Safest Trucking Companies to Drive For [And Why it Matters]

Does the company you’re driving for value safety? Is it a value or is it a priority? 

Wondering what the difference is? Well, priorities are always shifting. Values do not.

As drivers, you play a vital role in keeping our society moving by ensuring goods are delivered safely. Safety should always be at the forefront of your mind as a driver. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your career, it’s imperative to align yourself with a company that values safety as much as you do. 

You’ll not only protect yourself on the road, but you’ll protect those around you. 

As a company founded on safety values, we’ll explore why finding a safe company to drive for is of utmost importance — emphasizing the key reasons that’ll benefit you. We’ll also list a few companies known for their focus on safety that you may decide to pursue a career with. 

The Benefits of Driving for a Safe Trucking Company 

For safety to be a value, it needs to be embedded in the culture of the company. It needs to be implemented top to bottom and bottom to top. Companies can’t claim to be safe without having a safe culture.

The benefits of working for a company that values safety are innumerable, but include some of the following top benefits: 

• Personal safety
• Work-life balance
• Positive professional reputation
• Better-paying customers and freight
• Protection of fellow motorists

Personal Safety

First and foremost, your personal well-being as a truck driver is paramount. The last thing you want is to put your life at risk for a job. You should never feel unsafe on the road. A company that makes you drive in poor weather conditions or to unsafe locations isn’t a good place to drive. 

A safety-focused company will have robust safety policies and procedures in place, ensuring you have the necessary training and support to navigate potential hazards effectively. Such companies invest in regular maintenance and inspections of their vehicles, reducing the risk of mechanical failures that could jeopardize your safety.

Work-Life Balance 

Safe companies prioritize a healthy work-life balance, recognizing the importance of rest and proper breaks. They promote reasonable schedules and enforce strict adherence to Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, preventing driver fatigue and improving overall alertness on the road. 

By supporting your physical and mental well-being, these companies help ensure you remain focused and responsive, reducing the likelihood of accidents caused by driver distraction or exhaustion. A safe company won’t encourage you to sacrifice your health or safety to deliver a load. 

Positive Professional Reputation

Another significant advantage of aligning yourself with a safe company is the positive impact on your professional reputation. The transportation industry thrives on trust and reliability. By choosing a company known for its commitment to safety, you demonstrate your dedication to the highest standards.

Better-Paying Customers and Freight

Closely tied to a positive professional reputation is access to better-paying freight and customers. Customers want to work with trucking companies that have a good safety record. This ensures their freight is in good hands and will be delivered safely and on time. 

If a fleet has a high Compliance, Safety and Accountability score (CSA), tons of accidents and a low on-time delivery percentage, customers will be more likely to choose another carrier to do business with. Customers ask carriers for their records before they’ll do business with them. For instance, customers commonly ask for the number of claims per million miles or accident cost per million miles. 

Protection of Fellow Motorists

Driving for a safe company serves a broader purpose: protecting the public and contributing to road safety. When you join a company that values safety, you become part of a collective effort to prevent accidents, injuries and loss of life on the road. 

By adhering to rigorous safety protocols, you help create a culture of responsible driving within the industry, setting an example for others to follow. 

What Does Safety Look Like? 

So what does safety look like at a trucking company? What do you look for when you’re researching companies? What questions should you ask recruiters?

Often, safe trucking companies are innovators in their space. Some of the safest companies in the industry today were the first ones to invest in things like electronic logging to ensure adherence to HOS regulations. 

Safe companies invest in safety technology, and they spend a lot of money doing so — no matter their size. However, due to their buying power, you’ll often see bigger companies spending more on technology simply because they have the money to do so. They’ll go so far as to work with the truck manufacturer to have safety features installed in their trucks, like accident mitigation equipment. 

Safe companies also spend a lot of time on training. They schedule seasonal training and retraining by bringing drivers back to headquarters or sending them online education materials. Now that truck simulators are widely available, companies train drivers on maneuvers they may struggle with. They even regularly test drivers on their fleet in the simulator to make sure they keep their skills fresh.

The majority of accidents happen between zero and six months with a new company — regardless of a driver’s experience. Drivers come in with their own behaviors and experiences, so training is crucial no matter what stage of their careers a driver is in. 

