Commercial Truck Drivers: How to Find the Best Trucking Company Employer for You – Part 1 Take Inventory
Whether you’re new to the trucking industry or you’ve held a dozen truck driving jobs, it’s good to examine exactly what you need from an trucking company employer as you begin your driver job search. Taking inventory of your priorities is crucial in looking for a great trucking job. Once you have done that, the next step is to research some of the top trucking companies in the industry.
Some of the most important areas that truck drivers look at include:
Pay – Being one of the most important criteria, it’s important to consider more than just the starting rate. Are regular increases to your driver pay important or would you prefer bonuses? Profit sharing? How often are paychecks cut, and can they be direct deposited? Will you receive overtime pay? On-the-job training?Mileage pay? Is there a pay cap? Many over-the-road driving job pay structures include stop-pay as well as loading and unloading. Some include drop-hook pay for delivery and pick up of the trailer (obviously for Class A CDL drivers).
Benefits – Then there is driver benefits to consider. Do you need employer-paid health coverage? Will you need to cover dependents? Will the carrier that you driver for help pay for marketplace insurance? Some other factors to consider are retirement funds (401-k, etc.), disability coverage, vacation and sick pay, tuition reimbursement or paid training? Sometimes a lower pay rate is balanced out by a great benefits package. Many truck drivers overlook the need to plan ahead in their driving career.
Work Schedule – Are you looking to work 9-5, Monday to Friday? Local driving jobs are more competitive and will require you as a professional driver to work harder to earn the right driving job. Do you need a driving job with a flexible weekly schedule? Most OTR (over-the-road) driving jobs will keep you away from home for long periods of time. Maybe you are ok being out for weeks at a time If not focus more on local trucking jobs. What about working different shifts? How easily can you change shifts?
Perks – Many drivers don’t think about the detailsthat can make a truck driving job more fulfilling. Is there a rider or pet program? Can you park your truck at home during reset if you are an OTR driver? Does the trucking company have dedicated dispatch or even 24-hour dispatch? Does the fleet owner have an open-door policy? Other perks to consider might include paid jury duty and an employee assistance program.
In summary, truck driving can be a very intense job. There are long hours and lots of miles. If you’re embarking on a new career in the trucking industry or considering making a job change to being a commercial driver, you should think about what you truly need to make any new truck job satisfying.