September is here, and you know what that means — National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is just around the corner! As we kick off our favorite month of the year, check out this article on the importance of building robust health and wellness programs that truly engage and support drivers, along with some tips and best practices to help get you started.
The National Transportation Institute
Truck Transportation
Mankato, MN 3,101 followers
The trucking industry's gold standard for driver wages and benefits data since 1995.
About us
Since 1995, The National Transportation Institute has equipped for-hire motor carriers and private fleets with the data they need to make critical business decisions about a core component of their organizations — compensation plans for professional truck drivers and technicians. NTI publishes original, proprietary research on per-mile and hourly wages, benefits, bonuses, accessorial pay, education and training programs, and the dozens of other unique attributes that contribute to driver and technician pay packages. NTI also engages with motor carriers via consultation on policies to attract, recruit, and retain drivers from pre-hire to retirement. To learn more about NTI’s products and how they can bolster your fleet’s driver engagement, schedule a meeting with the NTI team: https://bit.ly/3vHtKaS. Or visit DriverWages.com to learn more. NTI's benchmark reports are the gold standard of statistical research relevant to motor carriers. Our core data products include: The National Survey of Driver Wages The National Driver Benefits Survey The National City-Centric Driver Pay Survey The Fuel Surcharge Report The National Private Fleet Survey The National Driver Wage Index The National Student Driver and Trainer Compensation Survey NTI Alerts
- Website
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http://DriverWages.com
External link for The National Transportation Institute
- Industry
- Truck Transportation
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- Mankato, MN
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 1995
- Specialties
- Driver Benefits, Intermodal & Drayage, Driver Training Compensation, Fuel Surcharge, Class A & Class B CDL Compensation, and Company Drivers & Owner Operators
Locations
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Primary
Mankato, MN 56002, US
Employees at The National Transportation Institute
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Helen Mann
Freelance Writer and Content Strategist | Logistics and Supply Chain Management | Import and Export
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Mark Shaver
COO - The National Transportation Institute, Professional Truck Driver Compensation, Engagement, and Operations Subject Matter Expert
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James Jaillet
Chief Intelligence Officer - The National Transportation Institute | Sorting through the latest data on driver wages and compensation trends
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Leah Shaver
President & CEO - The National Transportation Institute, Driver Compensation & Engagement Expert, SiriusXM Radio Host Ch. 146, Trucking Company Board…
Updates
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The National Transportation Institute reposted this
President & CEO - The National Transportation Institute, Driver Compensation & Engagement Expert, SiriusXM Radio Host Ch. 146, Trucking Company Board Member & Advisor, Keynote Speaker
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? Here's what The National Transportation Institute's 30 years of data reveals 👇🏼 NTI has been tracking presidential elections' impact on driver compensation since 1994, spanning seven and a half (!) election cycles. We've charted the year-over-year percentage pay movements in each of the four years of presidential cycles in this chart. As the data shows, presidential election years see the least momentum for driver pay — with the year-over-year percentage changes historically in line with NTI’s prediction for wage changes at for-hire fleets for 2024 (𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://bit.ly/3X2G1mV). Some of those election years have coincided with freight recessions or broader economic recessions, partly explaining the muted momentum during these years. However, election years also prompt many companies to take a wait-and-see approach to big decisions, such as investments, acquisitions, fleet growth goals, and, of course, driver compensation decisions. But take a look at the next parts of the cycle — there’s a notable upswing in wage momentum in the first year of a president’s term, and even bigger upswing in the second year. As the Mark Twain quote goes: 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘩𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘴. Driver pay — and driver compensation decisions by fleets — don't exist in a vacuum. That's why our team at NTI closely watches and analyzes all of the factors that influence driver pay, from macroeconomic conditions, to freight market cycles, to nuances in employment data, to driver supply and demand — and external factors like election cycles. We recently published on our website an analysis of the key factors affecting driver supply and demand currently in 2024 — and how the stage is being set for another potential wage pinch in the coming year to two years. You can read it here: https://bit.ly/3zaeN5I
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Driver wages have climbed upwards of 20% over the last four years. Are you equipped to articulate this increase to shippers and negotiate freight rates that incorporate the right driver pay costs? The current freight market is naggingly challenging. Freight rates have plummeted, while nearly every expense in fleets’ operations has sharply climbed — including driver wages. It’s crucial to communicate this to your shippers partners to secure fair freight rates that can sustain your business until the market recovers. By using the most timely and accurate data, combined with effective communication, you can position your fleet for favorable negotiations. 🛣️NTI has created a roadmap outlining 5 strategies your fleet can utilize during discussions to successfully work with shippers to incorporate your expenses, particularly driver compensation costs, into contacts and achieve freight rates that benefit both you and your customers. Access it here: https://bit.ly/4dXdHJu
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Truck seated ✅ Don’t hit the brakes yet! Recruiting shouldn’t stop just because a driver joins your fleet and a truck is seated. You should never stop selling and re-selling your company to drivers. With so many ways to stay connected today, you have plenty of opportunities to engage with your people and put the right messaging and content in front of them. In the NTI Blog this week, we share some of NTI’s best practices for effectively communicating with your drivers.
