Omega Integrated Logistics Group, Mount Holly, N.C., announced what it says is the largest sign-on bonus in the trucking industry --  $25,000 per owner-operator truck joining Omega before June 1.

Omega founder Edwin G. Johnson II is a second-generation trucking company owner. He sold his first trucking company, Elite Transport Inc., in 2008 for $8.2 million after building the company from two to 89 power units.

“Omega wants owner-operators now and we’re willing to pay for them,” said Johnson. “This isn’t a gimmick where we pay you over a long period of time. We’re paying $1,000 with the first settlement check, $5,500 after 30 days, $8,500 after 60 days and another $10,000 after 90 days.”

"The largest we have seen before this is a $15,000 team bonus that Schneider paid out over the first year, it was only up a short time," says Gordon Klemp, who tracks driver wage packages as the principal of the National Transportation Institute.

Klemp checked on some of the fine print of the program.

"It's paid out as detailed, but earned over 18 month of continuous operation as an owner-operator for Omega," Klemp explains. "Leave before 18 months and the owner-operator pays back a prorated amount. Leave after one year and pay back $8,333."

Omega says owner-operators in the Reefer Division receive $1.00 per mile plus fuel surcharge, or 87% of line haul rate. Owner-operators in the Dry Van Division receive 80% of gross line haul rate if dispatched by Omega, or 87% of gross line haul rate for driver scheduled loads.

The news about the bonus program came through Trucking Now LLC a technology company supporting the trucking industry in the areas of referral, recruiting and retention.