5 Things Class A Drivers Should Look for when Applying for a New Trucking Position
1. Consistency
One of the biggest assurances that all Drivers must ask for is a dedicated opportunity. Specific Lanes are important as guaranteed work is going to be the standard for long term efficiency and driver satisfaction. If the company states you will be on the road all over the USA then you are going to be in for a long ride full of uncertainty. Exact lanes and especially the word “Dedicated” is a good sign of a stable trucking company whenever you are looking for a new opportunity.
2. Safety
If a trucking company does not emphasize safety in their business statement then this would raise a red flag. Trucking can become a dangerous career path as you are always on the road and if the company has no incident capturing technology or safety regulations then, as a driver, you should be worried. Technology has increased rapidly within the 2010s for the trucking industry. The long term carrier is the one gaining reports from the industry-leading technology inside of the units. This could be front-facing cameras or other reporting services linked to the OBD Port inside of the unit, diagnosing it constantly. If a company’s trucks are outfitted with this technology, then this speaks volumes in terms of safety and assurance of equipment.
3. Fair Home Time and Compensation
If a trucking company is too general in regards to either compensation or home time, then look for different opportunities quickly. Some Trucking companies will say what they must in order to bring drivers in and eventually have drivers turn over due to promising the world. Look for direct answers in regards to payment and home time and agreement when bringing up your situation. If there is any ambiguity or just a high out of this world rate per mile without the exact lanes in mind then definitely stay away. Do your due diligence and ask for the product hauled the most in order to really get the full story as what the trucking company will pay. The industry will definitely pay more for consistent expedited freight, like automotive parts or mail, but will pay less for other general freight and smaller commodities.
4. Transparency
As a Professional Driver, you need to know exactly what you are signing up for. If there is any ambiguity when it comes to your questions initially, then I guarantee that the trucking company will not be the right fit for you. If they are not able to give clear and concise information on their company for the position you are applying for, then you will most likely be left waiting for work, even worse stuck inside of a broken down unit. Ask for the worst-case scenario of a weekly route in order to see the true expectations and ensure you are okay with it. Such as with AJG Transport, our worst-case scenario would be a 5-day dedicated route instead of a 6-day route however we will always ensure you reset at our home terminal in exchange and get you back on the road sooner for another set of routes.
If a Trucking company is willing to work with your schedule, then ensure they have the dedicated work available for you. Be clear with your boundaries and you will eventually find the right fit. The last point is to never take a companies word for it. Meet them in person and read the environment you get put into. This will speak volumes as you will see how trucks are taken care of or how the terminal dispatch teams handle business. Seeing this is important as you will depend on them on the road.
5. Dedication
AJG Transport is dedicated to service, but moreover, we are dedicated to ensuring our drivers are safe and taken care of throughout their tenure. A Long Term company is going to have this type of mindset for their drivers. Some, Like AJG, will pay more than average per mile in order to ensure that all drivers will take care of the units on the road. This simple measure of giving and taking is something some trucking companies will not understand, you should not be treated like a number or just another name inside of the truck. You are a professional at your craft and must be able to create a mutually beneficial relationship with your company.
Best of Luck!
Andrew Gomez
Andrew@AJGTransport.com