Covenant Transport has announced a new Teaming Bonus program with incentives of up to $40,000 that is aimed at driving teams and single drivers willing to convert to teaming.

The program pays $2,000 in bonus money to driving teams each time a team eclipses 60,000 paid miles together. The team drivers will receive $1,000 each, up to a total combined of $40,000 or $20,000 each.

The bonus program will go into effect on Feb. 1.

Covenant  said it is looking to boost its team truck count through the program to address expected demand for team capacity in 2018. In 2017, the company averaged 980 team trucks.

“We have team freight. That’s important to note, because a lot of carriers bring on team drivers and put them on solo lanes,” said David Parker, founder and CEO of Covenant Transport Services. “One of the most frustrating things for a team is being underutilized. Teams want long lengths of haul, and that’s what we are focused on giving them.”

To be eligible for the new $40,000 Teaming Bonus, new drivers are not required to bring a team partner to Covenant. The company’s team-matching program will match single drivers in search of driving partners, and following orientation, newly formed teams are immediately eligible to begin earning under the $40,000 Teaming Bonus program.

The company sees the bonus program as a way to entice drivers in an increasingly competitive labor market. Throughout 2017, Covenant faced growing competition for team drivers and wanted to stand out from other employers with the Teaming Bonus.

“Rewarding people for doing the work you ask them to do is what attracts and retains the type of drivers you are looking for,” said Hogan. “We feel our new teaming bonus will be a great reward for our team drivers who go out and run.”