U.S. trucking giant to pay drivers practical route miles

LINCOLN, Neb. — Crete Carrier Corp., one of the largest trucking companies in the U.S., will start paying its drivers practical route miles, according to Tonn Ostergard, company president and chief executive officer.

The change to practical route miles will take effect at the start of Crete Carrier’s fiscal year on Oct. 1. Currently, like most companies, Crete pays its drivers short route miles, which calculates the shortest route between two points. That method has been the industry-standard because shippers usually want to pay for the shortest route possible.

Practical route miles is a computer–generated projection of the route for which it is practical to operate a commercial truck. It can return up to 5 percent more in payable miles for drivers, and is starting to gain more acceptance among carriers looking to recruit and retain qualified drivers.

Ostergard said the switch to practical route miles was made to more accurately reflect Crete Carrier’s commitment to its drivers. The change will affect the 5,600 drivers who are either employed by or contract with Crete Carrier.

“Even though paying practical route miles is not the standard in our industry, we made this change with the best interests of our drivers in mind,” Ostergard said. “When we say ‘there are no shortcuts’ at Crete Carrier, we mean it.”

Crete Carrier provides dry van service. Divisions Shaffer Trucking offer temperature-sensitive service and Hunt Transportation has flatbed and specialized transportation. The company operates 5,348 power units and more than 12,435 trailers, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.