Green Bay, WI-based Schneider National plans to boost driver pay and other compensation starting Feb. 1 next year, partly in response to hours-of-service changes that take effect in January 2004.

Owner-operators contracted to Schneider should gain a $2,500 to $3,500 yearly pay boost, with team owner-operators getting $3,500 to $4,500 more per driver per year, according to press accounts.

Mileage pay for both company drivers and independent contractors is being increased, accompanied by boosts for tasks such as loading and unloading. Company drivers should see their annual pay increase between $1,500 to $2,500 next year, with team company drivers getting between $3,500 to $4,500 more per year per driver.

Compensation for non-driving work is going up too. For hand-unloading or -loading trailers, drivers will get $100, up from the current $65. Partial loading or unloading will net them $30 vs. the $15 they get today.

If a driver is required by a shipper to look for a trailer, they will get $30 compared with $15 today.

Schneider said it wanted to keep the ability to retain current drivers and recruit new ones in the face of the new rules.