Some fleets offer more pay for congested miles

Drivers want more pay for navigating congested roads, and some fleets plan to provide it, according to a survey conducted for Rand McNally, a provider for routing software and road maps. Of the 424 fleet managers contacted for the survey, 20% said they will boost per-mile pay for routes through congested areas.

On the negative side for truck drivers, 46% of the fleets said that while driver requests for higher pay have remained steady from the previous year, they do not plan to increase base pay rates this year.

Other results from the survey, which was conducted by independent research firm The Lichfield Group, showed 47% of the responding fleets using onboard tracking systems to monitor delivery schedules, and only 9% relying on drivers using pay phones for late-delivery alerts.

Asked to rate the importance of driver services at truck stops, 55% ranked secure overnight parking as the most important. Maintenance and driver relaxation services came in second and third with 12% and 10%, respectively. Internet access was rated least important by 34% of the fleet managers.