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What to Know as a Dedicated Truck Driver

My Job January 27, 2021/by Alayna Klco

For many dedicated truck drivers, the job is part truck driving expert and part customer service guru. In trucking, a dedicated driver is more than someone who is loyal to their job. Dedicated drivers are a specific route designation. Sisbroinic.com clarifies that dedicated positions are “when a driver operates in a specific area, delivering freight to the same customer on a set schedule.” Essentially, a dedicated truck driver can expect to work closely with the same customers on a route and schedule that will not change frequently. The level of interaction with the customer may vary based on the position, but your route will be consistent. The nature of dedicated trucking jobs means that they are often (but not always!) centered in urban areas.

Home Time

One of the big advantages of being a dedicated truck driver is consistency in many areas of your job. That includes more consistent home time. Many dedicated drivers are home multiple times a week and sometimes daily. Unlike regional drivers, dedicated drivers don’t always stay within a specific regional geography. That said, like regional drivers, many dedicated drivers are home regularly.

Even better, because routes are relatively set, dedicated drivers are more likely to have a schedule that doesn’t change a lot. Once you’re assigned a shift as a dedicated driver, the assumption is that you will keep working with that customer indefinitely. So, dedicated drivers often get frequent home time and a schedule that they can plan around. Bring on the birthday parties and weekend plans!

Route Predictability

Route consistency is one of the top perks for dedicated trucking jobs. Once you have an established group of customers, dedicated drivers drive the same route. This means you can get very efficient in your workload. There may still be delays because of weather, construction, or other surprises, but you’ll always know where you’re going.

Azricam, Dedicated Driver for J.B. Hunt

Azricam, a dedicated truck driver for J.B. Hunt shared this advice for dedicated truck drivers on how to make the most of the job both on and off the clock.

“Some basic advice of always having food and water in the truck, make sure the bed is comfortable, and (as a gamer) have some stuff to preoccupy you while you’re not driving. I have the Nvidia GeForce app so I can play my games on my phone. Also, get a decent dash cam, it’ll save you lots of hassle because the company dash cams are not the greatest,” shared Azricam.

For some drivers, dedicated trucking sounds like a dream job. But, if reading this makes you fall asleep at the wheel from boredom, OTR trucking might be a better fit for you. The trucking industry has enough variety that there are jobs that appeal to just about everyone.

Solid Relationships

If you’re on a dedicated route, customer relationships are a top priority. Being polite to customers is always a job expectation. It becomes even more critical when you will see that customer regularly! In many cases, dedicated routes are a great opportunity to show off strong customer service skills and build rapport.

Even if you haul no touch freight and don’t speak with the customer regularly, dedicated drivers need to prioritize the customer through timely, reliable deliveries.

For that customer, you are the face of your company. They see you regularly. As a result, they will be more comfortable sharing praise and areas of improvement as they get to know you. If you are a people person and enjoy getting to know people on the job, dedicated routes are a great choice.

How to Become a Dedicated Truck Driver

Like most trucking jobs, the first step to becoming a dedicated truck driver is a CDL license. Once you have your license, consider getting some experience under your belt before applying to dedicated trucking jobs. It is possible to find a dedicated job as either a new or experienced driver, but some companies prefer at least one year of OTR driving experience. Once you have some experience, make sure to find the right company for you. Since you will be working closely with customers, find a company that matches your expectations and work preferences.

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9 Pros and Cons of Local Truck Driving Jobs

My Job August 4, 2020/1 Comment/by Alayna Klco

So you’re looking at local truck driving jobs? Great choice. Local trucking is a good fit for many drivers. Remember, as with any job, there are pros and cons to local trucking jobs. Before you make the switch, get to know the benefits and drawbacks of local trucking, and decide whether it’s a good fit for you.

The Pros

1. Home Time

Many drivers are drawn to local truck driving jobs because of the home time. It’s for a good reason. Local jobs typically get drivers home every night. If not every night, drivers can expect to be home almost every night. For drivers with a family, that’s hard to beat.

2. Frequently Off on the Weekends

In addition to being home every night, many local drivers are off on the weekends. This does depend on your company and what you’re hauling, but many local drivers have weekends off.

Weekends off are much more likely in a local position than for OTR drivers.

Attending social gatherings or events on the weekends becomes much more possible with a local truck driving jobs.

3. Health Benefits

In addition to more home time, local truck drivers pick up some serious health benefits. Local drivers tend to spend less time behind the wheel than regional or OTR drivers. As a result, local drivers are less exposed to the safety risks of being on the road for long periods of time. They are also usually more active. Because local drivers make more stops, there are more opportunities to move around throughout the day.

4. A Set Routine

If you like to have a fixed schedule, local trucking is for you. Drivers generally have a set hourly schedule that they can count on. That’s great for planning things outside of work. It also gives you a little extra peace of mind to know when you’ll be home and when you need to leave.

5. Excellent Work/Life Balance

Work/life balance is a huge consideration for local drivers. Local truck driving jobs are hard work, but they also help drivers be present for the day to day relationships at home. Local drivers still have to find a balance with their loved ones, but the rewards can be great. If you value being physically present for life’s little moments, local truck driving jobs are for you.

