3 Ways to Find Success in the Trucking Industry
Across North America, there is a continued demand for more truck drivers. This is especially true in Canada, with a need for heavy equipment hauling to support our many industrial sectors, such as agriculture, construction, and natural resources. These industries rely on large machinery and heavy equipment to get the job done, which means experienced, safe drivers are required to transport those machines between job sites. If you’re considering a career as a truck driver, here are three possible paths you could pursue to bring you success. And if you already have several years under your belt in the industry, you may also want to read through to decide what your next step will be.
One: Starting Out As a Fleet Driver
Brand new drivers are best suited to gain new skills through practice as a driver in a commercial fleet. The barrier to entry for fleet drivers is very low since you are not required to own your own truck nor find your own loads. When you drive for a fleet company, it is the company owner’s responsibility to take care of the business, find the customers, arrange the routes, and provide business support such as dispatch systems, insurance, and employee benefits.
Starting a career as a truck driver with a commercial fleet also gives new drivers practice on the road with support. Depending on the company you drive for, they will likely provide some training for their safety procedures and standards. For example, if you’re expected to haul heavy equipment, you should be shown how to secure the haul to your trailer. You might also be able to learn valuable tips from your colleagues regarding driving certain routes or how to handle your shipment in certain types of weather.
Driving for a fleet gives you steady work and less overall stress since you aren’t running the business. All you need to do is drive.
As a novice driver, working for a fleet might fit your lifestyle nicely. However, the longer you work as a trucker and the more experience you gain, you might decide one day that fleet driving doesn’t provide you with enough opportunities.
Why Drivers Leave Commercial Fleets
One of the primary reasons people become truck drivers is for the freedom such a career provides. Truckers love being on the road, seeing different scenery, and making a difference in communities by delivering all the goods that make our lifestyles possible on a daily basis.
The more experience a truck driver acquires, the more they value their independence. They start to feel less free as their salary fails to grow at a pace they feel they deserve. Experienced drivers may want more variety in the routes they drive or the shipments they deliver. And finally, they might be tired of answering to a boss and want to be their own boss for a change.
Some drivers make a life-long career driving for a commercial fleet, and those drivers typically work for the most reputable companies in the industry. The best trucking companies are the ones that offer competitive wages, benefits, and safe hours. But for the majority of drivers that make it beyond the novice level, they either leave their fleets to become independent owner-operators, or they leave the industry altogether.
Two: Becoming an Owner-Operator
Becoming an owner-operator of their own truck and trailer is what many drivers choose to become when they have more experience on the road and the finances to support the move. The decision is usually supported by experience working for others and the desire to make their own way in the industry.
Working as an owner-operator can bring several benefits such as higher take-home wages, increased freedom to make your own schedules, and to pick and choose which loads to accept. While these perks are very attractive, there are several challenges to face as a lone-wolf truck driver.
Common Challenges Owner-Operators Experience
When you become an owner-operator of your own truck and trailer, you are starting your own business. It’s up to you to ensure that your bills are paid, your truck is maintained, that your insurance coverage is up-to-date and adequate and that you follow all the industry regulations.
It is also up to you to find and make arrangements for all your loads and shipments. Not only does this require you to be in contact with your clients directly, but you also need to take care of the details, such as having cargo insurance in place and the appropriate permits.
With these challenges being said, the perks of working for yourself often outnumber the challenges. The freedom of owning your own truck, taking home a higher salary, and making your own schedule keeps many experienced, professional drivers in the industry long-term.
How Professional Heavy Haul Drivers Find Loads with Trusted Dispatch
Using a load board can help solve the challenge of finding shipments that many owner-operators face. Trusted Dispatch specializes in heavy hauls and heavy equipment shipping which is why we work with experienced, professional heavy haul drivers to serve our clients across North America. We don’t work with new drivers, nor do we provide any training, which is why owner-operators with years of experience hauling industrial equipment and machinery are the perfect match for our system.
Hundreds of qualified drivers with expertise hauling heavy equipment use Trusted Dispatch to find additional loads and add extra income to their monthly salary.
What We Look for In Our Drivers
At Trusted Dispatch, we value our clients by ensuring their shipments are delivered by qualified drivers who know how to load, unload and haul heavy machinery safely from one destination to another without avoidable trouble. For this reason, we don’t accept just any drivers into our network. We do have some standards before approving drivers to use our load board. If you’re a driver with a trailer suited to hauling heavy machinery or industrial equipment and have experience securely delivering heavy loads, then you will find success with Trusted Dispatch.
Our top drivers who get consistent positive feedback from customers find themselves getting requested repeatedly from happy clients and their referrals. When our drivers succeed, so does our company.
We also value our network of drivers, which is why we provide fair rates on all loads, ensure that shipments are prepaid, and make the communication process straightforward for everyone. We do not work with load brokers, nor do we work with large fleets. Our priority is to help customers get their equipment shipped and provide expert owner-operators with quality loads.
How Trusted Dispatch Works
The Trusted Dispatch load board is a system where customers can submit their shipments to a central location (the load board) where our network of drivers can find and claim the shipments that match their areas, driving routes, and equipment.
