Your initial goal will be to locate a trucking company who offers a trucking terminal in your area. If you aren’t able to do so you’re going to find yourself  having to drive many miles with an empty rig if you’re driving a company owned semi truck. If you are an owner-operator who owns your own truck it is even worse since you will be driving all of these additional miles without pay which can turn out to be quite expensive. Many of the larger trucking firms have terminals in many locations around the country while the smaller regional ones may only offer a couple of terminals. This will generally be the location where you drop of your paperwork, attend safety meetings, and take care of other essential non-driving related duties in the trucking industry job.

The amount of money you will get paid as a truck driver is very important. You need to evaluate this carefully because truck driving compensation plans can be complex. A good number of trucking companies do offer a sign-on bonus provided that you agree to a work contract of at least one year. This could be payable upon the time when you begin to work for the company. It may be when you reach the time of service as outlined in your work contract. You need to find out up front if you will get paid by the mile or by the hour for your work. It is quite important to discover when you will be paid for your work. It isn’t unusual for some trucking companies pay you after a set number of days after you turn in paperwork for a load. Some other trucking companies have set pay date intervals. You should also find out if you will get a check or if your pay will be by direct deposit. If you are a long haul, over the road, truck driver then the direct deposit option is what generally works best for most drivers so that you can access your bank account even when you aren’t in the area of you home.

You should make sure to inquire about various benefits that the trucking company you are considering working for may offer to employees. Some of these benefits may include health insurance, 401k or profit sharing plans, and perhaps even bonuses for attendance and/or driving safety. All of these items will make up a complete employment package that the company offers to employees. For example, it isn’t a good idea not to have health insurance. It is also important for you to always have some type of savings plan in the works for your future and financial security.

Another key thing to know about a trucking company you are considering working for is the way that their dispatch system operates. Some different trucking companies can make the process of getting loads for your truck a smooth process. For others, it can be a nightmare. You will want to find a trucking company that has plenty of opportunities for freight. In this way your can can deliver your load and then you can call the dispatcher for another load and thus be on your way again. You  don’t want to be in a position where you will be wasting your time waiting for a load because this will cost you both time and money if they continually leave you sitting around waiting for a load.

You should also find out how the company handles time off that they offer their employees. Perhaps you may be offered a period of paid vacation time after you have been working with the company for a particular period of time. Remember that you perhaps may need to take a few of days off to deal with personal issues or for a special occasion. You should look for a trucking company that you can work for who understands these situations arise from time to time and that they are willing to work with you in order to get your personal needs met properly

You should also inquire about the state of the equipment they operate on the road because it will need to be up to date and safe for you to operate. Even if you have your own semi truck you will be hauling their trailers so make sure they are well taken care of.

These are the basic things you should look for in your truck driving careers plan.

Originally posted 2009-03-18 02:09:48. Republished by Old Post Promoter