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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!

Author: Brett R Aquila
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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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!

Author: Brett R Aquila
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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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!

Author: Brett R Aquila
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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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!

Author: Brett R Aquila
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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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:

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Author: Brett R Aquila
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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