When you’re first starting out in the world of trucking, it’s tempting to say “yes” to the first job offer you get. And while it’s true that racking up experience and seat time is very important, you also want to make sure that you actually like where you’re working! There are things to look out for when applying for trucking jobs to make sure you’ll have a good experience while on the job. If you can easily spot these important traits in your new job, you’ll know you’ll have a good experience working for your new company.
What is the rate of pay?
This goes first on the list because it’s obviously the most important part of the job! Helpful tip: it’s good to break down pay in terms of cents per mile. Furthermore, you can use helpful resources such as PayScale.com to make sure you’re getting a fair wage.
Next, whatever the pay breakdown ends up being, you also need to take the location into account. If you’ll be driving in a crowded city, you’ll ultimately be making less than if you were driving in smaller towns and on highways. It also helps to know if you’ll get compensation while waiting for customers to load your truck.
How about the home-time policy?
Getting enough home time is also extremely important. You want to have a healthy, balanced lifestyle, and not getting enough time at home can really disrupt that. It’s important to clarify how an employer defines a “day” off. After all, if you’re spending part of that day driving home and unloading, that cuts into your downtime already.
Are there any benefits or bonuses?
Some companies offer health benefits. Others offer bonuses to drivers with good driving records. It doesn’t hurt to ask! And generally speaking, the less benefits you get, the greater the rate of pay per mile should be.
What have you learned about taking a good trucking job? Let us know in the comments section below!
