With so many jobs available in the trucking industry, many current and potential drivers aren’t sure where to find the best driving opportunities. While some trucking companies offer enticing sign-on bonuses, that doesn’t tell you what it’s like to drive for them.
It’s important that you choose a job that meets your on-going needs and preferences. One thing you can do to narrow down your options is to decide whether you want to work for a larger trucking company or a smaller one.
Each can provide surprisingly different experiences for their drivers. Let’s take a look at what makes each unique.
Large Companies
When you start looking for jobs, you’ll likely see positions for large companies first. The big freight companies are able to advertise more aggressively, often promoting the promise of sign-up bonuses and other incentives.
If you decide to join a larger company, you may have access to more tools and resources. On the other hand, you might not know what you’ll be hauling or where you’ll be going with it. Large trucking companies can often cover a variety of industries and/or freight types.
Some drivers enjoy the variety. Others prefer to know what they’ll be doing and where they’re going.
One of the biggest downsides with a large trucking company is that you are essentially a number on an employee sheet. Despite what the company might say, with so many people working across multiple accounts and routes, you will only know the people you immediately work with. The owners and upper level management will not know who you are, and you will be on the lower end of complex communication channels.
Additionally, the faces around you will likely change frequently. Turnover rates are high across the industry as a whole, but they’re especially common in larger companies. Due to their reach with promotions and advertisement, replacing drivers isn’t as big of a deal for larger companies as it is for smaller ones.
Finally, large companies tend to focus on company drivers. That means if you’re an owner-operator, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
Small Trucking Companies
Smaller companies offer a more personal approach to their drivers. You’ll have a better idea of who you’re working for and where you’ll be going. Smaller companies are also usually more eager to work with owner-operators, though they regularly employ company drivers as well.
Though smaller companies might not always have the same tools or resources as larger ones, they often have very nice trucks. Since they have fewer trucks to maintain and manage, they invest more into the ones they have.
In some cases, small companies might stick to more niche industries and repeating clients. On the other hand, some smaller trucking companies take contracts as they can, meaning your routes and schedule can change regularly.
Depending on how small the company is, time–off can be restrictive as well. Since they have fewer drivers to utilize, time–off can operate on a strict first-come, first-serve basis.
Working for Woodruff
The truth is, while big trucking companies are largely similar across the board, independent trucking companies can vary quite a bit from to the next. We certainly do things a bit different at Woodruff Enterprises.
At Woodruff, we work with repeating customers across regular routes. The majority of our drivers operate within a 500–mile radius. That means week to week, our drivers typically know what their schedule is going to look like. This allows them to live more traditional lives.
We view our drivers as part of the family, which means we make sure our drivers receive paid-time off and quality at home time. We also offer competitive pay and performance-based incentives.
If you’re looking for a trucking job that treats you with respect, provides you with consistent mileage, and gives you a proper understanding of what your work is going to look like, contact Woodruff Enterprises today.
We currently have trucking jobs available in Springfield, Ohio and more!