‘Always be recruiting’: Best practices for effectively communicating with your drivers - The National Transportation Institute
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▶️ A must-listen episode of Taking The Hire Road! Alabama Trucking Association’s President and CEO Mark Colson recently sat down with NTI’s Leah Shaver for an insightful discussion. The two dove deep into the critical importance of workforce development in trucking, how the industry can cultivate the next generation of professional drivers and diesel technicians, Colson’s state-level initiatives, and opportunities for showing appreciation for trucking’s people. Tune in now!
Growing Our Own: How one State Association Is Setting The Example For Developing Trucking’s Workforce - The National Transportation Institute
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The National Transportation Institute reposted this
President & CEO - The National Transportation Institute, Driver Compensation & Engagement Expert, SiriusXM Radio Host Ch. 146, Trucking Company Board Member & Advisor, Keynote Speaker
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬? These five points we’ve outlined for working with your customers on securing freight rates that are profitable to your fleet – and effectively incorporating the big rise in driver pay we’ve seen in recent years – are all of great value to consider. But the one point in particular that stands out to me is that our professional drivers are essential, invaluable, and coveted members of our teams and of shippers’ businesses through 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 freight market cycle, good or bad. In tougher market’s like today’s, that’s one area I continue to emphasize when working with shippers and fleets: Safe, qualified, professional drivers are invaluable to all of us, especially our shipper partners, and churning drivers in and out of our industry is expensive in today’s market conditions as it only creates even greater expenses for fleets and shippers in the next market upcycle. AKA - we’re trying to save a buck today so we can spend $20 tomorrow. As you negotiate freight rates, ensure your customers have been offered total perspective that builds in the true cost of driver pay so you can hire and retain effectively: https://bit.ly/4crWu9O
How motor carriers can communicate costs, particularly around driver pay, to secure profitable freight rates with shipper partners - The National Transportation Institute
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🛣️ Introducing NTI’s roadmap for how fleets can have *the talk* with shippers to successfully incorporate the true cost of driver pay into freight contracts ➡️ https://bit.ly/3MkgWPz Through this ongoing challenging freight environment, with effective communication and the most timely and accurate data at hand, your fleet can work with shippers to achieve the best rates possible so you can continue to profitably service their freight and ensure you’re factoring driver pay costs into your contracts.
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Did you miss this episode of Taking The Hire Road? Lane Williams, founder and CEO of Fusion Now, joins NTI President and CEO Leah Shaver to discuss how to make your fleet’s story ✨stand out✨ to professional drivers. Find out actionable ways to craft a compelling and authentic narrative that captures drivers’ attention in a competitive market. ▶️Tune in here: https://bit.ly/3SGppjA #driverrecruiting #drivers #trucking #truckingindustry #nti
Discovering your fleet’s authentic story and how to tell it - The National Transportation Institute
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Seniority-based load bidding systems can be great tools to reward seniority and incentivize long-term retention. That's why so many fleets rely on them. However, seniority-based load scheduling can often leave newer drivers with the least desirable shifts and loads, often resulting in frustration and churn among early tenured drivers. This is a common issue NTI hears when working with fleets, particularly those with dedicated operations. How can you balance the load of rewarding seniority while supporting your fleet's newcomers? We've outlined a few ideas for navigating this common dynamic in the NTI blog ⬇️ #driverturnover #fleet #privatefleet #dedicatedfleet #trucking #truckingindustry #nti
Fighting fatigue of seniority-based load bidding: 3 ways to reward drivers working less-desirable shifts - The National Transportation Institute
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