Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part VII - Tankers and Flatbeds

In part 1 of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part 2, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part 3, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? How long would you like to be away from home? These questions all figure into the process of choosing the right truck driving job.

In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of course talked about the advantages of working at a large trucking company.

In part 5, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part V: Comparing Large Trucking Companies To Small Ones", we compared working for companies of different sizes.

In part 6, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VI: Dry Van and Refrigerated Companies", we talked a little bit about life on the road with a dry van or a refrigerated carrier.

Now, in part 7, we'll talk a little bit about driving for a tanker or flatbed carrier.

You'll find that there isn't too much of a difference between driving for a dry van carrier vs a refrigerated carrier, but pulling a tanker or a flatbed is a whole different thing altogether. There are some significant differences between the lifestyles and the job duties of flatbed and tanker drivers.

Flatbed

Pulling a flatbed is a unique way to make a living in trucking, and if you ask anyone that does it they'll tell you there's nothing easy about it. Well, most "flatbedders" are rather tough guys and now that I think about it, they might tell you there's nothing to it. And for them, it's probably mostly true. It has its moments for sure, but overall most people that make their living this way enjoy the physical work, and enjoy the unique challenges that come along with it.

Some of the differences are obvious - you have to use chains or straps to hold down your load, and often times you have to tarp the load to protect it from the elements. These jobs are often tedious at best, difficult most of the time, and there are a number of rules and regulations that govern the methods used to secure your load. The DOT rules loosely specify the types of equipment you must use, along with some of the techniques you must use to secure the load. And believe me, the DOT is watching closely!

I used to be relieved anytime I pulled into a weigh station and there was a flatbed ahead of me. Chances are, if the DOT is interested in checking somebody out, the flatbeds often times go first. I pulled dry van the vast majority of my years on the road, and we were far less interesting to the DOT than the flatbeds, for obvious reasons.

The work of securing and releasing your load is quite physical, and often times quite difficult. The tarps, chains, and straps are quite heavy and often times you are out in the weather getting the load secured or released by yourself. The tarps, straps, and chains get wet, icy, and very hard to handle in poor weather, not to mention you're out there crawling around on the load trying to get everything situated. It can be quite dangerous. I've heard many, many stories of serious injuries from guys falling off of trailers.

Now there are some advantages to pulling a flatbed also. Often times the tractor and the load you have are far shorter in height than your standard trucks, so it's much easier to fit under low bridges in the cities. Also, the lower profile helps the crosswinds go around you a bit better on slick roads in the wintertime. And lastly, it's an interesting way to make a living. There's always a new challenge, a variety of different types of loads to secure, and there's a bit of a camaraderie amongst the flatbed drivers. It's an interesting and challenging form of truck driving, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't the hardy type.

Liquid Tankers

Now I pulled a food-grade tanker for a year one time and I really enjoyed it. I never pulled a chemical tanker and I was never too interested in doing so. I wasn't too big on the idea of being around a lot of hazardous materials or pulling HAZMAT loads very often.

Food grade tankers are interesting though. There are no baffles in the tank, so there is nothing to keep the liquids from sloshing around. It takes a bit of time to learn how to shift the truck because the liquid sloshing will thrust or slow down the truck enough that the shift won't execute at the speed you're now going. You have to "time" your shifts in order to get rolling. It's no big deal - but it takes some practice.

You also have to be extra careful on slick roads, in turns, and when braking. That liquid moves all over the place and you have to always be aware of what it's going to do before you try maneuvering the truck. You don't get too many second chances if you try to make too aggressive of a move.

Also, you have to get the tank washed out after almost every load. This can take a lot of extra time, and mean a bunch of extra running around inbetween loads. But, at times it's a relief because a two hour nap is just what the doctor ordered!

Lastly, you do have to help unload the truck at times by hooking up some hoses. Most liquid tankers also have hydraulic pumps on the back and at times you'll have to run the pump to unload the tank. Again, it's not a big deal, but it comes with the territory.

The advantages to pulling a liquid tanker are that the crosswinds flow around the tank nicely, you don't have to worry about getting your axle weights adjusted because the liquid is self-balancing, and most of the tractors and tanks are fairly short in height, so low bridges aren't as much of a concern.

Most new drivers won't be dealing with companies that haul bulk shipments in dry tankers, like flour, sugar, and sand, but there isn't too much of a difference in the job and lifestyle from that of a liquid tanker. There are far more local jobs for dry bulk tankers though than there are over the road jobs.

So as you can see, there are some significant differences in job duties and lifestyles if you're going to be pulling a tanker or a flatbed vs a dry van or a refrigerated trailer.

In the final part of our series we're going to talk about one of the best ways to find out if a company you are considering driving for is one you might be happy with.

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part I - Factors That Affect All Companies

This is part one in a multi-part series on choosing a truck driving company and being happy and successful in the industry. I will be adding a new part each day or two for the next week or two so stay tuned!

As you are likely aware, there are easily tens of thousands of trucking companies nationwide. There are some as small as one truck and some that have tens of thousands of trucks. There are local, regional, and over the road companies, and some that are a combination of two or even all three. There are tanker, flat bed, reefer, dry van, dump, and a multitude of other types of trucks you can drive. There are companies that specialize in one type of truck, and some that have a combination of several different types.

So with all of these choices presented to you, how do you know where to go next with your career? To tell you the truth, it's not that hard. Here are some of the key points we will be focusing on in this series that will help you choose the trucking company you would like to work for. Once you can answer these questions you will be able to narrow your choices down to a much smaller pool of trucking companies and then you can pick the one that seems right for you.

How often would you like to get home?
What areas of the country would you like to run in?
What would you like your work duties and lifestyle to be like?
What size company would you like to work for?

Let's start this series by debunking a few myths and giving you some generalizations and insights into all trucking companies, the trucking industry in general, and you as a driver and what you can do to put yourself in the best position to be happy and successful. Without understanding these factors, all of the rest of the above questions will not help you be happy and successful at any company you choose.

The Elusive "Best Trucking Companies" and the Mythical "Perfect Trucking Company"

Let me make one important generalization first. There is no such thing as the "perfect company" or the "best company to work for". To be more precise, you could label a company "the perfect company for me" or "the best company for me", but there are no "best trucking companies" or "perfect trucking companies" for everyone. At times I have worked at companies that I would not have recommended to other drivers, but I absolutely loved working there! I really had it made! And then at other times, some of the best trucking companies I have ever worked for were just a nightmare for a small percentage of the other drivers. Why? There are a number of reasons for this.

The Trucking Industry Is Very Dynamic

For starters, trucking companies and the trucking industry itself is very dynamic and the competition is fierce - both within your own company and between the companies themselves.

Competition and Politics Within Each Trucking Company

Different Divisions Working Together, or at Times, Working Against Each Other

Trucking companies, especially the larger ones, are often times comprised of many different divisions that all must work together, but at times by nature must work against each other. For example, many companies have dispatchers and load planners. The load planners will generally decide, with some input from the dispatchers, which trucks get assigned to which loads. The dispatcher's main job is to handle all communication with their drivers and convey information to the load planners about the driver. The dispatcher can "campaign" for certain loads for certain drivers. Maybe one driver has had 4 straight runs in the northeast, so he/she can let the load planner know that it's time to give that driver a run to a different region. Or maybe a certain driver has been running really hard and isn't feeling well, but can still handle a short run for the day. The dispatcher can let the load planner know this. As you can see from this example, the two divisions - dispatchers and load planners - must work together for the good of everyone.

