Drivers seek more pay for congested routes

Truck drivers continue to campaign for a raise in per-mile pay for driving through routes in congested areas, according to a survey by Rand McNally.

The survey of 424 trucking professionals was conducted by The Litchfield Group, based in Marietta GA.

While 50% of fleet managers said trucker requests for higher pay were as common in 2004 as in 2003, 46% of the managers do not plan increases in 2005.

The survey also determined that 47% of managers surveyed said drivers used onboard tracking systems to warn them of possible late arrivals.

Cell phones were the most popular means of alerting managers of delivery delays (53%), with 9% of respondents saying their drivers use pay phones.

Five percent of those surveyed said e-mail was used to alert them of late arrivals. (Totals exceed 100% because the question permitted multiple responses.)

The survey also asked trucking professionals to rate the importance of services available to drivers at truckstops.

More than half (55%) of those responding consider secure overnight parking as the most important feature.

Maintenance and driver rest and relaxation facilities came in second and third with 12% and 10%, respectively.

Internet access was deemed the least important service by 36% of fleet managers, followed by truck and trailer wash facilities, rated as least important by 24% of respondents.