When choosing from the many available truck driving jobs, there are several factors each truck driver will need to consider. Many factors are unique to each individual driver. But, there are general criteria that every truck driver naturally considers.
So, in order to help you begin to decide which company to drive for, we will review several of the nation's top trucking companies. We realize that there are a lot of options out there and cannot possibly review all of the trucking companies. Instead, we will select those companies that seem to draw the most attention from the trucking industry. We will NOT review trucking companies that we consider poor options for those looking for truck driving jobs. We realize that every company has strengths and weaknesses. We also realize that one driver may love a certain trucking company while another driver may have a different opinion. But, in general, each company has an overall way of operating, and we will review the companies based on their overall contribution to the trucking industry - specifically in terms of the truck driving jobs and opportunities they offer.
The different elements of truck driving jobs we will review are:
Pay structure - Trucking companies have different philosophies when it comes to their CDL pay structure. Almost all trucking companies pay by the mile. Some trucking companies choose to compete on the front end - meaning they load their pay scale for those drivers with 0 - 6 months of experience, the entry level tier. So, you can expect big raises early and often. Then the raises will taper down as your truck driving experience level increases. You will still make more as you gain more driving experience, but the pay increases won't come as often and as dramatically.
Other companies choose to attract and reward truck drivers with experience. These trucking companies will pay a fairly competitive rate to the entry level truck driver, but the strong pay increases come after 6 months to a year of experience or more.
Some truck driving jobs will pay on a sliding scale. A sliding scale means that the less mileage the load requires, the more CPM (cents-per-mile) you will make on the load. This is meant to reward drivers for hauling loads with a short length of haul. Other truck driving jobs will pay a flat rate no matter how long the length of haul is.
Career path opportunities - A solid career path is a huge factor for those who are looking to have a long and successful trucking career. After getting your CDL, you want to avoid working for a company that only offers one type of career path - over-the-road. Over - the - road is the BEST way to start your trucking career, but truck driving jobs offer so many different options and you want to be able to take advantage of those opportunities.
A good solid career path will look similar to this, in no particular order:
Over - the - road > Trainer > Regional/local opportunities > Dedicated Opportunities > Owner Operator opportunities > Office opportunities
Home time policy - Home time is without question, an important consideration when choosing from the many truck driving jobs. Choosing to be a Class A CDL driver is choosing to be away from home for 2 - 3 weeks at a time - at least for the first 6 - 8 months of your career. Then, you will find other trucking opportunities come your way. But, some companies emphasize getting their drivers home when promised while others choose to be a little more "flexible" with their policies.
Benefits - The trucking companies we will review offer good benefits with their truck driving jobs. We will summarize what you can expect to pay if you choose to take advantage of the benefits packages offered.
Equipment - Truck driving jobs require that you spend a lot of time in your truck. So, as your home away from home, you will want to have good equipment. Some companies offer assigned equipment, while others do not. Some trucking companies rotate their old trucks out of the fleet every 3 years while others choose to hold on to the trucks a little longer.
Summary - we will offer a summary of each company's truck driving opportunities. We will indicate whether the company is a good place for entry level truck drivers or better suited for the veteran.
Truck driving jobs come in all sorts of varieties. But, the most important decision each driver faces is the choice of carrier. Choosing a company that will allow you to grow and advance in your trucking career in a way that you feel comfortable with will be the single most important ingredient to your enjoyment in trucking. Everything else is in your hands - your work ethic, your professionalism, your adherence to company policies, and your interaction with operations and customers.
We hope you will find the information useful and we look forward to any feedback you may have. Also, let us know if you are curious about a certain trucking company. We will let you know if we plan to review their truck driving jobs and their opportunities.
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