On the other hand, you have the logbook department. Man, I cringe just saying "logbook department". It's like the principal's office of the trucking world. You never just go there to say "hi" or see whassup. You go there knowing bad things are about to happen to you!

Anyhow, the drivers, dispatchers, and possibly the load planners - depending on the structure of the company - are mostly looking to get as many miles as possible. For some of them, that means cheating the logbook at times - many times for some drivers (innocent look on this writer's face). So the logbook department by nature must keep the dispatchers and drivers in check. Even though the more miles you run the more money you'll make, you still have to abide by the Federal Rules and so the logbook department must at times work against what the drivers and dispatchers would like to do.

Competition Within The Company

Most drivers get paid by the mile. So the more miles you run, the more money you make. Often times, dispatchers and load planners may get paid bonuses or commissions based on the number of miles their drivers are getting, or at least the efficiency at which their drivers are executing their loads. Things like on-time service and deadhead (empty) miles factor heavily into their final rating. So everyone is looking to make all the money they can make by generating the best statistics for themselves.

Well, this naturally breeds competition within a company. Dispatchers are jockeying for the best loads for their drivers and the load planners are trying to run things as efficiently as possible. In the meantime, drivers are pushing their dispatchers for the best loads they can get. Well, there are only so many "desirable" loads to go around - so who gets the best ones? It depends on a number of factors:

Efficiency - the load planners want to keep the deadhead miles to a minimum

Reliability - dispatchers and load planners want to make sure the hardest running, safest, and most efficient drivers get assigned the most important or most difficult freight so that the chances of on-time, safe service are as good as they can be

Individual Driver Circumstances - They have to take into account how many hours a driver has available, how the driver is feeling, what types of loads the driver has been getting recently, and whether or not the driver is due for hometime soon, amongst other factors

Politics - unfortunately this is one of the realities of truck driving - or life in any company. Whether or not the driver gets along with the dispatcher, and whether or not the dispatcher gets along with the load planners will be a factor in determining who gets what loads. Should this be a factor? Ideally, no. But it is. That's the reality - and an important one. If you refuse to accept this reality based upon your ideals, then you'll soon find out the hard way just where your ideals end and the realities of the job take over.

So as you can see from these few examples, competition, cooperation, and politics can play heavily into your success and happiness as a truck driver in any company. The next topic I will cover will discuss what the driver can do to help his/her chances of finding success and happiness within any company you may be working for, including how you will be affected by the people you surround yourself with, how important it is to get to know the right people, and the proper attitude and expectations a driver should have.

Any and all comments are very welcome and appreciated! If you'll tell us what you think, we can improve our site and the content we produce for you! Thanks!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part V - Comparing Large Trucking Companies to Small Ones

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part two of our series, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part three, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? How long would you like to be away from home? These questions all figure into the process of choosing the right truck driving job.

In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of course talked about the advantages of working at a large trucking company.

Now in part 5, we're going to talk about some of the disadvantages to working for a large trucking company, and discuss what life is like at a small company.

Ok, so large trucking companies must have some disadvantages, right? Of course they do. At a large company you are simply a number, not a name. You hopefully will get to know a few people working in the offices like your dispatcher, his or her boss, and maybe one or two middle managers like a terminal manager or operations manager. If you get to know that many people... and by get to know I mean they actually recognize you by name or truck number, you've probably done either an excellent job or a terrible job over a period of many months, or maybe even a couple of years. It's tough to stand out when there are thousands of drivers at one company. So if you like that personal attention and family-type atmosphere, a large company is not going to provide that for you.

Because of this, you will find it very difficult to get any special consideration for anything. Doing a great job for a couple of years is going to get you an automated thank you letter and maybe a patch for the company jacket you had to buy from your own company store when you wanted one. On the other end of things, you may find yourself in a unique situation, and nobody will take the time to understand your side of things. They don't have the time, and frankly many of them don't really care. I'm going to go deeper into this subject in a moment with a few stories related to this theme.

Smaller companies, in my opinion, don't have too many advantages over the larger ones from a driver's perspective. You will definitely get to know everyone in the office, and they will certainly know you. Often times if you live nearby your main office, the people in your company will even get to know your family and the families of the other employees. This family atmosphere is nice in a way, but you also have to be aware of a couple things.

For one, just like in any tight group of people, everyone tends to know everyone else's business. Maybe you don't want everyone at work knowing about an operation you're going to have, or the tough times you're having with your marriage, or the trouble your kid got into at school. Maybe you got a well deserved raise, but now the other drivers are envious and raising a fuss. Or maybe your excellent performance is being rewarded with more miles and a nicer truck, which again causes problems with the other drivers. As you can probably tell I've been in these type of situations before and I'm not really too fond of them. Having co-workers as close friends is not always an easy thing to maintain, especially if there is any type of competition between employees when it comes to pay, equipment, or freight.

The other concern with regard to company size is how much your company will count on you. At a large company, if you'd like to take some time off, nobody really cares. I've taken MONTHS off at times and simply been told, "Ok, just turn your truck in to the terminal and let us know when you're ready to return and we'll get ya goin again." But at a really small company that's not likely to happen. You may be one of ten drivers in the whole company, so if you take time off, they just lost 10% of their fleet! The smaller companies rely on you much more so than a big company does, so you don't have nearly as much flexibility.

One time I worked for a small company pulling food-grade tankers. There were only eleven drivers in the company. I ran really hard for them and before too long, they came to expect a bit too much from me. Things got to the point that I was running an average of about 4500 miles per week. That's a ton! As time went on, the owner of the company expected more and more of me. It was getting ridiculous. Finally I stayed out on the road for almost six straight weeks, averaged about 4500 miles per week (totally illegal - you can't log that many miles legally), and when I returned home he booked a load for me to haul two days later. Six weeks on the road, two days at home, and I have to leave again? I don't think so. Well, he told me I could either run the load or be fired. I had been there a year, and I had a perfect safety and service record. I was also second amongst the drivers in average miles driven per week, but I guess that wasn't good enough. Turns out the owner was in serious financial trouble and I found out the company closed just a couple of months later.

So it turns out that he was desperate to get all the money coming in that he could get to save the company. But he had a good thing going with me and ruined it. Not only that, but he put on my DAC report that I abandoned his truck, which was not true at all! But since he went out of business, he couldn't respond to my claim that he falsified the report, so I didn't have any trouble moving on to the next job. A little advice - don't make the mistake of running that hard. Don't run so hard that you'll damage you mind, your body, or your license. Think long-term and make smart choices. I was really young at the time, was making a lot of money running that hard, and wanted to push myself to see what I could do. Well, what I did was make myself sick. I wore myself down, got burned out, and spent about 3 days in bed with some sort of flu/cold/whatever virus at one point. Remember, long term success means planning for the long term and making smart decisions all the time, not just some of the time.

So just be aware of the fact that small trucking companies will count on you far more than large companies will. There will be advantages and disadvantages to any company you work for. Keep in mind that It's always somewhat of a compromise when you're choosing where you'd like to work. It's just a matter of finding what works best for you.

In part 6 of this series we're going to discuss a couple of different types of truck driving jobs - dry van and refrigerated carriers!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part VI - Dry Van and Refrigerated Companies

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part two of our series, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part three, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? How long would you like to be away from home? These questions all figure into the process of choosing the right truck driving job.

In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of course talked about the advantages of working at a large trucking company.

In part 5, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part V: Comparing Large Trucking Companies To Small Ones", we compared working for companies of different sizes.

Now, in part 6, we'll talk about a couple of different types of jobs you'll find out there and how each will affect your life on the road.

