Sanitation driver shortage disrupting routes across Shreveport
Late garbage pickups across Shreveport have sharpened attention on staffing and pay at the city’s sanitation department. Residents on routine Monday collection schedules have reported delays into Tuesday in recent weeks after the city sent fewer trucks out because of a shortage of qualified drivers.
Public works officials say the sanitation department normally operates between 35 and 40 collection trucks daily. Recently, however, the number of trucks rolled out has dropped to about 28 to 29, producing a backlog in residential pickup citywide.
City moves to raise pay for drivers; council weighing larger boost
To address the regional shortage of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, Mayor Tom Arceneaux increased sanitation driver pay to $21.78 an hour. That raise represented more than a $2-per-hour bump from previous rates, city officials said.
Some members of the Shreveport City Council argue the increase is still not competitive with nearby markets, and have proposed boosting pay to $25 an hour. During committee discussions, council members referenced competitor wage ranges of $25 to $30 per hour as the standard needed to recruit and retain drivers.
Budget implications and resident fees under review
City leaders say raising sanitation pay to $25 per hour would have a significant impact on the municipal budget. Mayor Arceneaux told local media such an increase would be difficult to fund without identifying new revenue or shifting existing resources.
The infrastructure committee is scheduled to consider the proposed pay increase, and the issue is expected to be debated at the full City Council meeting later the same day. Committee discussions will also look at whether the city’s sanitation fee should be adjusted; Shreveport customers currently pay $7 per month for garbage service.
- Routine collection has shifted from Monday to Tuesday in many neighborhoods due to reduced truck deployment.
- Mayor’s administration raised driver pay to $21.78 per hour to address shortages.
- Council members are pushing for a proposed rate of $25 per hour to match competing markets.
Local context and consequences for residents
For residents, fewer trucks and delayed collections mean longer waits for service and possible overflowing containers if backups persist. For sanitation employees, pay is central to recruitment and retention amid strong regional demand for CDL drivers.
Officials have not released a detailed cost estimate for increasing wages to $25 per hour. Any decision to increase pay materially could lead to discussions about offsetting measures, such as raising the monthly sanitation fee or reallocating funds from other accounts. The city’s current fee places Shreveport on the lower end of municipal sanitation charges around the region, according to presentations to council committees.
| Metric | Typical or current value |
|---|---|
| Collection trucks normally deployed | 35–40 |
| Trucks deployed recently | 28–29 |
| Current driver pay | $21.78/hour |
| Proposed council target pay | $25/hour |
| Monthly sanitation fee for residents | $7.00 |
The City Council and administration face competing priorities: restoring reliable daily pickup for residents, offering wages that are competitive enough to attract CDL holders, and balancing Shreveport’s budget without imposing undue cost on taxpayers. The infrastructure committee meeting and subsequent council debate will determine whether the city pursues the larger pay increase, explores fee adjustments, or identifies other strategies to stabilize sanitation operations.
