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!

The Best Truck Driving Jobs and Trucking Companies - Nov 25,2008

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Trucking Companies Driver Qualifications - Jul 27,2008

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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!

How Do Tow Truck Companies Work?

A tow truck company is a simple concept. The main purpose of a tow truck company is to move disabled vehicles at the request of their owners or the owner/administrator of a property. In urban area or apartment complexes tow truck companies operate to control illegal parking by owners who don't follow posted regulations or parking rules. In these cases areas in question have limited space for parking and they reserve the right to allow people to park only if they pay for a space or allow people to park in spaces at certain times. If either of these rules are violated it is the right of the owner to have the vehicles towed off the premises. In these cases the owner has contracted in advance with a towing company to service their lots. The property owner will provide signs to patrons as to how to retain their vehicles once they have been towed.

Towing yards are fortified prisons for vehicles. The yards are usually gated with bob wire surrounding the property deterring vehicles owners from jumping the fence to get their car back. The yards also employ automatic fences and state of the art video surveillance to guard against intruders. At night, guard dogs are release to further deter prowlers from stepping foot on the yards premises. Getting your car back from these yards entails paying a fee. These fees can be fairly expensive and usually range from the low $50 dollar range to upwards $100 to $200 dollars. It also depends on the amount of days the tow truck company has your vehicle on their premises. Most yards charge a storage fee per day. This could be another $20 to $50 dollars per day. After a while the fee can become very expensive. If the car is never retrieved a lien is put on the vehicle by the tow company at the Department Of Motor Vehicles. If the lien is not paid off the tow company will file with the local courts for ownership of the vehicle. Once ownership is obtained the cars are either auctioned off or scrapped for spare parts.

Emergency Services is another way that tow truck companies work. If you vehicle is disabled on the highway and you don't have a means to remove it or you are just to disoriented to solve the towing issue emergency services will have the car towed for you. Owners of towing companies contract with operations like triple A and police organizations to tow disabled vehicles off the highway. Triple A is an organization that participants pay a yearly access fee to be able to have access to emergency vehicle services. In times of need this organization is very helpful.

City Parking - In big cities the parking authority division employ a number of tow trucks to enforce parking laws enacted within city limits. These may be as simple as not paying a toll or parking ticket and parking in a no parking zone. Parking authority will choose to tow your vehicle in exchange for the right to make you pay your tickets in order to get your vehicle back. If the violation is not paid the vehicle towed will be sold at auction.

These are just a few of the ways that tow truck companies' work. Are you thinking about starting a tow truck company? If so, you need a truck. Find the best deals on recovery trucks Also check out damaged salvage cars for your vehicle needs.

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!

Why Trucking Companies Love to Factor

In the midst of the credit crunch, companies in many different industries are discovering the potential benefits of factoring their accounts receivable. There's at least one industry, however, for which factoring isn't necessarily breaking news: trucking. Trucking companies have been taking advantage of the benefits of factoring services for years.

The biggest challenge facing new and growing trucking companies has always been managing cash flow. How do you make sure that the money coming in matches the money going out? For the owners of most trucking companies, this is their biggest challenge. 

Factoring Services: A Reliable Alternative

Most business owners rely on bank lines of credit to provide them with the cash they need until they actually get paid. This can create a dangerous situation, however, as lines of credit are more difficult to come by today.  Many companies that do have credit lines are seeing them cancelled or reduced by banks with little or no explanation or warning.

While banks can provide trucking companies with lines of credit, the companies have to establish a history of profitability. Also, the bank will look at the company's profits as the first source of repayment, then to the equity or net worth of the business, and then to liquidation of the owner's assets, particularly real estate.

Many trucking companies have discovered that factoring is a reliable and effective alternative to bank lines of credit for financing their working capital shortfalls. In fact, many "bankable" trucking companies are choosing factoring services even if they qualify for bank credit lines.

Factoring services are common in the trucking industry because qualification depends mostly on the trucking company's customers. A factor will conduct thorough credit checks on all the main customers and follow up until invoices are paid. This is a valuable service that prevents collection problems and bad debt for trucking companies. In fact, some owners feel that this service alone justifies the cost of factoring services.

The factoring process is simple: A commercial finance company, or "factor," purchases invoices from the trucking company as soon as there is an attached Bill of Lading. This way, the company always has enough cash to pay its bills on time or even early, which enables owners to negotiate "early pay discounts" to help offset the factoring service fees. Just as importantly, the owner can focus on more important business issues like sales and profitability, instead of collecting accounts receivable.

Handing Off Collections

The president of a trucking company in New Brunswick has been factoring accounts receivable since 2007. "Our commercial finance company handles the day to day work of collecting our receivables," he says. "They do all the work and the only time we hear from them is when there is a problem. We like that."

Before new customers are added, the commercial finance company first checks their credit. "This has helped us avoid potential problem accounts on several occasions," the president says. "The best part is that we can now control our own cash flow. We decide when to submit our invoices and the commercial finance company turns them into cash; that's a lot better than waiting for our customers to pay us."

Utilizing factoring services has helped this trucking company grow tremendously despite the rough economy. "By utilizing factoring services, we have been able to triple our growth in the last 24 months and still maintain positive cash flow."