Basically, you'll find five different types of trailers you can pull - dry vans, refrigerated (reefer), flatbeds, doubles, and tankers. Since we're focusing more on new or inexperienced drivers, we're not going to talk about doubles right now. Most companies that pull doubles require more experience, so for the vast majority of you that are reading this series, those jobs really won't apply to you just yet. So let's cover the other four and talk a little bit about the lifestyle you can expect from each. In this part we'll cover dry vans and refrigerated, in part 7 we'll cover tankers and flatbeds.

Dry Vans Carriers

Dry vans are the most commonly found trailer out there. They are a big, empty box - plain and simple. No temperature control or anything like that. There are more dry van companies than any other type of company, and therefore you will find the broadest range of opportunities in this area. Because of the large variety of companies pulling these trailers, they are also the most difficult to define in any general way - there is such a broad range of jobs and lifestyles within this category.

Dry van jobs tend to offer the greatest range of opportunities for those who would prefer regional, dedicated, and local runs versus long-distance, over the road jobs. A large number of these companies, especially the bigger companies, have local, regional, and over-the-road divisions within the company. This, of course, is one of the reasons I prefer the larger dry van companies. For instance, maybe you decide you want to run over the road and you're gone three weeks at a time. Well, a year later you meet your dream girl and you want to get home more often to see her. In many of the larger companies, it isn't too hard to switch over into a regional job that gets you home on the weekends, or possibly even a local job that gets you home every night.

Most of the time you won't be unloading trailers. There will be times you'll have to do a little bit of manual labor, and how often that will be depends upon the individual companies themselves. But as a general rule, you won't be touching much of the freight. And you'll be hauling anything and everything. From diapers, to sulphuric acid, to dog food, to magazines. If you can put it in a box and move it, then you'll be hauling it!

Refrigerated Carriers

Refrigerated companies can haul either temperature sensitive freight, or dry freight, and you will usually get some of each from time to time. Being able to haul both types of goods gives refrigerated companies more versatility with their freight. But make no mistake about it - they make better money with their temperature sensitive freight, so that's their primary focus.

Having worked for a refrigerated carrier before, the first thing I think of is grocery warehouses and farmer's markets. Oh Lord help me! Grocery warehouses are a nightmare! At times, so are farmer's markets. In all of my years of driving, these places were always puzzling to me. The grocery industry is different than the rest of the companies you will pick up from and deliver to. They have a different structure altogether. To make some broad generalizations - their workers are often union guys, they don't like truck drivers very much, and they couldn't care less if you sit in their parking lot for two days waiting to be unloaded. Some of them actually prefer making you sit there and wait - they think it's funny! You think I'm kidding? Besides having delivered to dozens and dozens of these places, I'm friends with a couple of guys that work for a local grocery warehouse and they've told me hundreds of stories about tormenting the drivers. It's their favorite form of entertainment! So don't say I didn't warn ya!

With most of these places, you'll usually have a choice - you either unload the truck yourself, help someone unload the truck, or pay someone to do it. Your company will generally pay for it, but man, what a hassle these places are! A total nightmare. And sometimes you'll have no choice but to help unload. You either help them unload, or you don't get unloaded at all!

My recommendation if you're going to go with a refrigerated company is to go with a very large carrier, or work directly for one of the grocery chains themselves - like Kroger or Wegman's. The large ones will at least have contracts setup with the lumpers (the company that unloads the truck), so you won't be hassled as much and the process of paying them is much easier. But if you work for a small carrier, the grocery warehouses and farmer's markets are going to be tougher to deal with.

Another difference when it comes to hauling refrigerated goods is the average length of haul. Refrigerated carriers tend to haul goods longer distances than the other types of trucking companies. Much of this has to do with California, and the west coast in general. California is one of the richest produce capitals in the entire world. A huge portion of the vegetables you eat come out of this state, and almost all of the refrigerated companies pull produce out of there. There are year-round growing seasons in parts of the state, so the freight keeps flowing all the time.

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho also grow tons of produce - especially fruits, onions, and potatoes. A lot of the produce from the west coast gets hauled to the east coast where those types of fruits and vegetables do not grow nearly as well. Then, once you're on the east coast, your company will try to work you back to the west coast for more of that wonderful produce. So the average length of haul for a refrigerated company is longer than for the other types of trucking companies.

You also tend to have more multiple-stop loads when hauling for a refrigerated company. Often times you will either make several different pickups, several different deliveries, or both. What tends to happen is that you will either be picking up a variety of produce that will all deliver to one company, or pickup one huge load of one type of produce and deliver a little bit to each of several companies. You will get paid extra for the extra pickups and deliveries, and the amount will vary based upon the company you work for.

So as you can see, there are a number of differences between dry van and refrigerated carriers. In general, if you're looking to stay closer to home and get home more often, the dry van companies will be the better choice. If you'd like to see as much of the country as possible, then the refrigerated companies will be the better choice. As always, do the research to find the company that seems best suited to your lifestyle, and stay with that company for at least one year so you can really get to know them and whether or not they're the right choice for you.

In part 7 of this series we'll discuss flatbed and tanker jobs, and how they differ from dry vans and refrigerated. Thanks a lot, and take care!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part VIII - Talking With the Right People

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part 2, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part 3, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? How long would you like to be away from home? These questions all figure into the process of choosing the right truck driving job.

In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of course talked about the advantages of working at a large trucking company.

In part 5, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part V: Comparing Large Trucking Companies To Small Ones", we compared working for companies of different sizes.

In part 6, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VI: Dry Van and Refrigerated Companies", we talked a little bit about life on the road with a dry van or a refrigerated carrier.

In part 7, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VII: Tankers and Flatbeds" we talked a little bit about life on the road with a flatbed or tanker carrier.

Now, in our final installment of this series, we'll talk about finding out some good information about any company you are interested in working for.

Getting The Right Information From The Right People

There are three main groups of people that you will be speaking with when you are considering working for a particular trucking company. They are:

The company's drivers
The company's mechanics
The company's recruiters

Knowing each group's agendas and viewpoints will help you ask the right questions, and interpret the quality of the responses you get.

Speaking With Company Drivers

One of the best ways, in my opinion, to really find out what life is like on the inside of a company you are considering applying to is to talk with some of the drivers and mechanics that work there. It's simple to do, it's incredibly effective, it makes perfect sense that a company's current drivers would know best, and you're going to be pleasantly surprised at the honesty you'll get!

Now please be aware of one thing, though....often times, a company will offer a referral bonus to any employee that refers a driver to the company. Often times it's quite significant...in the area of $500. So when you begin talking with a truck driver or a mechanic, make it perfectly clear that you are looking for an honest opinion, not a sales pitch. If you were looking for propaganda you could simply talk to their recruiting department. If they seem rather persistent about wanting to give you their name and truck number so that they can make money for recruiting you, simply thank them for their time and try to find someone else.

But most of the time you will get a brutally honest opinion. Truck drivers often tend to look out for other truck drivers. We all live the same kind of lives and face the same difficulties, so the last thing we should want to do is make life difficult for one another. I've been asked many hundreds of times about my experience working for a particular company. I have never once given out my truck number or name, nor have I ever received a nickel in referral money. Often times guys were so appreciative of my time and honesty that they asked me for the info, knowing I would get paid for the referral, and I politely declined. I told them that there was no way they could be sure I was being honest with them if I knew I was going to get paid to promote my company. I've gotten plenty of good advice for free over the years, so I just considered it good karma to give some back.

