Out-of-network fuel buys can cost your fleet big bucks. Here’s how to incentivize and educate drivers to pad their paychecks and your fleet’s bottom line

Tying fuel network compliance and cost savings to driver pay is a critical area where fleets can engage with their drivers, use internal marketing programs to communicate with drivers, and provide an opportunity for drivers to take home more money without increasing payroll expenses. Here are strategies for your fleet to use in the current freight market.
‘At some point, every entry-level driver has to drive their first mile’: NTI talks with Roadmaster president about redefining the value of incoming drivers

Fleets that hire, recruit, and welcome inexperience drivers through their doors see the value in creating opportunities in trucking for this cohort of professional truckers. NTI talks with Roadmaster about the value to all fleets to recognize the opportunity to shape long-term driver retention by hiring industry newcomers. Watch the interview here.
What’s next for Women in Trucking under new leadership? NTI interviews incoming President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick about the group’s barrier-breaking mission

What’s next for The Women in Trucking Association as Jennifer Hedrick, incoming president and CEO, takes the helm? NTI’s Leah Shaver, a longtime member and three-term board of director at WIT, had the chance to sit down one on one with Hedrick this week to ask her just that, as well as to learn more about what’s next for WIT short term and long term as Hedrick becomes only the second leader of the 17-year-old association.
Layover polices and driver communication: What are fleets paying drivers for layovers between loads?

The number of fleets offering layover pay has hovered around 75% since NTI began tracking layover pay prevalence in 2015. The flat-rate amount paid for a layover in that time, however, has nearly doubled.
From Leah’s Desk: Redefine the value of an inexperienced driver and focus on trucking’s long game

Why should your fleet evaluate your minimum experience requirements? I’m glad you asked. I’ve jotted down my notes and thoughts in this month’s From Leah’s Desk.
Notable pandemic-era driver pay trend reversed course this quarter

Driver wage gains saw a renewed momentum in 2023’s second quarter, showing a little life after gains were mostly flat in the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, according to the latest data from NTI’s National Survey of Driver Wages and National Driver Wage Index. Also, a notable trend from the pandemic recovery years of 2021 and 2022 reversed course this quarter. See our full 2023 Q2 driver wages data trends and highlights.
Watch: NTI interviews FMCSA on trucking workforce policies, driver pay’s relation to safety, truck parking, and more

From driver pay and truck parking to attracting younger drivers and implementing policies to make trucking appealing to more women, FMCSA Robin Hutcheson chatted one on one with NTI President & CEO Leah Shaver this week about her top priorities as head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Watch the full interview.
What’s next for driver wages after a 5-year rollercoaster ride?

In our 2023 Driver Market Forecast, NTI explores in-depth the critical themes and trends impacting driver supply and availability and the factors influencing driver wages in 2023, as well as how driver pay structures could evolve in the coming decade. We also provided our forecast for wage growth in 2023, offering our expectations for where the recent rollercoaster ride goes next.
Women & The Wheel: A recap and resources your fleet can utilize

This Women’s History Month, the NTI blog has explored themes and policies that aim to answer one question: How can we make trucking a more attractive and secure career choice for women of all ages, of all backgrounds, and of all family situations? Find a recap of our Women & The Wheel series here and resources your fleets can use to evaluate your internal policies and programs.
Women & The Wheel: Safety policies, leadership representation, and programs to support working parents build a culture where women can thrive

From HR leaders to professional drivers, women working in trucking sound off on how to create a company culture that’s inclusive and drives momentum to recruit and retain women in transportation careers.