Latest news with #hazmat
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Averitt pay increase could be a sign of some acceleration in driver wages
During the days of the great post-pandemic freight boom, the press releases from companies announcing pay increases for drivers arrived fast and furious. Companies that rarely put out a press release about anything instead wanted to let the world know–multiple times in some cases–that they were keeping up with the Joneses and fattening the wallets of in-demand drivers. That rarely happens anymore, which is why it was so notable earlier this month to receive a press release from (mostly) LTL carrier Averitt that it was raising pay for various categories of drivers, with specific data on some of the increases. In its prepared statement, Averitt said its pay for regional drivers with a hazmat endorsement was being increased to 64 cents per mile. The previous rate was 60 cents per mile. Averitt, in its statement, called it the largest increase for regional drivers in the 54-year history of the company. The current level of pay for regional drivers without hazmat endorsement is now 54.5 cents/mile. But that information was not in the Averitt statement. Asked about the difference in what was released, an Averitt spokeswoman said in an email to FreightWaves that the increases in pay for what it called its LTL associates–defined as 'pickup and delivery drivers, shuttle drivers, dock associates, preventive maintenance associates and others'–was 'significant but not as historic as the increases for our regional drivers.' The previous increase wasn't all that long ago, the spokeswoman said: 2024 The increase comes as independent surveys of driver pay are mixed, though none of them show that driver pay completely stalled during the freight recession. Wages just went up by a slower amount. 'Small upward trajectory' Leah Shaver, the president of the National Transportation Institute (NTI), is considered one of the leading experts of driver pay trends. While she would not comment specifically on the Averett increase, Shaver said in an email to FreightWaves that beginning in late 2024, 'the rate of growth began a small upward trajectory, and that trend has continued.' But she added that 'wage gains remain relatively muted.' That followed a period that began in late 2022, she said, when 'the rate of wage growth began to slow significantly as fleets became much more cautious and intentional with their approach to compensation adjustments starting in 2023.' Increases in driver pay are coming against spot linehaul rates that are lower than they were at the start of the year, according to the NTIL index in SONAR. The recent report on driver wages published by the American Transportation Research Institute, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations gave its own recap on the trends of the past few years. In its report, ATRI said wage gains for drivers last year averaged 2.4%. In 2021, when the announcements of higher pay were flying into mailboxes, that rate was 10.8%, ATRI said. A year later, it was 15.5%. During the first two months of this year, according to the ATRI report, the rate was 0.9%. BLS showing steady gains But another set of data, that of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recently has showed some stronger gains not specifically for drivers but in the category of non supervisory and production employees in the BLS's truck transportation sector. Drivers would be in that category. Between May and October 2024, the hourly wage for that sector barely budged: $29.95 in May, down to $29.88 in October. But wages have risen every month since except one. The figure for May, the most recent available, was $31.11/hour. That number is the highest ever in that category. The June figure will be released Friday along with the monthly employment report. Increases in driver pay are coming against spot linehaul rates that are lower than they were at the start of the year, according to the NTIL index in SONAR. That increase in the BLS data would align with what Shaver said NTI is seeing. 'More fleets are reporting pay increases in our surveys this year than last year, and those increases are a little more ambitious,' she said. 'The data does not point to any type of inflationary cycle, but we are seeing upward movement in the rate of growth and have seen that since last summer.' The announcement of the pay increase gave Averitt an opportunity to tout other parts of its driver compensation, including a profit sharing plan that routes 20% of the company's profits into employee 401K plans. The company also offers health insurance, company-provided life insurance and holiday pay after 30 days and paid time off after 90 days. The spokeswoman also said compensation increases at Averitt generally are announced publicly. 'This year our focus was on bringing awareness to the historic nature of the increase for regional drivers,' she said. More articles by John Kingston Sequential numbers at diversified trucking operator TFI International may mark a turnaround Ryder's used vehicle numbers show a bullish corner: tractor sales Five takeaways from the State of Freight for July: What earnings and the indices are saying about the market The post Averitt pay increase could be a sign of some acceleration in driver wages appeared first on FreightWaves.
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Suspicious package found inside UPMC Mercy Hospital prompts police response
A suspicious package was found and opened inside UPMC Mercy Hospital, prompting a police response on Wednesday morning. Around 9 a.m., the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and Hazmat teams responded to the hospital after receiving reports of a suspicious package found inside an office. Police say an employee opened the package, discovering a powdery substance and subsequently notified 911. One person has been transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Two others were evaluated at the scene, police said. The Mercy Pavilion entrance remains closed as of 10:45 a.m. as a precaution while certain floors and individuals have been evacuated. No one is permitted to enter at this time. Hazmat is testing the substance found in the package. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
9 treated after possible hazmat incident in Southwest Baltimore, firefighters say
Nine people were treated after a possible hazmat incident in Southwest Baltimore, according to the fire department. Firefighters responded around 5 p.m. to the 2100 block of Wicomico Street, where nine people were in need of assistance. A spokesperson said four people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Emergency declared as 4,500 gallons of toxic chemicals spill onto streets of major US city
A chemical emergency has sparked roads closures near a Boeing facility after a tanker truck spilled thousands of gallons of toxic nitric acid. The incident in St Louis was triggered by a mechanical failure, releasing more than 4,500 gallons of the corrosive substance around 9am CT (10am ET). Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing liquid commonly used in industrial and chemical processes. When inhaled, it can severely irritate or burn the lungs. The chemical can cause a yellowish cloud to form if spilled, which locals reported seeing over the Boeing site on the 100 block of McDonnell Boulevard, near Lambert International Airport. The Hazelwood Police Department warned locals that the road is closed between Lindbergh Boulevard and Byassee Drive, which is directly north of the airport that serves over 41,000 passengers daily. Hazelwood Fire Chief Dan Luley said the cleanup would take several hours, with firefighters working in extreme heat and wearing heavy suits to protect them from the chemical. No injuries have been reported at this time. A Boeing spokesperson said: 'The safety of our employees is our first priority. 'The Hazelwood Fire Department and Boeing responded to an incident outside one of our facilities and the situation was safely resolved.' This is a developing story... More updates to come Nitric acid can cause a yellowish cloud to form if spilled, which locals reported seeing near a Boeing facility on the 100 block of McDonnell Boulevard, near Lambert International Airport
CTV News
24-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa Fire Services hazmat team helps tackle transport truck fire in Stittsville
Ottawa Fire Servies says its hazardous materials (hazmat) team helped deal with a significant fuel leak after a transport truck caught fire in Stittsville Wednesday. Firefighters were called to a section of Iber Road, south of Hazeldean Road, at around 11:09 a.m. on reports a truck was on fire close to a building. The driver had made it out of the vehicle safely and told firefighters that the fuel tanks were approximately half-full and could contain up to 500 litres. A large amount of fuel was leaking because of the fire, Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio said. Hazmat crews used an absorbent called 'Oclansorb' to keep the fuel and oil floating on top of the water used to fight the fire from leaking into a nearby ditch. The fire was declared under control at 11:27 a.m. and was kept from spreading to the nearby building. DeFazio said the Ministry of Environment was notified and they called in a cleanup company to the scene. Firefighters left the scene at around 1:30 p.m.
