U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. has announced the largest increases for driver pay and contractor compensation in the history of the Chattanooga, Tenn. truckload carrier.

Under the new plan, the company’s U.S. Xpress company drivers will receive up to 43 cents per mile for the most experienced solo drivers and up to 53 cents per mile for the most experienced teams.
The mileage pay adjustment includes allowances for accessorial charges. The new pay package covers excessive dwell time and stop charges, and it is designed to compensate drivers for possible productivity losses with the implementation of the new hours of service regulations.
In developing the pay increase plan, company officials examined the marketplace, conducted productivity studies with the new hours of service and considered drivers’ needs for the future. While the new pay package rewards longevity with the company and overall experience in the industry, it was also designed to fit the needs of drivers working within the company’s various strategic services, which include long-haul, team, regional and dedicated contract carriage operations.
U.S. Xpress will implement the pay increases in two phases during the first six weeks of the year. Beginning Jan. 4, U.S. Xpress will increase accessorial-charge payments to drivers as the new hours of service regulations take effect. Beginning on Feb. 15, U.S. Xpress will start its new mileage pay program for company drivers. The U.S. Xpress contractor plan, meanwhile, will be fully implemented on Jan. 4 – raising compensation by up to five cents per mile over the current scale.
"We are very excited to bring what represents the largest pay increases in the history of U.S. Xpress to our drivers, to our contractors and to our industry," said Gary Kelley, U.S. Xpress vice president of recruiting.