ATS Flatbed Drivers Earn 70 Cents Per Mile

ATS Raises Company Flatbed Driver Pay to $0.70 Per Mile

Anderson Trucking Service is increasing the base mileage rate for its company flatbed drivers from $0.60 to $0.70 per mile, giving drivers an additional 10 cents for every loaded and empty mile covered under the company’s mileage-pay plan.

The St. Cloud, Minnesota-based carrier said the increase applies across all classes and tenure levels. The new rate took effect Sept. 21 and covers all 327 of ATS’s current company flatbed drivers.

Because the increase applies to both loaded and empty miles, drivers will receive the higher rate for the miles they run regardless of whether the truck is hauling freight or traveling empty between loads, according to the company. ATS said the change is intended to provide drivers with a stronger earnings foundation across all lanes and stages of their careers with the company.

“Our drivers are the foundation of everything we do,” said Lori McNaughton, senior director of operations at ATS. “This investment reflects the skill, professionalism, and commitment that flatbed specialized drivers bring to the job every day.”

McNaughton said ATS regularly reviews driver compensation to keep pace with the market and recognize the value drivers provide to the company and its customers.

“By increasing mileage pay across all lanes and tenure levels, we’re providing a stronger earnings foundation on every mile and continuing our long-standing commitment to investing in the people who keep our customers and company moving forward,” she said.

ATS also provided recent earning figures for its company flatbed fleet. During the current year, the company said the top 50% of its company flatbed drivers have averaged $1,600 per week, while the top 20% have averaged $2,100 per week.

Those figures are averages for groups of drivers and are separate from the newly announced mileage rate. Individual earnings can vary based on factors such as miles driven, freight, routes, time away from home and eligibility for additional compensation programs.

One such program is ATS’s Upside Pay option. On eligible loads of 1,200 miles or less, drivers can earn 26% of the load revenue instead of being paid by mileage. ATS calculates both the standard mileage compensation and the Upside Pay amount on qualifying loads, then pays the driver whichever option produces the higher amount.

The program gives drivers an alternative way to be compensated on shorter loads, while the mileage increase provides a higher base rate for the miles drivers run throughout the fleet. The company said drivers can use Upside Pay to maximize earnings on qualifying freight.

Flatbed work involves responsibilities beyond driving, ATS said. Drivers must secure freight properly, inspect and manage loads, adapt to different equipment and cargo, and work at a variety of customer facilities and job sites. Those duties require experience and attention to detail, particularly when freight dimensions, securement requirements or site conditions vary from one load to the next.

For drivers, the pay change directly affects the compensation attached to those responsibilities. A 10-cent-per-mile increase means an additional $100 for every 1,000 miles paid under the mileage rate, before considering any other compensation or deductions. Since the increase applies to empty miles as well as loaded miles, the company’s policy also recognizes the travel required to position equipment and complete a trip.

ATS described the adjustment as part of its continuing effort to provide competitive earning opportunities for company drivers. The announcement comes as trucking companies continue to review compensation in response to changing freight conditions and driver needs. Other carriers have also announced pay adjustments, including increases tied to specific driver groups or compensation programs.

The company said it will continue evaluating driver pay to ensure its compensation reflects the work performed by its drivers. For ATS’s company flatbed fleet, the immediate change is a higher base mileage rate available to every current driver, regardless of tenure or driver class.