Trucking has the potential to drive even more economic growth for the Dayton-area but a lack of drivers is putting the brakes on expansion plans for many area trucking firms

To stay competitive for drivers in the trucking industry Continental Express Inc.rang up four wage increases in 2014.

That pushed the company’s average annual salary for drivers up to $74000 and got some drivers above the $90000 mark said Russ Gottemoeller president of Sidney-based Continental Express.

The truckload carrier — which mainly serves food manufacturers such as Nestle’ and Dannon —