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KLLM rolls out ‘one of the largest’ driver pay hikes in company history

Independent contractors, company drivers to see high-single-digit increases

KLLM raising driver pay (Photo: KLLM)

North America’s second-largest temperature-controlled truckload (TL) carrier, KLLM Transport Services, announced Tuesday “one of the largest” increases to drive pay in the company’s history.

The Jackson, Mississippi-based carrier’s new monthly pay package will raise earning potential for over-the-road and regional independent contractors by more than 9%. Fuel surcharges will now cover all paid miles, both loaded and empty. The new plan will push average pay per compensated mile to more than $1.05 for over-the-road contractors and to more than $1.38 for regional contractors.

Company drivers, both over-the-road and regional, will see monthly earning potential increase more than 8% under the program. The program provides all starting company drivers with the potential to earn at least 52 cents per mile.

The new pay increases are in addition to recent driver programs KLLM has established. The company previously announced a $7,000 sign-on bonus for new over-the-road, regional and dedicated drivers and raised its driver productivity mileage bonus program, which now includes more than $6,000 in annual earning potential.


“The resolve and determination of our KLLM company drivers and independent contractors throughout the last year has been remarkable,” said KLLM President and CEO Jim Richards.

The new pay plan will be rolled out over the coming weeks.

Several fleets have increased driver pay over the past couple of months in efforts to seat their tractors and improve utilization amid a high-demand environment. Industry capacity has been drawn lower during the pandemic as driver schools are producing fewer graduates, the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse has sidelined drivers, and retirements have increased over COVID concerns.

“They have kept America moving throughout the ongoing COVID-19 crisis by keeping food and pharmaceuticals stocked and on the shelves despite unprecedented challenges. We are proud of these men and women, and this pay package increase only further solidifies KLLM as one of top carriers in the nation for driver compensation,” Richards concluded.


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21 Comments

  1. Dark knight

    Is this a joke?? KLLM really think they got it going on. I left a company that paid me .70 cents a miles ran me good i was bring home anywhere from 3500 to 4000 a week. Bought my own truck and trailer got my own authority and now im making 10k to 12k a week. Most all my loads paying over 3 bucks a miles

  2. Odell Crespo

    I am currently making 100+.13 my first position as a lease operator. Not sure if something is missing here. But seems like i just wasted 2 minutes of my life listening to this. Also my company is a small company, but they run me pretty hard. Cheap freight, and cheaper drivers are making us suckers. We keep america moving, Yet many box truck drivers, and warehouse workers make more.

  3. Jim

    If they raised company driver pay to $0.65/mile KLLM would have every truck filled and a waiting list. They won’t – so they get bottom of the barrel employees who don’t care about the company or the equipment.

  4. CM Evans

    Biden is gonna burn union labor voters he picked up with more immigrant labor while at the same time supplying cheap labor to the corporate donors who run the mega shippers/carriers. There is no other solution w/the elders leaving the industry and the younger ones not interested.

    The rates KLLM is offering are just catching up w/the industry, and few carriers have raised wages beyond the current market rate even with freight demand being high and drivers in demand. The only money offered above market rate is in incentives to hit higher miles, meaning stay out longer.

    If you’ve been hustling the spot market and didn’t save and/or pay off your debt, see you in the bread line. That immigrant labor on the other phone line w/the broker your talking to at TQL will haul for cheaper rates. None of this is new, its just the cycle repeating itself as it always does.

    1. CM Evans

      The day after my original post, the Senate “establishment” led by an alleged conservative “Mike Lee” from Utah passed a bill to increase the amount of HB-1 (Tech Worker) visas for work in the US.
      If you think the mega shippers/carriers/brokers aren’t lobbying for more cheap labor, you haven’t been busted for the weed you’re smoking.
      It will start with allowing greater entry for Canada/Mexico Carriers and expand to cabotage w/in the US to improve their operating ratios, along with more entry of immigrants from non North American countries.

  5. 76p10

    Agree! 100 percent. Think he lying. Call a broker for a load and negotiate. 2.50 3.50 a mile. Than see the difference in yo pay. Owning your truck and leasing you tell me.

Comments are closed.

Todd Maiden

Based in Richmond, VA, Todd is the finance editor at FreightWaves. Prior to joining FreightWaves, he covered the TLs, LTLs, railroads and brokers for RBC Capital Markets and BB&T Capital Markets. Todd began his career in banking and finance before moving over to transportation equity research where he provided stock recommendations for publicly traded transportation companies.