Best Fleets to Drive For Contest Brings Pride, Unity and Money

Best Fleets to Drive For Contest Brings Pride, Unity and Money
Posted: Sep 5, 2013 03:35 PM | Last Updated: Sep 5, 2013 04:10 PM

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The Truckload Carriers Association has opened up nominations for their popular Best Fleets to Drive For survey once again.

The survey-slash-contest requires owner-operators and company drivers to nominate the fleets they drive for — that's not only a good way to get on your boss's good side, it could also be good for your paycheck as the annual driver pay at past finalists has risen by at least 10 percent over the past five years.

But it ain't no pick-a-winner-out-of-the-hat type contest.

After a company is nominated and chooses to continue with the survey and contest, its "policies and processes are scrutinized, from benefits and professional development, to driver and community support, to safety record and company culture," TCA explained.

Last year's Best Overall Fleet for Company Drivers was Grand Island Express out of Nebraska. According to Grand Island President Tom Pirnie, the competition "forces a carrier to examine, in depth, its recruiting, HR policies, procedures and benefits. A review of maintenance and safety practices and results is also necessary."

And that's a good thing, even if you don't win. "The whole process will give you a benchmark as to how you compare to your competition. It will bring positive change to your company," Pirnie said. "The competition can supply renewed energy and focus on company improvements. Setting goals and working on improvements can upgrade the communications and morale of all the associates, including the drivers themselves. Winning or placing in the top 20 creates company pride and unity."

The deadline to nominate your company is November 1, 2013, and you can get the forms here.

And don't forget about the all-Canadian version of Best Fleets to Drive For, expected sometime in 2014. 

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Winners of Win a Cat Truck contest take delivery of new CT660

PEAKS ISLAND, Me. -- LPA Inc., winners of a new Cat CT660 vocational truck in a popular contest last year, has taken delivery of its new rig.

The CT660 dump truck was delivered via one of LPA’s barges during a special ceremony June 13.

The barging and excavating company generated more than 3,000 votes in the online contest, beating out more than 300 contestants in the US and Canada.

Cat’s George Taylor, director of its global on-highway truck group, handed the keys to Coley Mulkern, CEO of LPA during a special ceremony.

“The LPA entry emphasized that reliability in tough conditions was a key for successful operation,” Taylor said. “The truck has to handle well on mainland highways, negotiate steep ramps at marine landings, and maneuver well on rugged island roads. And it has to operate in areas far from a truck service bay. It can’t have a bad day. We think the CT660 is up to the task.”

Because LPA operates in a corrosive marine environment, the truck was equipped with stainless steel and totally sealed electrical harnesses to protect it from the elements. The winning company says it will put the truck to the test immediately.

“As soon as the party is over, we start hauling 3,000 yards of aggregates to make concrete on the islands,” Mulkern said. “We do need this truck.”

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