LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking have announced a pay increase for their company national over the road (OTR) drivers. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, Crete national OTR drivers will receive a $.02 per practical mile increase, resulting in an 11 percent increase in the overall pay package. When combined with an over 2 percent increase in miles, drivers will be earning more than 13 percent over the previous year. Shaffer Trucking is increasing pay by $.04 per practical mile. Over the previous year, Shaffer has increased the overall pay package by over 17 percent and increased paid miles by more than 4 percent. Truck drivers for Shaffer Trucking will now be earning over 21 percent more over the previous year.
“As a company, we have tremendous opportunities to grow. Hiring the best drivers allows us to retain our leadership in the industry. You can’t be a great trucking company without having great drivers and this pay increase is just one way we are rewarding our great drivers and achieving this goal,” says President and CEO, Tonn Ostergard. “We lead the industry in CSA scores, retention, our gold standard benefits package, and continue to lead in pay. Our drivers put in hard work to keep this country moving, so this pay increase is not an expense, but an investment in our most valuable asset!”
Crete Carrier Corporation and Shaffer Trucking is recognized by the National Transportation Institute as a Top Pay Certified Carrier, meeting three critical categories: top tier pay, benefits, and carrier stability. The recent pay increase is a reflection of the continued effort to ensure truck drivers at Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking have every opportunity to succeed in today’s trucking industry.
Furthermore, Crete Carrier Corporation and Shaffer Trucking also offers a gold standard benefit package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance, ensuring coverage for both the driver and the family. In addition, Crete Carrier Corporation also offers 401k and profit sharing opportunities. Last year, Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking distributed more than $8 million to employees.
“In addition to increasing driver pay rates, we are experiencing much stronger demand for our services which has also resulted in nearly a 5 percent increase in miles for our drivers,” said Jack Peetz, President of Shaffer Trucking. “Growing our fleet will benefit both our drivers and our customers.”
Additionally, Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking have replaced half of the trucks in their fleet in the past 15 months, making the average age of equipment less than two years old. Plus, we are adding more than 1,500 new Freightliner Cascadias this year.
Crete Carrier Corporation continues to prove itself as a solid employer. As one of the industry leaders in retention, drivers typically stay with Crete and Shaffer three times longer than the competition. Much of this success is due to the continued efforts to ensure driver’s safety have the miles they want to make the good living they deserve.
About Crete Carrier Corporation
Founded in 1966, Crete
Carrier Corporation and Shaffer Trucking, ranks as one of the largest
privately-owned trucking companies in the country, offering a full range
of transportation services to our customers. For more information about
Crete Carrier Corporation, please visit www.CreteCarrier.com
or email Todd Sanning at corpcomm@cretecarrier.com.