Customers enter their pick-up and drop-off locations along with the specifications for the make and model of equipment they are shipping to get a free quote instantly. The quote accounts for the weight and size of the shipment, the distance it needs to be transported, and a fair wage for our professional drivers.
Once the customer receives the quote, they can submit their shipment. Now, just because a shipment is given a quote, it doesn’t mean there is no flexibility. In some cases, a customer may raise their offer if drivers aren’t claiming the load right away. Drivers also have the option to make an offer on a load that is higher than the quote, which the customer can either accept or decline. The base quote will always be fair, but in some circumstances, the price can increase to help get a shipment moved sooner.
No Middlemen or Brokers
Our system works efficiently to ensure customers get a fair price for shipping while our drivers are compensated for their expertise and service. We do not use middlemen, intermediaries, or work with brokers. We believe our system of collecting payments from the customer in advance and paying the driver within seven days of a successful shipment is the best way to manage transactions.
While certain loads may require extra arrangements and costs, such as oversized loads that require pilot escort vehicles or cross-border shipping transactions, the quotes we provide are transparent with no hidden fees. Customers who have questions can contact us directly. They can also communicate with the driver once a load is claimed.
The Most Popular Shipments on the Trusted Dispatch Load Board
Our drivers haul all sorts of heavy equipment and industrial machinery. The most popular shipments we see include:
- Tractors
- Combines and Harvesters
- Excavators
- Dump Trucks
- Backhoes
- Wheel Loaders
- Graders or Scrapers
- Bulldozers
If it’s a piece of heavy equipment, we can haul it.
Three: Start Your Own Trucking Business
Experienced drivers who want more from their trucking experience than driving for a fleet or driving on their own might decide to start their own fleet. They might also be inspired to start a trucking company that does things differently, such as pay drivers higher rates or specialize in a certain type of transport or in a specific region.
Only drivers with a passion for the industry and the ambition to become a CEO should pursue this route. Owning a fleet comes with a whole new set of challenges compared to being an owner-operator.
How to Start a Heavy Haul Trucking Business
The best place to start with any new business is to create a business plan. To do this, you will need to decide on a few primary factors, such as:
- Where will you operate? Regionally, nationally, internationally?
- How many drivers will you start with?
- How many drivers do you plan to hire in the next 1, 3, and 5 years?
- How many trucks, trailers, and gear do you currently have, and how much do you need to get started?
If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll most likely have a small fleet in the beginning. If you have your sights set on growing a medium or large-scale fleet, you’ll need to create a business plan to facilitate that growth.
Getting the Right Equipment
Truckers who’ve spent time in the industry will know that the type of equipment you have matters. If your company is going to focus on long-haul trucking, then you’ll need to have a fleet of semis suited for long distances with sleeping capacity. However, if your company is focused more on shorter distances and regional shipping that require only a day’s travel, then basic cabs will suffice. Your budget for investing in trucks will also determine which models you choose, whether you want to invest in economical trucks, mid-range, or top-of-the-line trucks.
The other important piece of equipment is your trailers. What you’ll be hauling will determine which trailers you need to invest in. If you want to work for clients shipping goods that need to be kept cold, you’ll invest in Reefer Vans. The drivers that use Trusted Dispatch specialize in heavy haul shipping which requires a range of different specialty trailers that can accommodate oversized, heavy equipment, such as:
- Flatbed trucks or high-boy trailers
- Double-drop or low-boy semi-trailers
- Single-drop or step-deck trailers
- RGN (removable gooseneck) trailers
When heavy equipment is your primary haul, then you’ll also want to invest in some additional equipment such as a booster or jeep trailer equipment that helps haul those oversized or extra heavy pieces of machinery.
Optimize Your Dispatching with Trusted Dispatch Enterprise Program
Trusted Dispatch’s digital load board is best suited to provide extra shipments for owner-operators and small-sized companies. For the medium and large-scale shipping fleets, we offer our fully connected and customized transportation management app to help you revolutionize your business dispatching.
The Trusted Dispatch system automates the manual process using advanced software and artificial intelligence. Our approach leverages real-time data using algorithms that both increase efficiency and saving, so you can keep track of where your drivers are and when loads are delivered.
How to Find and Keep Professional Drivers
The best plan of action to keep professional drivers is to treat them well. Offering fair compensation for their expertise and time is so important in this industry. The biggest reason drivers choose other career paths is being undervalued and underpaid to drive.
When you develop a reputation as a great employer, word of mouth will bring drivers to you. However, if you’re just starting your company and can’t wait for the grapevine to bring you drivers, you can work with recruitment specialists to develop an ad campaign. You could also reach out to driving schools and training networks to see about referral programs. Just remember that once you find your best drivers, you’ll want to offer them enough incentive to recognize their value and keep them on board. It’s far easier to keep great truck drivers than to replace drivers due to turnover.
Use Trusted Dispatch Enterprise Program For Your Canadian Heavy Haul Trucking Company
If your heavy haul trucking business is looking for a better way to manage your loads and your drivers, our enterprise program can help. Our load management software is straightforward to manage and helps you ensure your shipments happen on time.
Are you an owner-operator who wants to boost their income and find more loads? Check out How to Become a Driver with us and maximize your profits on the road.
