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May 5, 2000 11:30 AM, EDT

Pitt Ohio Express, a less-than-truckload general freight carrier serving the Mid-Atlantic region, raised its base rates by an average 5.9% on May 1 to compensate for rising labor costs.

The company also reinstated charges for services such as inside delivery, lift-gate and notification.

The Pittsburgh-based carrier said it has experienced a sharp increase in driver recruitment and training costs due to an industry-wide shortage of truck drivers. The firm boosted starting wages for drivers by 25% on May 1 and started a new program for line-haul drivers that pays 41 cents a mile.

Geoff Muessig, vice president of sales, said the increases are necessary to attract enough drivers to provide consistent, next-day service.

For the full story, see the May 8 print edition of Transport Topics. .