Successful truck drivers combine driving ability with patience, a desire to learn, adaptability, strong communication, responsibility, and a safety-minded approach. Building these six skills can help drivers succeed, grow their earnings, and develop long-term success in trucking.

Proper weight distribution on a van trailer or reefer means balancing the load so the steer, drive, and trailer axle groups remain within legal weight limits. Drivers can reduce the risk of overweight citations by knowing their equipment weight, planning for freight and fuel, weighing the loaded truck, and adjusting the fifth wheel or trailer tandems when necessary.

Flatbeds or dry vans.

You’ve put in the miles researching trucking companies for CDL drivers and have narrowed your list to a few top contenders. Now comes the part that can make or break your next move: asking the right trucking recruiter questions before you sign on. Too many drivers skip this step or only ask about pay and home time. That’s a fast way to end up in the wrong seat — and back on the job hunt sooner than you’d like.

Over-the-road (OTR) trucking pay at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) is designed to reward drivers when freight rates are strong while protecting them when markets soften. Company drivers earn either cents per mile (CPM) or 26% of the line haul — whichever pays more on every load — creating a pay program that was intentionally built to perform through every freight cycle.