J.B. Hunt Says 10% Raises Are the Antidote to the Truck-Driver Shortage

America’s largest trucking company is combating a driver shortage by raising wages -- and so far, it’s working out.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said late Monday its contract-services unit has raised wages by around 10 percent over the last 12 to 18 months to recruit new drivers. That compares with a 2.8 percent increase in average hourly earnings for all U.S. private-sector workers in the 12 months through September, and 4.3 percent over the past 18 months, according to Labor Department figures.