Crete Carrier Corp., one of the largest trucking companies in the country, will start paying its drivers Practical Route miles, according to Tonn Ostergard, company president and chief executive officer.

Crete Carrier Corp. owns and operates Crete Carrier, Shaffer Trucking and Hunt Transportation Inc. Collectively, the group offers a full range of transportation services and ranks as one of the 20 largest trucking companies in the country.
The change to Practical Route miles will take effect at the start of Crete Carrier’s fiscal year on Oct. 1. Currently, the Lincoln, Neb.,-based company pays its drivers industry-standard Short Route miles.
Ostergard said the switch to Practical Route miles was made to more accurately reflect Crete Carrier’s commitment to its drivers. The change will affect the 5,600 drivers who are either employed by or contract with Crete Carrier.
“Even though paying Practical Route miles is not the standard in our industry, we made this change with the best interests of our drivers in mind,” Ostergard said. “When we say ‘there are no shortcuts’ at Crete Carrier, we mean it.”
Crete Carrier provides dry van service, Shaffer Trucking offers temperature-sensitive service and Hunt Transportation has flatbed and specialized transportation. The company operates 5,348 power units and more than 12,435 trailers, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.