Make sure you talk to at least five different drivers from any particular trucking company. One or two could just be happy or unhappy with their company at that particular time based on some current events. But if you can get a pretty consistent group of opinions from several different drivers then you know you've probably gotten a good feel for the way drivers are being treated at that company. Ask them if they're getting the mileage they would like to be getting, whether they get home roughly when they are supposed to, and whether or not the trucks are well maintained. That's the three most important things a company must do well.

Speaking With Company Mechanics

Also, talk to one or two mechanics if you can get the opportunity. And if the company is located too far away to visit in person, don't be afraid to call the shop! Just tell whoever answers the phone that you're considering becoming a driver for the company and you'd like to know his opinion on their maintenance program. Ask them if the trucks are well taken care of and especially if their driver's requests for small things like new wiper blades, faulty mirror heaters, and blown fuses are handled promptly and without debate. If they aren't taking the time and care to look after the trucks then not only will you be losing a lot of money while unreliable trucks are sitting in the repair shop all the time, but you'll know that the company's management really isn't concerned with the comfort, safety, and happiness of its drivers.

A poor maintenance program is a huge red flag. Stay away from that company. You'll also be surprised at how often a trucking company's maintenance guys will be honest with you. The vast majority of mechanics take pride in what they do. They want to do things the right away because the safety and reliability of the equipment they work on is what determines their reputation. If they aren't being allowed to maintain the equipment properly, they'll more than likely let you know. It's their way of defending their reputation, and I don't blame them. I was a mechanic for Harley Davidson at one point and I felt the same way.

Speaking With Company Recruiters

A recruiter's job at any trucking company is to get you in the door, period. Once you've gotten hired at a company their job is done. Some of them will lie their brains out if it gets them paid...like a used car salesman. Tons of drivers I've talked to have been promised new trucks, a spot in certain divisions, big miles, and lots of home time, only to find out they've been lied to by the recruiter. What can you do about it if this happens to you? Nothing. Everyone will simply shrug their shoulders and say, "don't know what to tell ya".

When it comes to speaking with recruiters, there are some things to be aware of. First of all, be leery of guarantees from a company. The trucking industry is by nature cyclical and unpredictable. If they make promises like "you will be home every Friday by dinnertime", or "everybody gets home for the holidays", or "you will get a minimum of 2000 miles per week", then more than likely you're being lied to. There are no guarantees in this industry. Factors including weather, fleet size, economic fluctuations, vehicle breakdowns, gaining or losing customers, changes in computer software, changes in dispatching structure, changes in management, and a massive number of other variables all lead to a naturally unpredictable amount of miles and home time from week to week and year to year. You have to go with the flow and understand the dynamics of the industry.

There's one easy way to test a recruiter - tell them to put it in writing. If they promise you a new truck for instance, tell them to fax it in writing to you with their name on it so that you can bring it to orientation with you. If they'll do that, then you may actually get what they've promised, but I'm not guaranteeing that either. Recruiting can be a dirty process at times, so watch out for promises. Some of them will lie to you if they think they can get away with it.

There will be good weeks and bad weeks, good months and bad months, and even years can fluctuate quite a bit from one to the next. You have to take the good with the bad and try to get a good understanding of the big picture and how all of the different variables will affect your mileage and home time. If a company makes guarantees, they're often times lying. If they make statements like, "we try to get everyone home on weekends and holidays", and "you'll average about 2200 miles per week overall" then you can be pretty sure they're doing their best to be honest. Just be aware of the personal interests and agendas of the person you are speaking with. Remember, the drivers are the ones that are in demand, so keep in mind that you should be interviewing the company, not just the other way around. If your record is decent, then more than likely they'll be glad to have you. Just make sure that the job you choose seems like it will fit in with your goals, your personality, and your lifestyle.

About The Author
Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:
Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!
You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part III - How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for, including:


The Elusive "Best Trucking Companies" and the Mythical "Perfect Trucking Company"
Competition and Politics Within Each Trucking Company
Different Divisions Working Together, or at Times, Working Against Each Other
Competition Within The Company

In part two of our series, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed, including:

Be very patient
Communicate well with your company
Prove yourself as a driver first, ask favors second
Learn to understand your company and the trucking industry in general
Surround yourself with the right people
Get to know the right people
and many more....

Now, in part III, let's begin talking about how you should choose a truck driving job based on your personality and preferred lifestyle.

First let's start with your lifestyle. Are you married? Divorced? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? Would you like to travel extensively and see the country, or have you already had that chance and would prefer to stay near home?

Home time is one of the most important considerations you should make when choosing a truck driving job. There is one point I can not stress enough - if you have a family of your own, please, please, please don't take an over the road truck driving job where you are gone for weeks at a time. It's been done by thousands of truck drivers over the years, and is being done by thousands today, but the stress it puts on every member of the family is enormous and is simply not necessary. There are tons of opportunities in the trucking industry to make good money and be home at least every weekend, and sometimes even every night. Countless numbers of families have split up because of the time they spend apart. I certainly don't want to see that number grow.

Even for those who have a family, regional truck driving jobs can be stressful, but I think it can be done - at least for a while. But it will definitely test your relationship with your spouse, and with your children. Ideally you would like to be home with your family everyday, but often times your financial situation dictates that you get a really good paying job, which you may not be able to find with a local company. Be forewarned though, even a regional trucking job will be a HUGE test of your family's strength, not to mention the fact that you will miss out on so much of your family's lives.

What if you're married, or in a serious relationship, but you don't have any children? There are a lot of couples that travel together. In some cases, both are drivers and share the driving duties, and in other cases only one drives and the other helps out in other ways like with navigation, phone calls, paperwork, and a variety of other duties. But again, be forewarned - the inside of your truck is the size of a walk-in closet and you two will be together nearly non-stop 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I don't know if you've ever tried to share a tiny space with another person practically ever minute of every day but it is not easy. At best it will take a lot of getting used to, and at worst you will be at each other's throats at times. Some couples can handle it, many can not. Often times the only way to find out is to try it. But if you do decide to give it a shot please don't give up your home or apartment right away. Wait a few months. If you can handle it for maybe three months then you should be ok. Often, though, both parties are glad that they can travel together sometimes, and at other times one person can stay home to give themselves a break and to take care of other responsibilities. There really is no easy answer for this type of situation. It's a matter of trial and error.

Now when I started driving I was 21 years old, hadn't traveled too much, had never been married, and had no children. The idea of traveling all of the time and living in the truck sounded awesome, and it was! The better part of my first 9 years of driving was over the road. I would stay on the road for weeks and sometimes months at a time. I just totally loved it! It really suited my personality and lifestyle perfectly. I was able to give up my apartment, my vehicle, and just let the money pile up in the bank. I usually found myself driving a lot during the week and having a lot of free time on the weekends to entertain myself. I'd go to bars, sporting events, concerts, and do the "tourist thing" like in Las Vegas or New Orleans. It was spectacular!

So your first consideration should be home time. But please be honest with yourself. Don't convince yourself to do something that deep down inside you probably have some serious doubts about. If you have a family, please try to find a job with as much home time as possible. If you absolutely NEED to make as much money as possible, at least for a little while, then try to formulate a solid plan that will get you out of your money crunch and into a position to take a job with more home time as soon as possible. I'm telling you, too much time away from home can ruin a family. Try to avoid it.

In the next part of this series, we will talk about the difference between working at one of the larger trucking companies, versus one of the smaller trucking companies. I've worked at companies with over 5000 trucks, I've worked at one with eleven trucks, and everything in between. There are some major, major differences between them and we'll cover them in detail next.

