As a truck driver, you know that the trucking business is competitive and notoriously in high demand. With this in mind, it’s important to recognize the value you bring to a company. Whether you’ve been at the same company for years or are just starting, it’s important to understand when it’s time to switch to a new trucking company.
Choosing the right trucking company will not only improve the quality of your work but also pave the way for long-term career success. Although loyalty is important, staying at the wrong company can negatively impact your work-life balance, income, and overall job satisfaction.
It doesn’t just require knowing when to switch but also recognizing these factors before they negatively impact you. So, the big question is, when is it time to switch over to a different company?
Keep reading to gain insight into the reasons you may be staying at the wrong company, signs it’s time to switch, and if you are in a position to start your own trucking business!
Why Do Drivers Stay Too Long at The Wrong Company?
There isn’t one single reason why drivers have the tendency to stay longer than they should at a given company. Resume retaliation, benefits, and risking comfort are all examples of reasons a company driver may not take the leap of faith.
For you to experience growth as a driver, you must be able to recognize that the right choice may not be the easiest choice.
Fear of The Unknown
There’s no denying that switching trucking companies is a big risk. A large fear may concern having to start all over again somewhere new. Being thrown into a new company culture, dealing with new dispatchers and equipment, and meeting new persons of authority can be quite intimidating.
Is Your Routine Too Comfortable?
Another reason that may be holding you back at your company is the comfort of a routine. Whether you’re an owner-operator driving the same route every day or just enjoy the lifestyle and comfort with your earnings and benefits.
Having a strict routine may cause difficulty leaving a setting where you can predict happenings in your environment. Being comfortable with a routine is okay. But if you become too comfortable, it can lead to occupational burnout within your career.
Being uncomfortable is how you grow in your profession, so too much comfort could be holding you back from new career milestones.
Benefits and Securities
One of the biggest concerns with switching companies is with benefits. You may receive comprehensive health insurance, paid time off, flexible home time, and even loyalty or rewards programs at various truck stops.
Truck drivers may have built up different security and benefits rewards that may not be transferable and could disappear upon relocation. Moving to a new company may require you to start over, which is a big opportunity cost many drivers consider heavily.
Waiting For A Change?
Another big factor is your working conditions. Are you satisfied with your pay? Is going to work enjoyable? Do you appreciate and look up to your managers? Do you feel positively or negatively about your company? If there are issues within the company, are they addressed or not?
These are all questions you should ask yourself to evaluate the situation of your company. Waiting for pay to increase or benefits to reflect your work ethic are just some examples of conditions you may be waiting for improvements in.
A critical point to this is recognizing when these issues are temporary or if they are long-term patterns that continue to happen.
Resume Stigma
If none of these have sparked a flag in your head yet, this one may. Many truckers want to avoid being a “job hopper”, where they have various jobs in a short amount of time. Since this doesn’t appeal to many employers, it is critical to be strategic and genuinely think about your options before making a job switch.
There must be a sense of strategy behind job changes and understanding when to switch jobs based on your own needs and qualifications. Staying at a job that’s not suitable could be just as damaging as leaving a job too soon. There are many “logistics” to consider for long-term growth in your career.
Qualifications and Experience
Whether you’re a flatbed, day-to-day, OTR, dry van, cargo, or specialized freight driver, your qualifications may have a big impact on the best-fit jobs open for you. Because there are many types of CDL drivers, this opens up a variety of jobs that are in high demand.
Despite the many different driver types available, some drivers may feel limited by the specific qualifications or endorsements they obtain. The more specialized the driver, the narrower the job options may be.
Understanding how your qualifications affect your employment opportunities can heavily influence and help you make strong, informed decisions when considering switching to a new trucking company.
6 Signs It’s Time to Switch
Okay, we’ve talked about a few qualities that could be present at your company. Let’s dive into more detail with six warning signs that it’s time for you to consider switching companies!
Compensation Reflections
The more time you spend at a trucking company, the more experience and knowledge you gain in the industry. The more knowledge and experience you have, the more money you may be eligible to make.
As you grow more experienced in the trucking industry and gain confidence, your company is likely to provide you with competitive compensation that reflects your performance.
If you deliver fleets on time, accumulate a large number of miles, show exceptional customer service, and perform the best services, you may be eligible for a compensation increase.
If your company offers little to no pay increases despite your performance, this could be a warning sign that it is not the right fit.
Inconsistent Miles
Another warning sign to look out for is inconsistent mileage. As a carrier, a goal to strive for to increase your experience and expertise is to acquire many loads. If you can barely manage to get loads or trailers, then you may need to reconsider your place of employment.
If you are faced with inconsistent miles regularly, you may experience more downtime. This strongly affects earnings. The fewer miles you have, the less income you generate.
Communication is Key
One critical factor of a strong company is the ability to communicate efficiently and effectively, especially when problems arise. If it is difficult to get answers from your employer and they show no lack of support when a problem or issue arises, this could signal a strong misalignment between you and your company.
I’m Breaking Down, and Not Emotionally
Another factor to consider is the quality of the equipment you are using. Is it reliable? Does it constantly break down? Are there safety concerns or red flags when operating equipment? Does my company perform routine maintenance checkups?
These are all questions you should ask yourself. If your company gives you broken equipment that you feel uncomfortable using, this could affect your ability to effectively deliver your loads.
