Southern Refrigerated Transport, a trucking company based out of Texarkana, Ark., recently announced its drivers will get a pay raise of 1 cent per mile.
According to Alex Green, public information officer, professional truckers are in demand, and companies have to compete to attract and retain qualified drivers.
"Overall, the industry is experiencing (a shortage) of drivers at this time," he said. "It is a seller's market for job seekers, so companies have to work harder to fill their driver rosters."
SRT, founded in 1986, was formerly headquartered in Ashdown, Ark. Its drivers operate in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. Its has a driving force of about 900 operators and a fleet of 850 trucks of various sizes in the Texarkana motor pool.
"We pay our drivers based on experience and a rate per mile," said Billy Cartwright, executive vice president and chief operations officer. Paychecks are issued weekly.
According to Cartwright, beginning trucker pay is high compared to entry-level positions in many other industries.
The pay raise "is going to get them an average $20 bonus per week in their paycheck. This will average out to about a $1,000 pay increase a year," Cartwright said.
With drivers in demand, the industry is wide open to new talent joining the rank of professional drivers.
"This is a great career. There is always an opportunity for a job-seeker looking for a good career. A new trucker can end up making $50,000 their first year," Cartwright said. "Further, you are paid to travel and see the country and have a degree of roving freedom most don't have in their jobs."
The pay raise, scheduled to take effect in October, ensures SRT is in the upper third of comparable pay rates in the trucking industry.
"Our company is making good financial progress, and it is important to us that we share our success with our truckers and show them we appreciate them," Cartwright said. He said his drivers are appreciative of the coming pay increase.
He relates to the driving side of the business, having done some time behind the wheel himself.
"I've been in the industry 18 years and with this company eight months," he said. "I do have my commercial driver's license, having started as a trucker myself. It gave me a real understanding of the job and what the drivers go through. The experience is priceless."
"I understand their frustrations and anxieties, and that's the only way to understand what they deal with is having done it yourself," Cartwright said.
