A major Midwest refrigerated carrier is among a number of trucking companies that have recently increased driver pay as freight activity has increased.
K&B Transportation, is a 700-truck protein hauler headquartered in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Sean Barragan, the company’s director of recruiting said freight activity has increased significantly since the spring, following several years of slow growth. He said this surge has tightened the driver market and has prompted driver pay increases, including at K&B.
The company recently hiked the pay for drivers in its “Road Warrior” program to 82 cents-per-mile, up from 70 cents earlier this year.
Under this program drivers have a 2,300-mile weekly guarantee, which amounts to an $1,886 minimum if the driver does not reach that mileage in seven days, according to Barragan.
RELATED NEWS: Anderson Trucking Service gives regional company van drivers near record pay increase
Since implementing the 82-cent-per-mile rate, Barragan said he has observed higher-quality applicants and increased positive phone inquiries from potential drivers. While it is difficult to isolate the exact impact because other carriers are also increasing recruiting efforts, he said this pay raise has created a "wow factor" among potential applicants.
K&B also has a driver compensation package that pays 73 cents per mile, and has a weekly guarantee of $1,679.
Barragan also said the company offers between 70 and 75 cents per mile for regional drivers who want to be home weekends. Those rates are up from 60 cents per mile earlier this year.
Beyond base mileage pay, Barragan said the company provides standard additional compensation, including layover, stop, and detention pay. K&B also offers referral and safety bonuses, and occasionally provides small rewards for drivers, such as free meals.
The company also provides a standard benefits package for drivers, which includes health, life, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
RELATED NEWS: Crete, Shaffer & Hunt drivers have received two pay increases in 2026
K&B primarily runs in the Midwest, but hires nationwide, according to Barragan. In today’s increasingly competitive driver recruitment market, Barragan said applicants are often seeking transparency and reliable compensation rather than empty promises. He said K&B attracts individuals who want consistent pay and who are tired of inconsistent earnings at other carriers.
Barragan adds that the company prides itself on transparency, avoiding the "smoke and mirrors" approach found in some recruitment advertising.
He emphasized that K&B has a similar outlook when it comes to holding on to good drivers. He said the company focuses on investing in drivers to build long-term relationships rather than viewing them as "expiring assets". The company believes in providing consistent paychecks to prevent the cycle of drivers jumping from carrier to carrier, according to Barragan.
