is not keeping pace with inflation, and drivers are not adequately compensated for non-driving duties.
ATRI proposes analyzing truck driver compensation in relation to other competing sectors, researching relationships between compensation models, and driver satisfaction and productivity, and researching and assessing the effectiveness of carrier retention programs that financially incentivize driver performance in safety, fuel economy, and trip productivity.
Here is how Bulk Transporter covered the driver compensation issue during 2019: