House panel advances bill prohibiting truckers’ meal, rest breaks by states

A House subcommittee advanced a Department of Transportation funding bill that includes a provision blocking states from implementing their own meal and rest breaks for truckers.

However, during a brief hearing on July 11, Rep. David Price (D-NC), ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development, said while he was not yet offering any amendments, the bill faces “many hurdles to get bipartisan support.”

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SRT Ups Driver Pay, Paid Vacation Time

Photo: Southern Refrigerated Transport

Southern Refrigerated Transport announced a new compensation package for its drivers that includes new pay increases and increased paid vacation time.

Mileage-based drivers will earn an additional cent per mile on every load when a wage increase kicks in on Oct. 1. The company estimates the increase should be equivalent to a $1,000-per year raise on average. The raise will affect company drivers and owner-operators.

Also going into effect at the same time, student drivers at SRT will see an increase in weekly wages during training. And drivers with at least one year with the company will receive holiday pay for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Additionally, drivers with at least three years at SRT will be eligible to receive two weeks of paid vacation, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Drivers previously earned one week of paid vacation on top of normal home time and normal pay during holidays.

“We want to be competitive in the marketplace with our driver pay, and we want to take care of our professional drivers,” said Billy Cartright, COO and executive vice president at SRT. “As we take care of our professional drivers, they will take care of our customers — a win-win for all.”

SRT is a Texarkana, Arkansas-based carrier specializing in solo, refrigerated truckload transportation. It's a subsidiary of Covenant Transportation Group, which includes Covenant Transport and Covenant Transport Solutions of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Star Transportation of Nashville, Tennessee.

For more information on driving for SRT, click here.

Related: Home Time and Health Issues Cause Drivers to Quit

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