HIGH POINT, N.C. — The City of High Point truck drivers are hitting the streets an hour earlier as part of an ongoing effort to address a shortage of drivers.

What You Need To Know

The Environmental Services Division for High Point is down eight drivers

This shortage started back in 2019

In High Point, garbage truck drivers make anywhere from $33,000 to $46,000 per year

The Environmental Services Division, which provides garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk item collections weekly, is down eight drivers. That's why the department recently moved the start time of collection from 7 a.m. to 6 a.m. According to Deputy Public Services Director Robby Stone, this shortage started back in 2019.

Garbage Truck Driver Jeff Flythe has been working for the department for six years, and he said the shortage creates a burden for current workers. 

“It puts a strain on us because we have to cover. If we’re used to having 20 people and 10 leave, the 10 that are still here have to do an extra 10 people of the work so that makes the other 10 want to go as well," Flythe said.

Flythe believes there is such a shortage because the city doesn't pay as much as other departments around the state do. On the City of High Point's website, garbage truck drivers make anywhere from $33,000 to $46,000 depending on how much time and experience they have within the department. 

“A lot of people are leaving because other sanitation departments or companies their wages are more competitive, the pay is better," Flythe added. 

According to the Economic Research Institute, the average salary for a garbage truck driver is a little over $41,000.