Q1 2023 driver wages data trends: Upward momentum slows, but pay gains still historically strong year over year
Mileage, hourly, and annual earnings for professional truck drivers continued to grow in the first quarter of 2023, according to The National Transportation Institute’s National Survey of Driver Wages and National Driver Wage Index. Likewise, fleets continue to pad compensation add-ons like bonuses, productivity incentives, and accessorials pay.
Fighting fatigue of seniority-based load bidding: 3 ways to reward drivers working less-desirable shifts
In NTI’s work with private and dedicated fleets, that’s a common concern we hear: Seniority-based bid systems contribute to frustration of new hires and churn among early tenured truckers. Here are three ways your fleet can help soothe those frustrations, incentivize weekend shifts and other lesser desired loads, and manage hang-ups caused by seniority-based load bidding programs
Is there ‘false advertising’ in your fleet’s driver recruiting process? Here’s how to ward off an unintentional turnover culprit
While almost always unintentional, errors in job ads can lead to immediate distrust with new driver hires if they receive inconsistent information during the job evaluation and hiring process or after they’ve been onboarded. Expectation gaps between what a driver thought the job would be and what it actually entails are a fast track for early turnover and churn of new driver hires. Here are five strategies to help avoid ‘false advertising’ in your driver marketing.
Diversifying your driver lead funnel, letting drivers own profitability, and the enduring value of a CDL: Consider these 4 strategies in your fleet’s driver programs
In this month’s From Leah’s Desk, NTI President & CEO Leah Shaver shares insights on diversifying your driver recruiting funnel to excel in any market cycle, the enduring value of a driver’s CDL, empowering drivers on the profitability of their individual truck, and focusing on the habits you want your recruiting program to embody.
5 ways your fleet can focus on driver health as a retention tool in 2023
As we’ve touched on a few times in the NTI Blog, putting driver health at the center of every fleet department is one of the most critical steps your fleet can take in its driver retention program. Not only is it the right thing to do for your people and the personal and professional wellbeing […]
New federal retirement law brings changes for fleets, but offers a strong driver recruiting and retention hook, too
Amidst the shuffle of the holidays, Congress passed and President Biden signed a bill that implements several federal reforms to retirement benefits offered by employers to their employees. The new law, the SECURE Act 2.0, took effect January 1 and phases in new requirements in the coming years. The law’s enactment means not only required […]
From the personal to the professional, reflecting on trucking into an uncertain 2023
NTI’s reflections, resources, and driver wages insights as 2022 closes and 2023 begins.
Three highlights from 2022’s fourth quarter driver wages data
Despite slowing growth after a strong run-up in back half of 2020 and into the first half of 2022, professional driver wages in the fourth quarter of 2022 continued to climb from the prior quarter and year over year, according to data compiled by The National Transportation Institute. Gains in base wages — mileage and […]
Attracting talent and providing career path development in trucking extend well beyond the driver’s seat
What does career path development look like at your fleet? This is a point we hit on frequently at NTI in our work with fleets of all sizes. The pervasive lack of career path — or at least a stated and understood path — for professional drivers absolutely is a contributor to the churn of […]
Fleets responding to newer drivers’ expectations for wage growth momentum
The “earn your stripes” mentality is quickly becoming an ideal of the past. While per-mile and hourly pay for drivers of all experience levels has shown strong and steady growth over the past two years, the momentum of wage growth among drivers at the lower end of the experience scale has been the most pronounced.