Is One Trucking Companies Better Then Another?

Looking at trucking companies? Who should you work for ? Is one company better than another? What is the pay like?

Before we answer all those questions, let us talk about the different types of trucking companies out there and the type of equipment they use.

When I started out driving I went to different companies. In my profile I talk about my experiences. Today I am going to go a little deeper. This way you will have a my personal experience about trucking and working with companies. I will also suggest some companies I have been exposed to over the years. Some large others small.

Large Union Trucking Company

I worked with a union trucking company hauling cars out of Jessup, MD. at a rail yard were the new cars were unloaded.

It was early in my career and did not have a lot of experience driving and in the initial interview they did not want to hire me. They needed drivers yet I was told that I did not qualify for employment did not have enough experience. I went home after the first interview disappointed.

Then I thought I have not been driving tractor trailers long,but I have driven other trucks and have not had any problems. And I knew I would be a good employee. I have a lot of qualities that have benefited employers in the past.

So I went back to the place and was able to talk to the person that interviewed me. I told him I always do a great job any place I work. I have a good track record and everyone that I have ever worked for would hire me again. I explained other qualities I thought I had.

He hired me. Learning to haul cars was not to bad and I liked the work. Some towns were hard to get around. Had to worry about low bridges and high points in the road way, because car carriers are like low boy trailers, close to the ground. This caused me some challenges more then once. I did not have a cell phone then and using the payphone was expensive. I normally drove to the city and stopped and asked directions from a gas station or some type of retailer.

The only problem is I did not understand was how the car business fluctuated with the economy. If I could of hung in there through the layoffs I would have moved up in seniority. I could also work at different terminals in the United States which I did not understand at that time.

Todays car hauling companies usually haul for more than one car brand and that will keep you working pretty regular. Although it is still subject to supply and demand.

An advantage of a large company is the option to transfer to another area.

Today’s car hauling companies usually haul for more than one car brand and that will keep you working pretty regular. Although it is still subject to supply and demand.

If your interested in hauling cars and making good money check out this company. They are willing to train you.Check out there website

Small Trucking Companies VS Large Trucking Companies

I thought I would continue talking about trucking companies that are large vs small trucking companies.

I drove a tanker for a large company and smaller companies. I operated in the east coast, mid west states..

I enjoyed tanker operation because it can provide some challenges in driving and unloading due to the nature of work. I like challenges and the satisfaction of doing a job well. You have to know your product and the correct procedure in unloading. You unload by air or pump and once in a while gravity like a gasoline tanker.

The Hess company is large company but was a seasonal job and I did not mind working for them. They were a company that was big on safety and had a safety director that watch over you to make sure you complied with the companies safety guidelines from log books to unloading and loading procedures.

The equipment was in good order and they would fix anything in a timely manor. I was hauling heating oil from the port in Baltimore MD to Landover MD made about three trips a night.

It was a good company, they supplied uniforms, insurance and had plenty of work during the winter season.

I worked for Manfredi Motor Transit also known as Dist Tech a small tanker company in northeast Ohio.To go to there website click here They have about 400 employees. And plenty of work and kept me busy over the years I worked for them. You were pushed to the limit. I would be dispatched some times before I finished my first run. Which if I was behind because of delays at the customer or delays in the routing i.e. weather, traffic. I would just have to deal with it. And be late at the 2nd run. I would find this stressful but over the years I did my best to not let this effect me.

Companies have to make money so you do the best that you can. I would tell myself it was their problem if I could not meet a schedule on time. I could only drive eleven hours a day and speeding was not the answer. A ticket stays with you two years and effects employment status. You may be turned down for a job just because of one ticket. Just to get to customer on time that will probably make you wait when you arrive whether you are on time or not.

I did feel more like a number at this company and did not enjoy working for them compared with other trucking companies.

I did not leave until I found a job that paid more and I felt was better place then where I was at.

A Smaller Company

I also worked at a tanker company called LT Harnett office in Kinsman, Ohio. I worked out of Ashtabula Ohio, hauling from Ohio to Texas, east coast, midwest.

I liked working for them because the owner was a very honorable employer. He tried to make the job as lucrative as possible with a 401 Package where he researched for the best investment for our money and added a percentage every year. He also had some one come in and teach us about the investments we were in and different options that are out there.

The equipment was in good order. He did not mind in getting things fixed. Equipment problems that would reoccur he would put in his PM program to replace them to reduce breakdowns. In fact, he installed self adjusting brakes on trailers that did not have them to eliminate problems with brakes. Working with a management companies that cared about employees is a good feeling.

I shipped for a retail clothing chain. They operate all over the United States. I lived in Maryland at the time and worked for them for eight years. The transportation company was a dedicated trucking company hauled only for the retailer. They would transport in 53ft van trailers

They would run team runs to different distribution centers as far as California and to some stores on the east coast. If you ran team runs to east coast stores you could be home a couple of hours a day and off on weekends.

Local runs drove up to 500 miles a day, but you were home daily. Overall not a bad company, good pay and benefits were good.They have a 401K program but do not pay into it. Dedicated runs are nice because it gives a predictable schedule. When you have a dedicated run when work slows down it can effect you whether you work or not. It normally is not to long of a slow period.

I think if you are going to look at large company vs small, the benefits are some what better with a larger company. However,the work atmosphere is determined by the terminal manager and the relationship he has with his superiors.

If you would like more information on this company or any other. You can contact me through this form below.