Whether you work for one of the largest trucking companies or a local mom-and-pop shop, you should feel safe and be provided with reliable equipment.
Growth Stunt
Another issue you may be faced with is no new growth opportunities. A strong company should have various types of growth and advancement opportunities. This could look like education on specialized freight types, continued training, or granting higher leadership roles.
If your company does not offer growth advancement opportunities to help build your career and resume, they may not prioritize this experience for their employees.
Check On Yourself: Are You Happy?
The last indicator that you may be at the wrong company is that you are no longer happy driving there. Coming to work may feel exhausting, and you may have no motivation to complete your routes and deliveries.
If you experience frequent frustrations and job dissatisfaction, it may be your cue to switch trucking companies.
Tips For Making a Smooth Transition
Okay, if you realized that all or some of those signs are affecting you, you may be wondering what your next step should be. One of the most important factors to consider when switching trucking companies is to remain professional and respectful during the process.
To have a smooth transition, make sure you do your research, ask questions, get the details, and organize yourself.
Research, Questions, and More
To cover all your bases, make sure you take the time to research new trucking companies. You can do this by reading driver reviews or talking with current or former drivers.
You can also ask questions and gather detailed information on similarities and differences between pay packages and benefits offered by different companies. Gathering as much information about miles, home time, equipment, and compensation are all details you should verify with a prospective employer.
Be sure to get detailed information you gather from your employer, including specific promises they may explain, in formal writing whenever possible.
To make sure you are ready for the transition and have yourself organized, there are a few documents you should double-check that you have ready and handy. This should be your CDL information, MC number, commercial driver’s license, and any other driving records you may obtain.
Starting Your Own Trucking Company
There’s one other avenue we haven’t discussed yet: starting your own trucking company. Do you have years of experience, extensive knowledge, and are ready to switch or leave the trucking company you are currently at, but don’t want to leave the industry?
If this applies to you, there may be potential to start or open up your own trucking business. When considering this option, there is a lot of financing, planning, and investment that need to be considered. Ultimately, the choice depends on where you want to head in the industry.
Starting a trucking company involves a significant upfront investment and strict regulatory compliance, which must be followed very closely.
The Nitty Gritty Business Plan
The most important thing you need when starting your own business is a strong business plan. This is the groundwork that lays out the daily operations and financial success you expect to have. Key elements you should include in this large-scale plan will be your structure, freight type, and equipment strategy.
Now, creating a business plan is not easy and requires lots of time and patience. When starting your own business, it’s very unlikely that you will become a millionaire overnight. The best advice is to set realistic income goals to ensure long-term stability.
Deliveries and Decisions
Because trucking is such a broad category of service delivery, understanding what you want to specialize in is very important. Trucking services can range from dry van, reefer, flatbed, or specialized/hazardous.
Determining if you need a flatbed for oversized loads or a reefer to transport temperature-sensitive goods is a critical step for business planning. Understanding the type of freight you want to have allows you to understand the equipment and handling certifications you will recruit for in drivers as well.
Alongside this, you will need to determine if you want to open a local, regional, or over-the-road company.
The Necessities Starter Pack
To actually start your own business, one of the first key steps, alongside creating a business plan, is registering your business. One of the common ways is to register it as an LLC or limited liability company.
Another factor to consider is having a plan for bookkeeping, invoicing, compliance, and taxes from day one. Opening your business means you are now responsible for all of the finances and daily financial operations, which can be tricky to manage.
One crucial and necessary step in starting up your own trucking business is obtaining commercial insurance. This practice protects your business and drivers. It ensures liability concerns will be covered, especially if you will be hiring your own fleet of drivers.
Along with all of these, you also need to obtain a few legal documents and certifications. These include obtaining a US Department of Transportation (DOT) number and a motor carrier (MC) authority.
Expenses and Expectations
The reality of starting your own business can be very eye-opening. Between documents and certifications, building a business plan requires lots of time and energy. With all of this considered, the one component we didn’t talk about yet is expenses.
Trucking businesses are unfortunate in that they can have high startup costs exceeding $100,000. To stay realistic and ahead of the game, it is always encouraged to estimate startup costs to prevent cash flow shortages early on.
Unsurprisingly, some of the highest expenses come from the trucks themselves. New trucks can cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to purchase, sometimes even up to $500K! There is always the option of leasing your equipment, which can help reduce upfront costs.
Alongside the cost of equipment, fuel can account for over 40% of total operational expenditure, depending on the size of your freight.
So, How Do I Make Money?
Generating revenue and new business can be hard for a startup. Although it may be challenging, one of the best ways to increase your revenues is to secure direct contracts with shippers.
Because this could be challenging for a startup, consider networking and expanding your connections with distributors and suppliers before you establish your startup. This can provide you with a backbone of prospective business partners to help kickstart your business.
Don’t Miss The Exit
Whether you’re yearning for new growth opportunities or are dissatisfied with your current job, it’s important to recognize the warning signs that may be causing you to experience career frustrations. By understanding your options, you can continue to grow your skills and knowledge in the trucking industry.
Hopefully, no matter where you go or what you decide, you feel confident navigating through careers in the trucking industry. It’s eye-opening when you recognize that the grass may be greener at the next truck stop.
Your truck keeps moving, and so should your career!