We'd really appreciate it if you would leave a quick comment so we know how we're doing and we can provide you with better content in the future. Thanks so much!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Important Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Heavy Haulage Company

Choosing the right heavy haulage and transportation is very important. It often takes quite a bit of research to make sure you select the right company for you. After all your load is precious to both you and your customer.

When doing a simple internet search for potential haulage companies it is easy to become overwhelmed by the vast number offering services throughout the UK and Europe. But how do you choose the right one? What should you be looking out for? And how can you be sure that they have the necessary equipment to handle your goods/loads? We have compiled a list of questions that you need to consider when choosing the right heavy haulage company, so read on and find the right company for you.

Do your goods require handling in certain way?

More often than not, you will find that your load/goods will need to be handled with great care, whether these goods are fragile computer components or a delivery of vehicles. Make sure that your selected haulage company can handle the load with the care that it deserves. This requires making sure that they have necessary equipment and driver training. Experience is also an important factor when considering the handling of goods. Does your heavy haulage company have the necessary experience in handling your types of goods?

Are your goods to be delivered in specific time scale?

Heavy haulage companies have different views when it comes to transportation logistics. Some can pick up goods en route to other pick-ups or drop-offs. Make sure that if you have an agreed time scale with your client that your haulage company can match this. Make sure they understand the route in full before receiving a quote for the transportation.

Does your chosen company have necessary insurance?

One of the single most important factors to think about when choosing the correct heavy haulage company is the load that they will be carrying. For example they maybe collecting a multimillion pound jet engine, if this is the case make sure that they are insured to carry goods to this value. If not then look elsewhere. There are many companies out there that would be able to do so and it is not worth the risk.

Lastly, when getting quotes for haulage companies make sure that you have at least 3 and that you give the same requirements. This way you can be sure that you are getting the best possible price for your transportation needs.

Smiths Mechanical specialise in heavy haulage throughout the UK. Boasting a specialist vehicle and trailer fleet providing both ridged and articulated combinations covering a wide range of weights and lengths. So if you are looking for a heavy haulage company look no further than Smiths Mechanical heavy haulage.

View the original article here

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part VII - Tankers and Flatbeds

In part 1 of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part 2, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part 3, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? How long would you like to be away from home? These questions all figure into the process of choosing the right truck driving job.

In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of course talked about the advantages of working at a large trucking company.

In part 5, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part V: Comparing Large Trucking Companies To Small Ones", we compared working for companies of different sizes.

In part 6, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VI: Dry Van and Refrigerated Companies", we talked a little bit about life on the road with a dry van or a refrigerated carrier.

Now, in part 7, we'll talk a little bit about driving for a tanker or flatbed carrier.

You'll find that there isn't too much of a difference between driving for a dry van carrier vs a refrigerated carrier, but pulling a tanker or a flatbed is a whole different thing altogether. There are some significant differences between the lifestyles and the job duties of flatbed and tanker drivers.

Flatbed

Pulling a flatbed is a unique way to make a living in trucking, and if you ask anyone that does it they'll tell you there's nothing easy about it. Well, most "flatbedders" are rather tough guys and now that I think about it, they might tell you there's nothing to it. And for them, it's probably mostly true. It has its moments for sure, but overall most people that make their living this way enjoy the physical work, and enjoy the unique challenges that come along with it.

Some of the differences are obvious - you have to use chains or straps to hold down your load, and often times you have to tarp the load to protect it from the elements. These jobs are often tedious at best, difficult most of the time, and there are a number of rules and regulations that govern the methods used to secure your load. The DOT rules loosely specify the types of equipment you must use, along with some of the techniques you must use to secure the load. And believe me, the DOT is watching closely!

I used to be relieved anytime I pulled into a weigh station and there was a flatbed ahead of me. Chances are, if the DOT is interested in checking somebody out, the flatbeds often times go first. I pulled dry van the vast majority of my years on the road, and we were far less interesting to the DOT than the flatbeds, for obvious reasons.

The work of securing and releasing your load is quite physical, and often times quite difficult. The tarps, chains, and straps are quite heavy and often times you are out in the weather getting the load secured or released by yourself. The tarps, straps, and chains get wet, icy, and very hard to handle in poor weather, not to mention you're out there crawling around on the load trying to get everything situated. It can be quite dangerous. I've heard many, many stories of serious injuries from guys falling off of trailers.

Now there are some advantages to pulling a flatbed also. Often times the tractor and the load you have are far shorter in height than your standard trucks, so it's much easier to fit under low bridges in the cities. Also, the lower profile helps the crosswinds go around you a bit better on slick roads in the wintertime. And lastly, it's an interesting way to make a living. There's always a new challenge, a variety of different types of loads to secure, and there's a bit of a camaraderie amongst the flatbed drivers. It's an interesting and challenging form of truck driving, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't the hardy type.

Liquid Tankers

Now I pulled a food-grade tanker for a year one time and I really enjoyed it. I never pulled a chemical tanker and I was never too interested in doing so. I wasn't too big on the idea of being around a lot of hazardous materials or pulling HAZMAT loads very often.

Food grade tankers are interesting though. There are no baffles in the tank, so there is nothing to keep the liquids from sloshing around. It takes a bit of time to learn how to shift the truck because the liquid sloshing will thrust or slow down the truck enough that the shift won't execute at the speed you're now going. You have to "time" your shifts in order to get rolling. It's no big deal - but it takes some practice.

You also have to be extra careful on slick roads, in turns, and when braking. That liquid moves all over the place and you have to always be aware of what it's going to do before you try maneuvering the truck. You don't get too many second chances if you try to make too aggressive of a move.

Also, you have to get the tank washed out after almost every load. This can take a lot of extra time, and mean a bunch of extra running around inbetween loads. But, at times it's a relief because a two hour nap is just what the doctor ordered!

Lastly, you do have to help unload the truck at times by hooking up some hoses. Most liquid tankers also have hydraulic pumps on the back and at times you'll have to run the pump to unload the tank. Again, it's not a big deal, but it comes with the territory.

The advantages to pulling a liquid tanker are that the crosswinds flow around the tank nicely, you don't have to worry about getting your axle weights adjusted because the liquid is self-balancing, and most of the tractors and tanks are fairly short in height, so low bridges aren't as much of a concern.

Most new drivers won't be dealing with companies that haul bulk shipments in dry tankers, like flour, sugar, and sand, but there isn't too much of a difference in the job and lifestyle from that of a liquid tanker. There are far more local jobs for dry bulk tankers though than there are over the road jobs.

So as you can see, there are some significant differences in job duties and lifestyles if you're going to be pulling a tanker or a flatbed vs a dry van or a refrigerated trailer.

In the final part of our series we're going to talk about one of the best ways to find out if a company you are considering driving for is one you might be happy with.

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part IV - Advantages of Large Trucking Companies

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part two of our series, we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part three of our series we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure and traveling across the country? How long would you like to be away from home?

The next big consideration will be the size of the company you choose to work for. I have worked for companies with over 5,000 trucks and for companies with as few as eleven. It's a huge cultural difference. In part four we're going to discuss the advantages of working at one of the larger trucking companies. In part 5 we'll cover the disadvantages of working at a larger company, along with the advantages and disadvantages of working at a small trucking company.

The larger companies have a huge amount of resources available. They have tons and tons of different types of freight and driving opportunities. They often have local jobs, dedicated jobs - where you remain with one customer or run one route all the time, regional jobs, and over the road. Some of them have different types of trucks in their fleets, including dry van, reefer, tanker, and flatbeds. They have a lot more flexibility when it comes to home time, and they will generally allow you to move freely between different divisions within the company when you feel an opportunity presents itself.