The Cons

There’s a lot to love about local truck driving jobs. At the end of the day though, they’re just not for everyone. There are a few downsides to consider when you are deciding whether to become a local driver.

6. Lower Pay

On average, local truck driving jobs pay less than the average OTR position. According to Ziprecruiter, local drivers in the United States earn an average of $51,355. Consider your personal budget and whether the finances work for you in the short and long term. For many drivers, the lower wage is worth the extra work/life balance, but pay is an important consideration.

7. Positions are Competitive

Local truck driving jobs are often extremely competitive. Trucking companies can afford to be choosy because they have a lot of interested candidates.

A good position may require drivers to have some experience first. In addition, there will likely be lots of applicants, so you have to make a strong positive impression when you apply.

If you don’t get offered a position right away, keep getting more experience to help you stand out from other candidates.

8. Loading and Unloading

Some local truck driving jobs make frequent stops and require physical labor. This depends heavily on your company and type of haul. In some positions, drivers may need to load and/or unload their trucks. Think of it as a built-in weight lifting workout! This might be minor for some drivers, but if you are only interested in no-touch freight, read the job descriptions carefully.

9. Long Hours

The hours you work as a local driver depend heavily on your company. However, for many drivers, days last 10-14 hours. In addition, local drivers may start at any time of the day. For example, it’s not uncommon for a work shift to begin at 4:00 AM. The good news is, many companies offer overtime pay. Longer hours can help bring in a bigger paycheck. With such long days, some drivers find home time a challenge during the week. While local drivers are home every night, there may not be a lot of downtime between shifts. Some drivers feel like they finish work just in time to go home, eat dinner, sleep, and wake up to do it all again.

Additional Factors

Some parts of local truck driving jobs aren’t exactly pros or cons. It all depends on your preferred work experience. Here are a few additional things to think about.

Are you a People Person?

Some local jobs require more customer interaction than regional or OTR positions. Others don’t ask drivers to interact with customers regularly. Also, local drivers tend to communicate very frequently with their coworkers and dispatchers. This can be a huge plus for some drivers and a downside for others. It’s really about personal preference. Decide for yourself whether you want more interaction with others. Then, seek out jobs that fit your preferences.

City Driving

Like more regular communication, city driving isn’t necessarily a pro or a con. If you don’t mind spending more time in cities and towns, local driving is a good fit. If you strongly prefer to drive on highways as much as possible, consider whether the benefits of local truck driving jobs outweigh the downsides.

Choosing Your Company

You’ve heard it a million times—good employees don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad bosses. It’s true for local truck driving jobs too.

For any trucking job you’re considering, read the details carefully. When talking to recruiters, try to get a sense of the company culture.

Each fleet traits drivers differently. Look for a fleet that matches your professional qualifications and your personal lifestyle preferences.

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4 Ways to Increase Your Home Time

My Job, My Life September 18, 2019/by Alayna Klco

Truck drivers have a tough job. Driving thousands of miles each week can mean many nights away from home. It can add up to hundreds of nights away from their own bed each year. Though the paychecks might be great, all those nights away can take a toll on mental health and overall stress levels.

Of the mental health concerns that truck drivers experience, loneliness tops the list. Nearly a third of drivers say being alone all day and away from their family is a “significant issue affecting their mental health. – Business Insider

For truckers looking to spend more time with their family and friends, here’s 4 ways to increase your home time.

1. Run the Same Short Routes

If you look for routes that are about 200 miles each way, you can run those daily and be home every night. The more you focus on finding those jobs, and being consistent in your work, it can lead to a highly predictable and efficient schedule. You’ll most likely find cost and time savings as well. If predictability and repeating routines are your cup of tea as a trucker, this is the best type of work to maximize your home time.

2. Be Flexible

If you keep an open mind on working weekends, it could lead to more time at home over the course of a year. Consider working holidays as well. If you can convince yourself that weekends and holiday are just like any other workday, you could find yourself being rewarded for working when others won’t. There could even be some bonus money in it for you depending on your carrier.

3. Put in Your Time

Driver schedules usually get better with time. The longer you stay with a carrier, the higher priority you get when choosing routes. Newbie drivers tend to have to grind out the least desirable routes while gaining seniority. This can translate to the most miles away from home. But if you can grind it out and put in the time, you could eventually find yourself first in line for the prime routes. And the most time at home as well. Stick with it!

4. Be Okay with Less Pay

Some carriers offer great options for drivers to increase their home time. You can find opportunities where you might work 7 days on, and then have the following 7 days at home. Find jobs that are setup with these unique types of schedules. Find ways to be okay with the trade-off in pay. You’ll find that you can certainly have plenty of time at home.

Truckers are always seeking ways to improve their work-life balance. Finding ways to spend more quality home time is usually at the top of the list. We’ve given you 4 tips to help you strike that balance, and increase your time spent with family and friends. Do you have a great tip for your fellow drivers? Drop them in the comment box at the bottom of this page.

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