Tom Klausen is the Senior Vice President of First Vancouver Finance (FVF), which has offices in Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON. FVF provides creative financing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across Canada. Tom has worked in the alternative lending industry for more than 25 years and consults with businesses struggling to obtain traditional financing.

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!

Truck Driving Jobs and Trucking Companies

As a student or new driver just entering into a truck driving career, the number one question on your mind is whether or not a particular trucking company is a "good" one. The question, "Is this a good company to work for?" is asked of me practically on a daily basis. You will hear good things about a company and you will hear bad things about a company...that is just the nature of the business. You may have researched many of the driver forums across the internet to see what drivers are saying about a certain company. Usually, by the time you get done with many of these forums, you are more confused than when you started.

No one company can make 100% of their drivers happy. This is the case in any business. It is just human nature. This is why there will be ten drivers who will speak positive of a trucking company, and then twelve other drivers will speak negative about the same company. Also, many times a recruiter or dispatcher can log in on the forum and post only good things about the company. There is also the factor concerning the old saying, "There is always two sides to a story." A driver could be blasting a particular company but how do you know that the driver was really not the one at fault? All these forums are good tools to use in order to check out trucking companies or particular truck driving jobs, but they are not 100% fool proof.

One thing about truck drivers is that they have no problem when it comes to speaking their minds. But after spending hours and hours searching through the forums and sorting through pages and pages of company listings, you may still find yourself totally confused on what to believe. Furthermore, your one question, "Is this a good company to work for" is still left unanswered. Have you ever done a search for "best trucking companies?" You will find many pages showing a list of trucking companies, but that is all it is...a list. You still have no idea which company is a "good" one or which company is a "bad" one. It can be very frustrating, to say the least.

When searching for the right trucking companies or the better truck driving jobs, one must take into account several aspects of criteria:

How long has the company been in business? What is their turn over rate? What is their starting pay? What are there actual mileage average? How quickly are their earning increases? How easy will it be for them to get you home? What are there freight lanes?

There are many questions that should be answered and researched before you simply pick a trucking company as your employer. Are there good companies out there? Absolutely! Finding them is the key. Locating a "list" of trucking company "names" will not help you at all. You want a "list" of only the names of trucking companies that are considered to be the best of the best, as well as "why" they are considered the better ones. If you cannot find the "why"...then what is the purpose of the list?

As a student or new driver, or even as a driver who just has not yet found that one company that treats their drivers fairly and honestly, locating the best truck driving job can be a struggle. Do your homework. Investigate each company thoroughly...talk to other drivers...check them out with the Better Business Bureau...continue to read the forums...anything you can do in order to get the right "feel" for the company. Then, with all the information you've acquired, utilize your best judgment in choosing.

Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of The Best Truck Driving Jobs - A State by State Guide and an expert in the field of motor carrier transportation. He is widely recognized as the leading advocate for assisting students and new drivers.

Trucking Companies and Freight Rates - What is a True Bargain and Not Just a Cheep Truck Rate?

When looking for a trucking company to ship your goods, when is a bargain a true bargain? Sure, someone can tell you that what you are getting is a bargain, but can you see the bargain? Are you given an actual numerical figure or is this freight quote being thrown at you from about ten different directions?

When it comes to choosing your trucking company, you have to see if it really is a bargain. This means a side-by-side comparison of freight rates to determine if you are getting a good price. But what happens if you find your bargain and the service that you receive is not exactly what you intended it to be? What if your customer who receives the shipment calls you and says the items were damaged and the driver just stood back as everyone struggled getting the shipment out of the truck? This is a phone call you don't want to receive from your customer which may result in the loss of future business and then a complaint will need to be made to the trucking company, who may or may not even care about your relationship or your customer.

What you want is a full service transportation company that respects your shipment, respects your customers, and provides you with the best freight rate for the service that you can get. They also need to be dependable. This means that they are able to get your shipment to its destination on time. Your shipment should be their priority. When they care about your shipment, they care about you and your customers.

So how do you find these trucking company bargains and get great service all at the same time?

One way is to look for a full service transportation company that hears and understands your needs and says, "Okay, we can do this for you." If you are looking for a bargain with great service, they will find what you need for the best price. This may not be the least expensive service, but it is the best value for the quality of service available. It is essential to keep in mind the importance of the overall service. Consistent outstanding service will create longevity between you and your customers. When customers are satisfied, results relate to a good return on investment, so you'll find that the freight quote you have secured is really the best freight rate that you could have received. You should research companies that have more than twenty years of customer contentment.

So it is important to realize that a bargain isn't really a true bargain unless the service is as good as the price. Sure, you can always get a better freight quote, but sometimes you get what you paid for. And if it is a really low rate, beware of using these trucking companies unless you know for a fact that their service is impeccable. That is why it is really important to look to a full service transportation company so that they can take your specifications, so you can compare. That way you can really see a true bargain when it comes to finding the right truck broker for your shipping requirements.

Highland Trucking Company is your freight company. We have been providing freight forwarding services since 1984. We believe in alleviating empty backhaul, creating more attractive rates and delivery for you.

Transportation Brokers improve the efficiency of the transportation system by helping carriers find freight and shippers find transportation. Call us today and let us provide you with a free rate quote for all of your transportation service needs: 800-359-6005 Http://www.highlandtrucking.com

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!