What to Know as a Dedicated Truck Driver

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, 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.