Let’s be real, job searches are frustrating. Finding the right trucking jobs can be a real challenge. There are lots of factors to consider before making up your mind.
- What type of route are you looking for? Local? Regional? OTR? Dedicated?
- Beyond location, what’s important to you? Guaranteed home time with your family? A retirement fund? Insurance benefits? Bigger paychecks?
- Do you prefer solo or team driving?
- Do you have a specialty like flatbed driving or hauling special cargo?
- What endorsements do you have? Doubles-triples? Haz-Mat? Tanker?
These are just a few of the questions drivers should consider when they begin their trucking job search. Incentives often make or break whether or not someone takes a job. That’s why it’s a good idea to dig a little deeper to make sure you understand the offer.
Payment
Let’s start with pay. The obvious answer is getting paid per the number of miles you drive. But check out other factors: Do you get paid for loading and unloading? Are you getting paid for the shortest route or the best route? Are you getting daily or weekly guarantees? That can vary based on weather conditions and construction. Any of these ways could be acceptable and may mean a more stable paycheck. You want to make sure you know the terms before accepting any new trucking job.
Benefits Package
A good compensation package includes more than a paycheck. Ask about health insurance, dental and vision. Does the company have a wellness program?Ask questions like: What does it cost to put your family on the plan? Retirement plans are important, too; is that a benefit you’ll receive? If so, does the company match your contributions?
Equipment
It helps to know if the company you drive for is dedicated to getting the latest trucks and updated equipment. Newer trucks typically are more reliable and that’s a big factor when your livelihood depends on getting your load from one location to the next on time. So, how often, does a company update its fleet? And when is the next update due?
Home Time
Even the most rugged truck drivers will tell you they miss their families when they’re on the road. That’s why home time has become an increasingly important part of an overall benefits package for a trucking job. You’ll want to know what the expectation is for home time. Is it guaranteed? How long and how often are you likely to be home?
Referrals & Reviews
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. With that being said, it’s helpful to know what other drivers are saying about a company. Just make sure you can tell the difference between someone who is always disgruntled and someone who takes an objective view of an employer. There are plenty of chat forums online where you can ask the questions that are important to you to help you get answers before pursuing your next trucking job. Just be sure you listen to a variety of perspectives before jumping to conclusions.
CRST Dedicated Services has spent years refining how it treats its employees, staying on top of trends in the trucking industry and determining what practices are mutually beneficial to truckers and CRST. Our lanes, locations and pay terms are among the best in the industry and we offer a comprehensive benefits package. So stop wasting time and take a look at our current job openings today.