Larger companies also have accounts set up with customers, lumpers, repair shops, towing companies, motels, bus companies, and truck stops. These accounts generally allow you to walk in the door, tell them who you work for, and get what you need taken care of without doing a thing. Repairs, towing, showering, getting bus tickets when needed, and picking up or delivering freight becomes much faster and easier under this system. To me, this was always a really big deal!

Big trucking companies also have a large pool of equipment to use. A variety of tractors to choose from and a huge number of additional trailers available make life much nicer for the driver. With the extra trailers you get to do a lot of "drop and hooks" where you pull into the customer, drop your trailer, grab a different trailer, and leave. You don't have to wait around to be loaded or unloaded. This is really huge because most jobs pay by the mile. so the time you spend sitting around waiting to load or unload is unpaid, wasted time. You want to keep rolling as much as possible, and drop and hooks can help you make a lot more money in a lot less time. Drop and hooks also give you more flexibility as far as when you make your pickups and deliveries.

Many customers who offer drop and hook pickups and deliveries will give you a deadline to pickup or deliver, but generally you can get there as early as you like. Many times they are even open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So if you have to pick up a load that's sitting in a trailer in downtown Chicago, you don't have to try to push through rush hour traffic to arrive at a certain time. You can go in late at night or real early in the morning when traffic is light. Or maybe at times you would be able to get there way ahead of schedule, but you would really love to take a nap for an hour or two, or sit down for a nice meal first. Well, go for it! As long as you arrive ahead of the deadline everyone is happy. Believe me, you're gonna love having this kind of flexibility. It's wonderful when you're just exhausted and you find out your next load is a drop and hook that can pickup anytime. "Oh, thank God!", you're thinking as you pull over, jump into the sleeper, and crash out for a couple of hours!

To continue with this theme, larger companies tend to have a long list of perks. I've worked for companies that had things like free family counseling, large plush driver facilities, arcades, big screen TVs, restaurants, free 24 hour medical phone lines where you can call and talk to nurses confidentially about any medical questions you might have, discounts on travel accommodations, top of the line health insurance, 401k and direct deposit, free high speed wireless networks, shower facilities, marriage counseling, and on and on and on. I must say, at times it crosses your mind that maybe it would be better if they would just pay you a little more instead, but you know how that goes. The perks really are unbelievable though, and incredibly nice at times.

So as you can see, there are a ton of advantages to working at a large company. But these big trucking companies do have their disadvantages for sure. In part 5 of this series we're going to talk about the disadvantages of working at a large company, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the smaller companies. Until then, take care!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part I - Factors That Affect All Companies

This is part one in a multi-part series on choosing a truck driving company and being happy and successful in the industry. I will be adding a new part each day or two for the next week or two so stay tuned!

As you are likely aware, there are easily tens of thousands of trucking companies nationwide. There are some as small as one truck and some that have tens of thousands of trucks. There are local, regional, and over the road companies, and some that are a combination of two or even all three. There are tanker, flat bed, reefer, dry van, dump, and a multitude of other types of trucks you can drive. There are companies that specialize in one type of truck, and some that have a combination of several different types.

So with all of these choices presented to you, how do you know where to go next with your career? To tell you the truth, it's not that hard. Here are some of the key points we will be focusing on in this series that will help you choose the trucking company you would like to work for. Once you can answer these questions you will be able to narrow your choices down to a much smaller pool of trucking companies and then you can pick the one that seems right for you.

How often would you like to get home?
What areas of the country would you like to run in?
What would you like your work duties and lifestyle to be like?
What size company would you like to work for?

Let's start this series by debunking a few myths and giving you some generalizations and insights into all trucking companies, the trucking industry in general, and you as a driver and what you can do to put yourself in the best position to be happy and successful. Without understanding these factors, all of the rest of the above questions will not help you be happy and successful at any company you choose.

The Elusive "Best Trucking Companies" and the Mythical "Perfect Trucking Company"

Let me make one important generalization first. There is no such thing as the "perfect company" or the "best company to work for". To be more precise, you could label a company "the perfect company for me" or "the best company for me", but there are no "best trucking companies" or "perfect trucking companies" for everyone. At times I have worked at companies that I would not have recommended to other drivers, but I absolutely loved working there! I really had it made! And then at other times, some of the best trucking companies I have ever worked for were just a nightmare for a small percentage of the other drivers. Why? There are a number of reasons for this.

The Trucking Industry Is Very Dynamic

For starters, trucking companies and the trucking industry itself is very dynamic and the competition is fierce - both within your own company and between the companies themselves.

Competition and Politics Within Each Trucking Company

Different Divisions Working Together, or at Times, Working Against Each Other

Trucking companies, especially the larger ones, are often times comprised of many different divisions that all must work together, but at times by nature must work against each other. For example, many companies have dispatchers and load planners. The load planners will generally decide, with some input from the dispatchers, which trucks get assigned to which loads. The dispatcher's main job is to handle all communication with their drivers and convey information to the load planners about the driver. The dispatcher can "campaign" for certain loads for certain drivers. Maybe one driver has had 4 straight runs in the northeast, so he/she can let the load planner know that it's time to give that driver a run to a different region. Or maybe a certain driver has been running really hard and isn't feeling well, but can still handle a short run for the day. The dispatcher can let the load planner know this. As you can see from this example, the two divisions - dispatchers and load planners - must work together for the good of everyone.

On the other hand, you have the logbook department. Man, I cringe just saying "logbook department". It's like the principal's office of the trucking world. You never just go there to say "hi" or see whassup. You go there knowing bad things are about to happen to you!

Anyhow, the drivers, dispatchers, and possibly the load planners - depending on the structure of the company - are mostly looking to get as many miles as possible. For some of them, that means cheating the logbook at times - many times for some drivers (innocent look on this writer's face). So the logbook department by nature must keep the dispatchers and drivers in check. Even though the more miles you run the more money you'll make, you still have to abide by the Federal Rules and so the logbook department must at times work against what the drivers and dispatchers would like to do.

Competition Within The Company

Most drivers get paid by the mile. So the more miles you run, the more money you make. Often times, dispatchers and load planners may get paid bonuses or commissions based on the number of miles their drivers are getting, or at least the efficiency at which their drivers are executing their loads. Things like on-time service and deadhead (empty) miles factor heavily into their final rating. So everyone is looking to make all the money they can make by generating the best statistics for themselves.

Well, this naturally breeds competition within a company. Dispatchers are jockeying for the best loads for their drivers and the load planners are trying to run things as efficiently as possible. In the meantime, drivers are pushing their dispatchers for the best loads they can get. Well, there are only so many "desirable" loads to go around - so who gets the best ones? It depends on a number of factors:

Efficiency - the load planners want to keep the deadhead miles to a minimum

Reliability - dispatchers and load planners want to make sure the hardest running, safest, and most efficient drivers get assigned the most important or most difficult freight so that the chances of on-time, safe service are as good as they can be

Individual Driver Circumstances - They have to take into account how many hours a driver has available, how the driver is feeling, what types of loads the driver has been getting recently, and whether or not the driver is due for hometime soon, amongst other factors

Politics - unfortunately this is one of the realities of truck driving - or life in any company. Whether or not the driver gets along with the dispatcher, and whether or not the dispatcher gets along with the load planners will be a factor in determining who gets what loads. Should this be a factor? Ideally, no. But it is. That's the reality - and an important one. If you refuse to accept this reality based upon your ideals, then you'll soon find out the hard way just where your ideals end and the realities of the job take over.

