Nagle Toledo, a family-owned refrigerated carrier servicing the East Coast, recently increased truck driver compensation.
The Toledo, OH-based company, which says it was one of the first truckload carriers to begin paying over-the-road truckers a straight salary in 2017, raised starting salaries from $1,200 to $1,400 per week, with top pay of $1,700 per week, effective Jan. 1.
The 17% increase is the largest driver wage increase in its 36-year history, the company said.
“The reason we pay our OTR drivers a salary is two-fold,” said Ed Nagle, company president. “First, we hire professionals and most professionals get paid a weekly salary. The second reason is the drivers love the predictable weekly paycheck. Because of the nature of our lanes, our drivers only run 1,800-2,200 miles a week, while still getting home.
“In the past, they might get paid $800 one week, then the next week they might get paid $1,700, depending on when their paperwork was received.”
Nagle said it only hires drivers with at least five years of experience and stable work history.
“We only take drivers that are disciplined in trip planning, and making their pick-up and delivery appointments,” said James White, Nagle’s director of operations. “Nagle drivers are responsible, dependable, and great communicators with a safe history. Those are the attributes of a professional truck driver and we are only interested in drivers that are committed to this profession.
“Upholding our standards is the only way we can maintain the level of service that we provide.”
