Atlas Van Lines is offering “significantly increased” pay for drivers in its truckload freight and special commodities divisions, calling it the largest and most extensive pay increase for owner-operators in the company’s history.

The increase applies throughout the company’s contracts with corporate fleet drivers and is being combined with new cost-saving initiatives that will add up to a rise in compensation for drivers. Effective immediately, the average per mile pay is increasing 6 cents per mile in the truckload freight division and 10 cents per mile in the special commodities division.

Additionally, Atlas is offering stop pay, detention pay, and pay for in-van equipment counts and resets on truckload shipments to further increase overall pay. The company is also paying additional mileage on all first-year miles to new drivers in its freight divisions.

“The heart of this pay increase revision is based on feedback we have received from our owner-operators,” said Phil Wahl, senior vice president and general manager of Atlas Logistics. “The success and financial stability of our owner-operators is essential to the success of our fleet operations, and no one knows more about the biggest hurdles in reaching those individual goals than the owner-operators themselves.”

To further reduce owner operator expenses, Atlas now accepts occupational accident coverage in addition to its previous requirement for worker’s compensation coverage. It has also expanded the corporate fuel discount program with more brands and locations.

In the household goods division of Atlas Van Lines, the company has implemented a strategy to increase driver pay through service pricing increases. The rollout is underway and will continue through 2019.

“Atlas is committed to developing strategic initiatives to stay ahead of the driver shortage, all of which are focused on investing in the development and retention of the industry’s next generation,” said Jack Griffin, chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group.