So as you can see from these few examples, competition, cooperation, and politics can play heavily into your success and happiness as a truck driver in any company. The next topic I will cover will discuss what the driver can do to help his/her chances of finding success and happiness within any company you may be working for, including how you will be affected by the people you surround yourself with, how important it is to get to know the right people, and the proper attitude and expectations a driver should have.

Any and all comments are very welcome and appreciated! If you'll tell us what you think, we can improve our site and the content we produce for you! Thanks!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part II - You and "Your People" Are the Most Important Factor

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for, including:

The Elusive "Best Trucking Companies" and the Mythical "Perfect Trucking Company"
Competition and Politics Within Each Trucking Company
Different Divisions Working Together, or at Times, Working Against Each Other
Competition Within The Company

In part two, we're going to talk about people. Ask any member of any successful team, "What is it that made you so successful?" If they really understand the dynamics of any team, the answer is usually the same - "Having the right people". It's no different within trucking companies, which are indeed teams, although they may not always seem like it. You will likely discover that at any company there are people who don't like you, people who don't care about their jobs, and people who aren't very good at what they do. Does this sound like a team? Does the company seem to be functioning like a team? Well, the reality of it is simple - being on a team doesn't mean that everyone gets along, everyone cares about the team, and everyone is good at what they do. It simply means that everyone is working together to make the company function - even the jerks - which every team has.

So what you have to do at any trucking company is to make sure that you are the best driver you can be, the best person you can be, and surround yourself with the best people you can find. Even in a large company, there will only be a very small group of people that you will be working with directly. From the time you first head out on the road, there may only be 10-15 people that you ever have direct contact with for the entire first year! Having the right people is absolutely critical to your success and happiness at any trucking company you work for.

"Your People" Can Make All The Difference

So one of the biggest factors that determine whether or not you will be happy at a particular company will be the people you are surrounded with. If you have an outstanding dispatcher, almost any company can be a great one for you to work for. I've been there. If you're getting great miles, great loads, being treated well, and getting home on a good schedule, then the company is a great one to work for, right? Pretty much!

If you're not getting along with your dispatcher or he/she is not doing a good job, you're not going to get the loads you'd like to be getting and life at that company is not going to be good. Here's a huge piece of advice - get to know your dispatcher's boss! Understand that dispatchers in general do not have much authority. Normally, the load planners make the ultimate decision about which load the driver gets assigned to. At times, you're going to need more help. Often times your dispatcher's boss will have more pull with the load planners than your dispatcher will. If you get to know the boss, you may be able to get more help when help is needed. Maybe you're not getting enough miles. Maybe you keep getting stuck in the Northeast. Maybe you need to get home a little bit early or stay home a day longer. Your dispatcher will not always have the authority to make this happen - but the boss usually will. Get to know the boss and work together with your dispatcher and the boss as a team. If you really want things to go well for you, take the attitude that you will do favors for them first! Prove yourself as a driver. Run hard, be safe, and be reliable and they will normally take good care of you in return. If, on the other hand, you get stuck with a dispatcher that just doesn't care about the drivers, and believe me there are some like that, then that same boss is the one you will turn to when you'd like to try working with a different dispatcher.

Always keep in mind that there will not always be good freight available, either. Some of the factors that will greatly affect the amount of freight available at any given time include:


The economy
The region of the country you are in
The day of the week it is
The time of the year
The number of drivers in your area waiting on loads
and a whole assortment of other factors

You have to take the good with the bad and understand that things won't always go your way.

The driver's work ethic and attitude

This is the most important factor of all. Over the years I came to realize that most companies can be good companies to work for if you understand the things I've said above, the things I will say in the next few parts in this series, and you are a kick ass driver! But if you're lazy, hard to get along with, unreliable, unsafe, inflexible, or have unreasonable expectations, you will not be treated well by your company and you will not be happy working there.

Whenever a driver would approach me in a truckstop and complain about how horrible the company is that he/she works for, the first question I always asked myself is "what is this driver doing wrong?" Is it always the driver's fault when things aren't going well? Of course not! Some companies are just crappy companies to work for. Or at least, some of the people within those companies are crappy to work with - like certain dispatchers or load planners. But the vast majority of the time, whenever a driver complained about their company and I sat down and listened for a little while, the truth would eventually come out. Often times it was things like:

I've told them I want to be home every friday by 5:00 and they don't do it half the time
I told them I hate the northeast and they keep sending me there
I'm from Florida and I hate the snow. I don't wanna drive in it and I told them I won't
I can't see good at night and I told them I don't like driving at night and they keep giving me loads that I can't deliver on time
I hate driving through the mountains and I told them keep me in the midwest but they won't

I always thought, "SHOCKING! that things aren't going well for you! You've stated your demands so clearly!" Obviously you're seeing the pattern here. The driver feels his/her demands aren't being met so is refusing to do anything he/she doesn't want to do. I've seen this over and over a thousand times. Sit down and listen to the drivers that are unhappy and 90% of the time it's their own fault. They aren't willing to do the things that other drivers are willing to do to get the job done for the company. And hey, this is coming from a truck driver!!!! If I was a dispatcher or a load planner for 15 years, that would be totally different. But I drove for 15 years and I'm telling you that most of the time the driver either doesn't get along with people or doesn't understand the trucking industry in general, how it works, and what is expected of him.

Unreasonable driver expectations in my opinion is the number one reason for the high turnover rate in the industry, and the number one reason that those drivers that are unhappy, are unhappy. Not always of course. And much of the turnover can be traced to poor company policies or poor employees within these companies. But knowing what you can do to help yourself as a driver is the most important thing that will influence your driving career. If you will do your job, most of the time things will work out well.

Do These Things And You Will Be Much Better Off:

Be safe
Be efficient
Be cooperative
Be very patient
Work hard
Communicate well with your company
Prove yourself as a driver first, ask favors second
Learn to understand your company and the trucking industry in general
Surround yourself with the right people
Get to know the right people
Have discipline
Be responsible
Take the good with the bad
Learn to handle that rig like a Jedi!
Learn all of the factors that affect the freight you will get, like:


The economy
The season of the year
The region you are in
You're ability as a driver
The company's freight lanes
the people you surround yourself with
your attitude
and many others...

If you understand these things and you're doing your job the best you can, then overall you will be in a good position to succeed at any company you drive for. In the next few parts of this series we'll talk about some of the factors in your life that will help you determine the best type of job for you.

I sure hope you'll leave some comments on this post, and all of our posts. Your comments help us improve the site and put up the content that will help you the most! Thanks a lot!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part V - Comparing Large Trucking Companies to Small Ones

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for.

In part two of our series, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

In part three, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? How long would you like to be away from home? These questions all figure into the process of choosing the right truck driving job.

In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of course talked about the advantages of working at a large trucking company.

Now in part 5, we're going to talk about some of the disadvantages to working for a large trucking company, and discuss what life is like at a small company.

Ok, so large trucking companies must have some disadvantages, right? Of course they do. At a large company you are simply a number, not a name. You hopefully will get to know a few people working in the offices like your dispatcher, his or her boss, and maybe one or two middle managers like a terminal manager or operations manager. If you get to know that many people... and by get to know I mean they actually recognize you by name or truck number, you've probably done either an excellent job or a terrible job over a period of many months, or maybe even a couple of years. It's tough to stand out when there are thousands of drivers at one company. So if you like that personal attention and family-type atmosphere, a large company is not going to provide that for you.

