Effective Jan. 4, Epes’s officials said the company is increasing starting pay across the board for new drivers based on years of experience. Drivers with two years of experience get 32 cents per mile, 33 cents with three years, 34 cents with four years, and 35 cents per mile with five or more years of road experience.
Additionally, all drivers are eligible for a one cent per mile safety bonus, said Epes. Overall pay tops out at 39 cents per mile.
Stephen Selig, president and COO of Maverick, said his company will offer starting pay up to 36 cents per mile for drivers in the company’s long haul fleet and up to 35 cents per mile for it’s regional fleet starting Jan. 4, with some divisions receiving as much as a four-cent per mile increase.
The company is also implementing a per diem pay option of eight cents per mile to help drivers reduce their taxable wage base so they ultimately pay less in taxes, said Debbie Mitchell, Maverick’s VP-finance. She added that Maverick would continue to offer quarterly fuel bonus opportunities, tarp pay, detention pay, referral bonus, weekend home time and medical benefits.
