Cookeville, TN — Averitt Express is marking its 50th year of operations by rolling out a significant compensation boost for its regional truckload and flatbed divisions. The carrier, which has operated for half a century, confirmed that newly hired drivers in these segments will see higher starting base rates as part of a broader push to attract talent for its regional fleet.
Regional truckload associates now start at 50 cents per mile, with the company projecting an average weekly take-home of $1,200 for a standard five-day schedule. This puts annual earnings at approximately $62,400. Drivers who hold a hazmat endorsement will see their rate increase to 52 cents per mile after completing their first year of service. Meanwhile, the flatbed division is seeing even higher starting rates at 52 cents per mile, which equates to an average of $1,375 over five days and roughly $71,500 per year.
Averitt is also addressing a common driver pain point by officially removing routes that travel north of southern Pennsylvania. By cutting these Northeast runs, the company aims to pull drivers out of the high-congestion corridors that often disrupt schedules and increase stress. For those interested in truck driver jobs with a clearer path to internal advancement, the carrier allows regional drivers to transfer into local or dedicated roles after six months on the job.
What This Means for Drivers
Drivers looking for stability will find that Averitt’s pay package goes beyond simple mileage rates. The company includes detention, layover, multi-stop, and per diem pay to round out the compensation for any CDL-A driver. Furthermore, the carrier provides access to a network of over 100 facilities equipped with amenities like showers, laundry, and workout areas, specifically designed to support long-term retention. These perks are vital for any OTR truck driver looking to move into a regional role that offers more consistent home time without sacrificing total earnings.
Industry Reaction
The move comes as many trucking companies hiring in the current market are scrambling to differentiate themselves through better pay and improved quality of life. By formalizing a career ladder that has already transitioned over 800 regional drivers into different roles within the last five years, Averitt is banking on internal promotion as a primary retention tool. As the industry faces ongoing pressure to modernize, these types of structured benefits packages are becoming the baseline standard for carriers trying to keep experienced hands behind the wheel.
Key Points
- Regional truckload pay starts at 50 cents per mile, scaling to 52 cents with hazmat endorsement after one year.
- Flatbed regional drivers start at 52 cents per mile with projected annual earnings of $71,500.
- All Northeast routes north of southern Pennsylvania have been eliminated from regional schedules.
- Drivers are eligible to transfer to local or dedicated positions after six months of service.
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