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Key Takeaways:
- Determine what matters most to you — home time, pay, equipment, respect, etc. — before reaching out to carriers.
- Be specific about your heavy haul experience; generalizations don’t cut it.
- Have your documents ready ahead of time, including any proof of your experience you can provide.
- Ask smart questions about pay structure, freight variety, and seasonality.
- Maintain professionalism during your exit from your current carrier — don’t burn bridges.
Heavy haul drivers don’t change carriers lightly, and for good reason. It’s a specialized field that demands experience, professionalism, and a lot of planning.
Whether you're looking for better home time, higher earnings, or more respect on the job, one thing's for sure: your next move matters. A lot.
Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) has been in the heavy haul business for decades, which means we know a thing or two about the hiring process. That includes the questions drivers ask (or don’t ask) during the transition that can make or break their success in their new position.
So, before you make the leap, let us share our firsthand insights about changing carriers to help you go about it the smart way.
The seven steps we outline below are designed to lead drivers through the process of leaving one carrier for another with clarity and confidence. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Get Clear on Why You Want to Leave
Sure, you’re unhappy at your current carrier. But can you pinpoint exactly why?
The answer to that question is absolutely critical to finding a better fit — and preventing you from winding up in the exact same position a year from now.
So, what is it that’s making you want to part ways with your current carrier? While it may be tempting to say, “I want better pay,” or “I want more home time,” and leave it at that, resist the urge to stop there.
Dig deeper into how you feel now, and how you want to feel in your new position. Ask yourself:
- What specifically isn’t working where I am?
- What does my ideal carrier offer that I’m not getting right now?
- Am I looking for long-term career growth, or short-term flexibility?
Recruiters can’t help you find the right fit unless you know what you’re looking for. Whether it's more advanced freight types, better equipment, or just getting home before your kid’s next birthday, clarity is your best tool.
Step 2: Research Your Top-Choice Carriers Like a Pro
When you’ve made the decision that your carrier isn’t right for you, finding a new position can feel urgent — like, really urgent.
But before you jump ship, remember: it’s better to find the right fit than a fast fit.
You're hauling millions of dollars’ worth of equipment day in and day out. You don’t sign on with just anyone — no matter how motivated you may be to exit your current carrier ASAP. So don’t be afraid to do some digital detective work on the carriers you’re considering:
- Use social media: Check their Facebook page. Look at comments from drivers. Reach out via private message — many will be happy to share their experience.
- Check out job site reviews: Look at Glassdoor reviews, Google reviews, and other job review sites to see how current and former drivers rate their experience.
- Ask your recruiter if they can connect you with current or former drivers: Real-world insights are worth their weight in gold.
- Ask the uncomfortable questions: If you're leaving because you’re frustrated about a specific policy, procedure, or issue at your current carrier, ask how the new company handles those issues. It would be a shame to start with a new carrier only to discover it’s more of the same.
Step 3: Gather Your Paperwork in Advance
Want to make the smoothest possible transition to your new gig? Get your paperwork and documentation in order before you apply. That may include:
- CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)
- Passport
- Medical examiner’s certificate (also called a MEC card)
- TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential)
- Wind Industry Transportation Professional Advanced Certification (WITPAC), if applicable
- Accident records (police reports, DOT documentation, claims files, etc.)
- Any previous BOLs or permits with your name on them, if possible
And here’s a pro tip: Know what’s on your Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) and Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) reports.
Many drivers don’t check them before starting their job search — and that can lead to unpleasant surprises during the interview process.
Step 4: Be Real with Yourself — and Your Recruiter
Yes, you have to be honest with yourself about what you need in your next job — and you need to be just as honest when talking to recruiters. That includes your priorities, your experience, and your safety record.
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: don’t lie to your recruiter. It’s as much as waste of your time as it is theirs.
Job interviews are a two-way street; you're evaluating the carrier just as much as they're evaluating you. Being upfront from the start saves time for everyone and helps you avoid landing in the wrong role.
