Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, May 27, 2026:
Nussbaum increasing driver pay
Nussbaum Transportation (CCJ Top 250, No. 145) has announced a series of pay increases and new driver benefits, which the company said is the largest compensation update in recent company history.
The pay increases and transition bonus apply to Irregular Route OTR van drivers, with the biggest gains going to drivers in the company's Key Locations: Carbon Cliff, Illinois; Chicago up to Kenosha, Wisconsin; Indianapolis; and Columbus, Ohio. The Profit Sharing and Early Exit Option apply fleetwide.
“Our Professional Drivers set Nussbaum apart by living our Vision and Values in a job that can be quite challenging,” said Bill Wettstein, President of Nussbaum Transportation. “They deserve this pay increase, and we are excited for them to continue sharing in the value that their hard work and dedication have created. We are also excited to extend these high-paying, purpose-driven career opportunities to other drivers who join our family.”
Among changes to the company’s pay system:
- Higher mileage rates and weekly guarantees. Current OTR drivers received a 3-cent per mile increase and $50 boost to their weekly minimum guarantee. For new hires, starting pay increased 5 cents per mile and $100 on the guarantee compared to earlier this year, with Key Location hires starting 10 cents and $200 higher (these changes include the fleetwide increase, plus additional increases to standardize pay scales).
- A $3,000 transition bonus. New drivers now receive a $3,000 bonus to help with the transition, paid in full within the first six months.
- Profit sharing for drivers. Drivers now share directly in Nussbaum's financial success through quarterly bonuses. Payouts vary with company performance; an average year works out to roughly $0.02/mile, while strong years could see $0.04+/mile.
- Doubled Early Exit Option. Nussbaum's Early Exit Option, which gives new hires $2,000 in transition help if they decide within their first 90 days that Nussbaum isn't the right fit, has doubled from $1,000 to $2,000.
Nussbaum said the new pay for Irregular Route Dry Van drivers works out to an additional $5,000-$6,000 per year ($120 per week), totaling between $81K and $92K their first year depending on experience. Drivers can scale earnings further through tenure raises, performance bonuses, and Nussbaum's Professional Certification program, the company added.
Key Location hires can expect $12,000 more per year ($230 per week) and approximately $86-95K in year one, climbing to $91-100K+ by year two with room to grow from there.
Before these increases, the top 30% of Nussbaum OTR drivers were already earning an average of $100,000 per year. Nussbaum expects that number to rise significantly once the new pay takes effect.
Education Department finalizes Pell Grant expansion for shorter workforce programs
The U.S. Department of Education last week published a final rule to implement the Workforce Pell Grant program, which would expand Pell Grant eligibility to certain shorter-term programs.
Beginning on July 1, students will be able to receive Pell Grants for enrollment in high-quality, short-term educational programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs. This new program will help more Americans rapidly enter the workforce with little-to-no student debt while simultaneously strengthening the nation’s talent pipeline.
Currently, Pell Grants can only be applied to programs with a duration of 15 or more weeks and are inaccessible to students in shorter-term, high-quality job training programs.
Workforce Pell bridges the gap between education and employment by allowing Pell Grants to be used for workforce training programs that prepare individuals for immediate employment in as little as 8 weeks. In addition, Workforce Pell requires colleges to limit their tuition and fees based on the earnings of program graduates, ensuring that programs continue to demonstrate value over time.
State governors, in consultation with state workforce boards, will identify high-demand industries and career fields in order to determine which workforce programs are eligible to receive Workforce Pell Grant funds. Eligible programs will then be required to meet certain time and length requirements, completion percentages, and employment metrics, and prove they deliver a real return on investment for students as shown by data.
CDL programs could be included in those eligible programs if trucking is identified by a state’s governor as a high-demand industry.
“The Trump Administration’s postsecondary education agenda is straightforward: we should shift away from high-cost, low-value programs to low-cost, high-value programs,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Americans should not have to spend years in college and take on debt they may never be able to repay before entering the workforce. Under President Trump's leadership, American students will soon be able to graduate with little to no debt and be well-prepared to start earning in one of today’s in-demand jobs in weeks, not years."
[Related: Workforce Pell Grant unlocks funds for CDLs, diesel tech certs]
New trucking school launches in Missouri
Missouri Trucking School (MTS), a new CDL and truck driver training facility, has announced the launch of its training program in partnership with Hazelwood, Missouri-based logistics and transportation provider ITF Group.
Located within ITF Group’s headquarters, the school offers students an opportunity to train inside a functioning, state-of-the-art trucking environment designed to prepare drivers for real-world success from day one.
“MTS is committed to empowering individuals through comprehensive CDL training that helps students build careers with confidence, safety, and financial independence,” said Dusty Cushard, Director of Training at Missouri Trucking School. “Our goal is not only to prepare students to earn their CDL, but to equip them with the hands-on experience, technical knowledge, and professionalism needed to succeed in today’s transportation industry. Through practical instruction and training, students gain the confidence to enter the workforce as skilled, safety-conscious drivers.”
Unlike traditional CDL programs, MTS said it combines classroom instruction with training inside a live logistics environment to provide students with real-world driving experience. The program includes behind-the-wheel instruction, vehicle inspection and equipment operation training, and practical skills designed to prepare graduates for careers in the transportation industry.
Students will also have access to immersive driving simulator technology capable of recreating dangerous and high-pressure driving conditions, including severe weather events and emergency situations such as tire blowouts, allowing students to safely gain experience handling scenarios many drivers may not encounter during standard CDL training.
MTS will be hosting an Open House event on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., inviting prospective students, community members, and industry partners to tour the facility, experience the training simulator, meet instructors, and learn more about the program offerings.