Because of this, you will find it very difficult to get any special consideration for anything. Doing a great job for a couple of years is going to get you an automated thank you letter and maybe a patch for the company jacket you had to buy from your own company store when you wanted one. On the other end of things, you may find yourself in a unique situation, and nobody will take the time to understand your side of things. They don't have the time, and frankly many of them don't really care. I'm going to go deeper into this subject in a moment with a few stories related to this theme.

Smaller companies, in my opinion, don't have too many advantages over the larger ones from a driver's perspective. You will definitely get to know everyone in the office, and they will certainly know you. Often times if you live nearby your main office, the people in your company will even get to know your family and the families of the other employees. This family atmosphere is nice in a way, but you also have to be aware of a couple things.

For one, just like in any tight group of people, everyone tends to know everyone else's business. Maybe you don't want everyone at work knowing about an operation you're going to have, or the tough times you're having with your marriage, or the trouble your kid got into at school. Maybe you got a well deserved raise, but now the other drivers are envious and raising a fuss. Or maybe your excellent performance is being rewarded with more miles and a nicer truck, which again causes problems with the other drivers. As you can probably tell I've been in these type of situations before and I'm not really too fond of them. Having co-workers as close friends is not always an easy thing to maintain, especially if there is any type of competition between employees when it comes to pay, equipment, or freight.

The other concern with regard to company size is how much your company will count on you. At a large company, if you'd like to take some time off, nobody really cares. I've taken MONTHS off at times and simply been told, "Ok, just turn your truck in to the terminal and let us know when you're ready to return and we'll get ya goin again." But at a really small company that's not likely to happen. You may be one of ten drivers in the whole company, so if you take time off, they just lost 10% of their fleet! The smaller companies rely on you much more so than a big company does, so you don't have nearly as much flexibility.

One time I worked for a small company pulling food-grade tankers. There were only eleven drivers in the company. I ran really hard for them and before too long, they came to expect a bit too much from me. Things got to the point that I was running an average of about 4500 miles per week. That's a ton! As time went on, the owner of the company expected more and more of me. It was getting ridiculous. Finally I stayed out on the road for almost six straight weeks, averaged about 4500 miles per week (totally illegal - you can't log that many miles legally), and when I returned home he booked a load for me to haul two days later. Six weeks on the road, two days at home, and I have to leave again? I don't think so. Well, he told me I could either run the load or be fired. I had been there a year, and I had a perfect safety and service record. I was also second amongst the drivers in average miles driven per week, but I guess that wasn't good enough. Turns out the owner was in serious financial trouble and I found out the company closed just a couple of months later.

So it turns out that he was desperate to get all the money coming in that he could get to save the company. But he had a good thing going with me and ruined it. Not only that, but he put on my DAC report that I abandoned his truck, which was not true at all! But since he went out of business, he couldn't respond to my claim that he falsified the report, so I didn't have any trouble moving on to the next job. A little advice - don't make the mistake of running that hard. Don't run so hard that you'll damage you mind, your body, or your license. Think long-term and make smart choices. I was really young at the time, was making a lot of money running that hard, and wanted to push myself to see what I could do. Well, what I did was make myself sick. I wore myself down, got burned out, and spent about 3 days in bed with some sort of flu/cold/whatever virus at one point. Remember, long term success means planning for the long term and making smart decisions all the time, not just some of the time.

So just be aware of the fact that small trucking companies will count on you far more than large companies will. There will be advantages and disadvantages to any company you work for. Keep in mind that It's always somewhat of a compromise when you're choosing where you'd like to work. It's just a matter of finding what works best for you.

In part 6 of this series we're going to discuss a couple of different types of truck driving jobs - dry van and refrigerated carriers!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!

Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part III - How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your Choice

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for, including:


The Elusive "Best Trucking Companies" and the Mythical "Perfect Trucking Company"
Competition and Politics Within Each Trucking Company
Different Divisions Working Together, or at Times, Working Against Each Other
Competition Within The Company

In part two of our series, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most Important Factor", we talked about surrounding yourself with the right people, understanding factors that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed, including:

Be very patient
Communicate well with your company
Prove yourself as a driver first, ask favors second
Learn to understand your company and the trucking industry in general
Surround yourself with the right people
Get to know the right people
and many more....

Now, in part III, let's begin talking about how you should choose a truck driving job based on your personality and preferred lifestyle.

First let's start with your lifestyle. Are you married? Divorced? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? Would you like to travel extensively and see the country, or have you already had that chance and would prefer to stay near home?

Home time is one of the most important considerations you should make when choosing a truck driving job. There is one point I can not stress enough - if you have a family of your own, please, please, please don't take an over the road truck driving job where you are gone for weeks at a time. It's been done by thousands of truck drivers over the years, and is being done by thousands today, but the stress it puts on every member of the family is enormous and is simply not necessary. There are tons of opportunities in the trucking industry to make good money and be home at least every weekend, and sometimes even every night. Countless numbers of families have split up because of the time they spend apart. I certainly don't want to see that number grow.

Even for those who have a family, regional truck driving jobs can be stressful, but I think it can be done - at least for a while. But it will definitely test your relationship with your spouse, and with your children. Ideally you would like to be home with your family everyday, but often times your financial situation dictates that you get a really good paying job, which you may not be able to find with a local company. Be forewarned though, even a regional trucking job will be a HUGE test of your family's strength, not to mention the fact that you will miss out on so much of your family's lives.

What if you're married, or in a serious relationship, but you don't have any children? There are a lot of couples that travel together. In some cases, both are drivers and share the driving duties, and in other cases only one drives and the other helps out in other ways like with navigation, phone calls, paperwork, and a variety of other duties. But again, be forewarned - the inside of your truck is the size of a walk-in closet and you two will be together nearly non-stop 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I don't know if you've ever tried to share a tiny space with another person practically ever minute of every day but it is not easy. At best it will take a lot of getting used to, and at worst you will be at each other's throats at times. Some couples can handle it, many can not. Often times the only way to find out is to try it. But if you do decide to give it a shot please don't give up your home or apartment right away. Wait a few months. If you can handle it for maybe three months then you should be ok. Often, though, both parties are glad that they can travel together sometimes, and at other times one person can stay home to give themselves a break and to take care of other responsibilities. There really is no easy answer for this type of situation. It's a matter of trial and error.

Now when I started driving I was 21 years old, hadn't traveled too much, had never been married, and had no children. The idea of traveling all of the time and living in the truck sounded awesome, and it was! The better part of my first 9 years of driving was over the road. I would stay on the road for weeks and sometimes months at a time. I just totally loved it! It really suited my personality and lifestyle perfectly. I was able to give up my apartment, my vehicle, and just let the money pile up in the bank. I usually found myself driving a lot during the week and having a lot of free time on the weekends to entertain myself. I'd go to bars, sporting events, concerts, and do the "tourist thing" like in Las Vegas or New Orleans. It was spectacular!

So your first consideration should be home time. But please be honest with yourself. Don't convince yourself to do something that deep down inside you probably have some serious doubts about. If you have a family, please try to find a job with as much home time as possible. If you absolutely NEED to make as much money as possible, at least for a little while, then try to formulate a solid plan that will get you out of your money crunch and into a position to take a job with more home time as soon as possible. I'm telling you, too much time away from home can ruin a family. Try to avoid it.

In the next part of this series, we will talk about the difference between working at one of the larger trucking companies, versus one of the smaller trucking companies. I've worked at companies with over 5000 trucks, I've worked at one with eleven trucks, and everything in between. There are some major, major differences between them and we'll cover them in detail next.

We'd really appreciate it if you would leave a quick comment so we know how we're doing and we can provide you with better content in the future. Thanks so much!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!