If it’s not the right fit, better to find out now than after you’ve signed on.
Step 5: Sell Your Skills, Don’t List Them
In heavy haul, it's not enough to say, “Yeah, I’ve hauled that.” You need to explain how you hauled it safely and successfully.
In general, heavy haul recruiters want to hear specifics about:
- Securement techniques for oversize or irregular loads
- Trailer configuration knowledge
- Permit and routing planning
- Weight distribution strategy
- Compliance with DOT regulations
Give examples whenever possible. “I hauled a 130,000-pound turbine blade from Kansas to California with a 13-axle setup, working with state DOTs for permits and escorts” goes a lot further than “I’ve done heavy haul.”
Bonus points if you’ve got a strong safety record and long tenure at past companies. Those two things tell a carrier more about the value you’ll bring to their company than any resume line could.
Step 6: Ask the Right Questions About Pay, Freight, and Opportunity
In heavy haul, pay is rarely straightforward. You’d be hard-pressed to find two unrelated carriers handling driver pay the exact same way.
That’s why it’s important to ask about how a carrier pays and what their drivers are earning on average.
Think about it this way: If a carrier is telling you their heavy haul drivers make a certain percentage, you don’t really know what that means without also knowing their drivers’ average annual earnings.
So, don’t for vague answers about pay and pay structure. Ask strategic, specific questions like:
- Is your pay structure hourly, salaried, percentage-based?
- On average, how much are your heavy haul drivers taking home annually?
- How much pay fluctuation do your heavy haul drivers experience seasonally?
Also consider:
- Do they offer both contract and company positions? Not all heavy haul companies work with contract drivers, and not all carriers have company fleets.
- What types of freight do they specialize in? If a carrier focuses solely on a very narrow freight niche, there may not be much opportunity for load diversity or professional growth.
- Is there opportunity to grow into larger, more complex loads? If so, what does that path look like? What are the requirements, expectations, and average timeline?
The answers to these questions will help you compare apples to apples — because 38% of an unknown number won’t help you determine whether a position will pay the bills.
Step 7: Don’t Burn Bridges on Your Way Out
It’s time for a dose of tough love: While it might feel gratifying in the moment, the truth is that abandoning a truck, ghosting mid-load, or damaging company property can hurt you more than your carrier.
For example, if you’re a lease driver and you abandon your truck, you may:
- Get fined
- Have your last check withheld
- Receive a negative mark on your Drive-A-Check (DAC) report, which could cost you employment opportunities in the future
Not to mention the damage the word-of-mouth may do to your reputation in the industry. Heavy haul is a small world. Do yourself a favor and go out on good terms by:
- Giving proper notice (2-3 weeks is standard)
- Finishing out any active projects
- Dropping off your truck in an authorized location
- Returning your equipment in good shape
If your new carrier is reputable, they'll wait a few weeks for you to wrap up your current commitments and start your new position baggage-free.
Making the Right Move for You
As an experienced heavy haul driver, you know this life isn’t for everyone. It’s demanding, inconsistent at times, and not exactly an “home every weekend” type of job. But it’s also one of the most respected niches in trucking, and can be hugely fulfilling, lucrative work — if you’re with the right carrier.
Ultimately, before you make the decision to look for a new carrier (and undertake the 7 steps outlined in this article), you need to ask yourself three critical questions:
- Have I been honest about what I need from my next position?
- Am I satisfied with what this carrier can offer me?
- Am I ready to commit to this new position in the long-term, without bouncing from job to job?
If the answer to all three is an enthusiastic “Yes,” congratulations! It sounds like you’re ready to take the next step toward a truck driving job that checks all your boxes.
As you prepare to depart your current carrier, be sure to take a moment to read through our list of 6 Things You Must Do When Leaving Your Truck Driving Job.
It breaks down everything you’ll need to consider before handing over your keys or delivering that last load, so you can feel confident that you’ve left in good standing with your reputation intact.