Did you decide the grass was greener on the other side and switched trucking companies recently?
How do you know if the grass really IS greener on the other side?
There’s nothing worse than thinking you found the perfect trucking company only to find out that everything you were told about the company was either a lie or the company was significantly misrepresented.
Just when you think you’ve found a stable, top-paying trucking company to grow with, you find out that it’s no better than the company you just left.
I’ve been a company driver on the specialized side with Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) since early 2021 and the only regret I have is that I didn’t start sooner. I’ve spent almost three decades in the trucking industry as both a trainer and a driver. I know what to look for out of a trucking company and I know the key indicators that will let you know you chose the right company.
Once you finish reading this article, you’ll know how to tell whether or not your new trucking company is a good fit for you or if it’s time to restart your search.
7 Key Indicators that You Chose the Right Trucking Company
Every driver has different needs, so one carrier might be perfect for one driver and a terrible fit for another.
You’ll know that you chose the right trucking company when you get the respect you deserve as a valued member of the team.
- You’re welcomed at orientation
- You don’t feel like a number
- Your dispatcher or driver manager respects your opinion
- Your pay matches what you were promised
- You get home when you need to
- You’re always encouraged to operate safely
- You have the equipment you need to succeed
1. You're Welcomed at Orientation
The way you’re treated at orientation sets the precedent for your relationship with the company moving forward. There’s a reason they say first impressions matter. That first impression at orientation can make or break the company in your mind.
Orientation should be your first indicator that you chose the right company. When you walk through the door, how do team members treat you? Are you treated with respect or are you shuffled along?
When you’re at orientation, team members should be friendly, professional and welcoming. The whole experience should be well-organized from start to finish and that includes how the company helps you get to orientation, the amenities they offer and the meals they provide.
Everything you need to succeed should be thoroughly covered at orientation and every question you have should be answered before you drive off the lot. If they aren’t answering your questions, they may be trying to hide something.
2. You Don’t Feel Like a Number
Do you feel like you’re part of the company family? You should never feel like you’re just another number. You should be treated with respect like the valuable team member you are.
When you call the payroll department, the safety department, your dispatcher or the shop, do they call you by your name? Or do they ask you for your driver code or truck number?
For instance, whenever I call any department at ATS, they say, “Hey Karl! How are you doing today?” They don’t ask for my driver code or my truck number or make me feel anonymous.
Find the company that makes you feel like an actual person and a valuable member of the team and not just a driver code or truck number. You’ll know it when you find it.
3. Your Dispatcher Respects Your Opinion
Your relationship with your dispatcher has a lot of power over whether you’ll stay with a company or hop on to the next one.
Your dispatcher should treat you like a person and value your opinion. Do they trust you, your experience and your opinion? Do they ask you for input? Do they support your decision when you decide to shut down for the night because of the weather?
If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, then you’ve found the right company.
The driver-dispatcher relationship is absolutely crucial to your success. If you find that you can’t effectively communicate back and forth, you may find yourself incredibly frustrated and feeling like you aren’t valued. Many drivers have quit for less.
If you can’t communicate effectively back and forth about an issue and come to a resolution you both agree with, you have a problem. You should never be afraid to ask your dispatcher questions. You don’t know what you don’t know. It’s very difficult to succeed when you don’t ask questions.
I’ve had concerns in the past about the loads I received, so I called up my driver manager and we talked it through. She understood where I was coming from and we fixed the problem together — simple as that.
Unless something changes and you both actively work on improving your relationship and gaining a better understanding of each other, you may need to switch driver managers or companies entirely.
4. Your Pay Matches What You Were Promised
It’s an awful feeling when you were promised a specific dollar amount each week and you don’t even make close to that amount.
The pay expectations your recruiter promised should match what you’re earning now. You should be able to make that money without having to burn yourself out on the road to get there.
You should get paid the money you’re promised when you’re promised. There should be no question whether or not you’ll receive per diem pay, detention pay, layover pay or anything else if it was promised to you.
When you don’t have to worry about how much money you’ll be taking home every month, and you can trust that you’ll take home the money you were promised, you’ll know you’re working for the right company.
5. You Get Home When You Need To
At ATS, I’ve never had a problem getting home when I needed to. In fact, several drivers I’ve referred to ATS have been at driver orientation when they found out a family member was in the hospital and the company got them home immediately.
I’ve worked at other companies where fellow drivers were promised they’d get home in time to see a dying relative, only to get home days after they’d passed.
You know you’ve found the right company when they get you home when they say they’ll get you home. You shouldn’t have to miss appointments or important family events. If you’re consistently missing appointments or your dispatcher is declining home time request after request, you’re probably pretty frustrated.
Maybe you chose a job where you simply don’t get home every single weekend (like an over-the-road job versus a regional route) or the company just can’t back their promises. If they’re making promises they can’t keep, you aren’t working for the right company. Do we mention ats to much in here?
6. You’re Encouraged to Operate Safely, Always
You’ll know you’re at the right company when you’re encouraged to operate safely at all times. You should never be asked to pick up or deliver in an unsafe location or forced to drive when the road conditions are poor.
When a trucking company says they’re safety-minded, they should follow through with that promise. Instead of pushing you to go, go, go and deliver load after load whether it’s safe or not, they’ll put you in control.
For instance, when I get stuck in poor weather conditions, I call my driver manager and tell her I’m pulling over until conditions improve and she’s fine with it. She trusts me and puts me in control of making the decision that it’s not safe enough to be on the roads.
When you’re at the right carrier, they’ll make sure you’re the captain of your truck and you call the shots every time.
7. You Have the Equipment You Need to Succeed
Having the latest truck model is always great, but the right trucking company will not only make sure you have a well-maintained, newer tractor to drive, but they’ll also make sure you have the right equipment to go along with it.
The right company will make sure you have all the tools you need to succeed and properly secure a load, which includes plenty of straps and chains in good condition. You won’t have to invest tons of your own money to get adequate equipment and you won’t be flying by the seat of your pants because you don’t have the right tools.
You’ll know fairly quickly that you’ve found the right carrier when the equipment they promised when you were being recruited is the equipment they actually have.
Did You Choose the Best Trucking Company?
You can be misled in the trucking industry; many of us have had it happen to us and we have horror stories about how we were treated at previous companies.
Remember that orientation will be your first taste of how you’ll be treated at the company. Everything you were promised before you got there should be true and the company should stand behind their promises. They should help you reach your goals instead of setting you back.
You’ll know you’ve found the right trucking company when they give you all the tools to succeed and your only job is to use them.
If you’ve nodded your head along to this whole article, then you’ve probably found the right company. But if you’re scratching your head and wondering why you aren’t getting the respect you deserve at your job, it sounds like it’s time to start looking for something else.
You should not only consider these four factors when switching trucking companies, but you should also review how to choose a trucking company if you’re looking for tips to ensure you make the best choice for yourself.
