Ward Truckload Express, Altoona, Pa., has recently moved to paying on Practical Miles rather than PC miles, resulting in a raise of about $3,000 per year for its drivers.

“We saw the industry moving this direction a few months ago and wanted to be one of the first to make this improvement for our driving force,” says Creg Strock, director of recruiting & training at Ward Truckload Express. “Paying on Practical Miles is just the fair way to pay drivers and since we were adding a pay increase as well, we felt this was a good time to implement the change.”
The company has recently increased pay for drivers with four years of experience from 36 cents per mile to 37 cents per mile and pay for those with five years of experience from 37 cents per mile to 38 cents per mile. Drivers joining Ward are required to have at least two years of experience and start at 35 cents per mile while three years of experience earns 36 cents per mile.
“In addition, we have a 2-cent-per-mile quarterly bonus that brings pay up even more,” says Strock. “It can add up to as much as $650 per quarter.”
Ward Truckload Express has experienced steady growth in recent years and has driving opportunities open now for regional and OTR drivers and owner-operators.
One of the company’s features is guaranteed weekend home time for 48 hours. According to company President Tim Ward, making allowances for the driver’s lifestyle is a priority.
The length of haul for Ward Truckload Express OTR drivers ranges from 50 - 1,000 miles per load, with the average being about 410 miles per load. These drivers will average first year gross earnings of $52,000.
Company driver benefits include direct deposit, paid vacation and holidays; group-term life, AD & D and group medical insurance; voluntary profit sharing/401(k) plan, Ward pension plan and much more.
Benefits for owner operators/lease operators include 100 percent of loading/unloading billed, 100 percent of fuel surcharge, weekly pay settlements, direct deposit, 50 percent trip advance; EFS fuel card program, mobile communications at no cost, physical damage insurance, paid authorized tolls, bobtail insurance, fleet price tire purchase program, paid permits and more.
Professional drivers interested in the opportunities now open at Ward Truckload Express should call (888) 281-9273 or visit www.wtlx.biz.