Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Nov. 22, 2021:
In an effort to reward its drivers for weathering a tidal wave of holiday shipping demand, Birmingham, Alabama-based flatbedder Montgomery Transport is instituting a 5 cents per mile Driver Shortage Surcharge.
Effective Nov. 8, the over-dimensional freight and full transportation management specialist added a nickel surcharge on all loads, which will be passed on directly to drivers for a period of 90 days.
Montgomery Transport CEO Rollins Montgomery noted that with e-commerce expected to hit record levels this year, demand for local drivers, warehouse employees and drivers to support the final-mile support will be at a fevered pitch.
“This year has presented our industry with many challenges as supply chain constraints have forced all companies to adapt and discover new ways to push their businesses forward,” he said. “The labor force has been affected particularly hard within the transportation industry as many drivers have found new local opportunities and/or better pay in areas such as warehousing or final-mile delivery to support the e-commerce boom. We chose to address this issue by further investing in our best asset which is behind the wheel.”
Montgomery estimated that e-commerce shipments to be at an all-time high during the next 90 days as the holiday season approaches so the need for qualified drivers will only be amplified particularly within the flatbed space.
J.B. Hunt (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) announced the launch of a new transload service to assist shippers in the New York metro area experiencing nationwide congestion.