Safe trucking companies also implement safe driving practices, from speed governors to cameras. Drivers often complain about speed governors, but the truth is that speed can kill and the majority of major accidents are caused by speeding and following too closely. 

Cameras help with behavior change modification. Drivers are measured on certain skills, like speed management and following distance. If drivers are given a low score in these areas, they’re coached. 

Questions to Ask About Safety

When you’re looking for safe trucking companies to drive for, ask the following questions: 

• How does the company invest in safety? 
• How will you protect me on the road? 
• Do you have regular training opportunities? 
• Do the trucks have accident mitigation equipment and cameras? 
• Are the trucks governed? 
• How many accidents do you have per million miles? 
• What is your CSA score?
• Do you require drivers to chain their tires when the weather is bad or do you pull drivers off the road?

Drivers can also visit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System to review statistics that speak to the health of the company safety-wise. With the Company Snapshot feature, you’ll be able to review information like safety ratings, the number of inspections, violations and crashes and more.

The Best Safe Companies to Drive For

You’ll notice some of the most safety-driven companies are the largest companies. That’s due in part to the fact that these companies are often under a microscope.

If you’re looking for a safe company to drive for, the following companies invest in safety technology and safety is truly a value for them: 

1. Schneider National
2. J.B. Hunt
3. Maverick USA

Schneider National 

Founded: 1976

Headquarters: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Insight: Schneider is a mega carrier with many driving options and paid CDL training. The company was founded on safe values. Their leaders have always advocated for safety and have invested a lot of money in safe technology. 

Before simulators were popular, they had large simulators in the 1990s that were as large as a truck. You’d actually have to open a door, sit in a simulator and start it like a real truck.

At Schneider, safety has never been considered a barrier to making more money; it has always been a tool to help you make more money safely. For instance, a decade ago, Schneider was known as the slowest truck on the road. They used to be governed at 55 miles-per-hour (mph) because it was a safer speed. 

By choosing to drive for Schneider, drivers can have confidence in their association with a company that prioritizes safety and upholds the highest standards of responsible operations.

J.B. Hunt

Founded: 1961

Headquarters: Lowell, Arkansas 

Insight: J.B. Hunt, as a mega-carrier and Fortune 500 company, invests a lot of time and money into safety. They’re one of the largest trucking companies in North America, so they’re also under a microscope.

J.B. Hunt is considered a safe trucking company due to its unwavering commitment to safety, rigorous maintenance practices, investment in advanced technologies, comprehensive driver training programs, regulatory compliance and industry recognition. By choosing to drive for J.B. Hunt, drivers can be confident in their association with a company that prioritizes their well-being and the safety of all those on the road.

J.B. Hunt has received numerous safety awards and accolades over the years, highlighting their commitment to safety and excellence in the industry. These recognitions demonstrate the company's dedication to upholding the highest safety standards and serve as a testament to their safe operations.

Maverick USA

Founded: 1980

Headquarters: Little Rock, Arkansas 

Insight: Maverick USA has been recognized with various safety awards and accolades. These recognitions highlight the company's dedication to safety and its exemplary performance in implementing and maintaining safe practices. 

Overall, Maverick is considered a safe company to drive for due to its strong safety culture, comprehensive driver training programs, investment in advanced equipment, adherence to compliance and safety standards, regular maintenance practices and industry recognition. By choosing to drive for Maverick, drivers can feel confident in their association with a company that prioritizes safety and is dedicated to protecting the well-being of its drivers and the public.

Practice Safety on the Road and Off

A safe company is a sustainable company. If a company is sustainable, it’ll be able to continue to invest money in safety technology to make sure that its drivers are safe on the road. 

Finding a safe company to drive for is crucial for your well-being, professional reputation and the safety of others. It ensures you receive the support, training and equipment necessary to navigate the roads with confidence. By aligning yourself with a safety-focused company, you not only safeguard your own interests but also contribute to a collective effort to promote road safety.

Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) is a safety-driven company. We’ve implemented technology throughout the years to support this value. To keep our drivers safe on the road, we’ve implemented speed governors, accident mitigation equipment and the Lytx Driver Safety Suite (front-facing cameras). If drivers need additional training, we have truck simulators. ATS does also require ongoing in-person and online training. 

If you’re interested in learning more about ATS and our safety values, contact a recruiter today.