Baylor Trucking Raises Driver Pay a Penny Per Mile

Baylor Trucking of Milan, Indiana, is the latest carrier to increase pay rates at the beginning of 2017, one that an industry analyst on driver pay believes could spread across the industry.

Longhaul drivers exceeding 2,500 miles in a week will earn an additional penny per practical mile for their work. Practical miles refers to the quickest route from origin to destination, often maximizing the use of interstates regardless of whether the overall mileage is greater, to determine driver pay. Short miles refer to calculating a trip from origin to destination using the shortest possible route by miles.

The base pay increase is for new and current company drivers with all levels of experience.

“For 76 years, we have put people first place in our priorities. Our family business will continue to be an industry front-runner in driver pay and benefits. We don’t believe in the ‘up to’ games or gimmicks. We continue to grow based on sincerely taking care of our driver needs in terms of pay, equipment and support,” Cari Baylor, president of Baylor Trucking, said in a statement.

In November 2016, Baylor announced she would raise longhaul driver pay a penny per practical mile for veterans and $1 per hour for local drivers.

Crete Carrier Corp., which ranks No. 33 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers, also raised driver pay Jan. 1 by a penny per mile for national drivers at Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking. of the bellwethers out there," Gordon Klemp, founder and president of the National Transportation Institute told TT in December. "When we see them move, it’s generally a harbinger of things to come. They’re adept at reading the market and at the leading edge on pay.”

He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the pay increases in the first quarter are relatively modest but also a precursor. “If the economy improves, we’ll see a second round of pay increases later in the year,” he said.