Carhaulers.... what is the most important things you look for in a job?

When you are possibly looking for a new position, what are the key things that you look for in a perspective new company? What are immediate turn offs?

 

The first three are money, money, and money followed by good equipment to make money.

 

The first thing I look for as a company driver would be the lanes, where do they run and how often can they get me home or thru the house. That’s a key for me, can I go pick up in a area and it’s guaranteed to go to my city,

2) how much freight do they have, are they brokering loads, or do they have contract work. This is key to making money. If they only broker loads this mean they don’t have their own work and that not good to me. (Doesn’t mean you can’t make money, but I prefer a consistent line of work) might load one day and then wait around once your empty that not good to me.

3) I like to see what the equipment is like, is it new or slightly older equipment? Worn out or still effective, this is kinda irrelevant these days as just about every company has newer equipment even the Union companies have decent running trucks, they may not look like it, but they are effective and well taken care of. The trucks I drove at Cassens were in great shape and always road worthy.

4) notice I didn’t say anything about money because normally, if those things line up, I can figure out how to make some money. It’s about learning their system and utilizing it to my benefit. I never listen to other drivers and their complaints because it situation is isolated.

 

First thing is getting the good feeling that the company is not financially in trouble. I know it’s normal sometimes to get the older equipment which is no big deal to me, as long as it’s maintain and ready for work. Also when a company has all kinds of work and is diverse. For example, getting loads from ports, rail yards, auctions, rentals, & a bit of everything. That’s a plus because if it’s slow in certain area there is option of loading elsewhere. Having great communication between driver and staff…I think that most problems or situations is mostly because of lack of communication. Driver and staff just need to be honest with each other to get things done. Everything else falls into place by working as “The Best Team” not as the best individual

 

Figure out what is important to you personally and start there. We all have different priorities and responsibilities alike.

 

I look at freight lanes first. I'm a long haul guy I hate running the northeast even though I live in upstate New York. If a company is primarily a northeast runner I'm not interested. Other than to catch a load home I'd rather not see the northeast or New England ever.

Next would be equipment. In this day and age you have to have good and well maintained equipment under you.

Believe it or not money/benefits come in third.

 

Do you guys find that you make more money as a owner operator/ working for a small guy or is it betteer to work for a big guy like URS

 

I haven't owned a truck since year 2000 so I'm way out of touch on that.. When its all said and done I make way more as a company driver.. I never hauled cars as an owner/op though.. For me I am far better off running with a small company I wouldn't do well in a big company atmosphere..

Everyone is different and has different needs within the industry.

 

As @Tall Mike said, it depends. In some areas, a big company can have enough nearby contracts that you can get a loop set up and greatly reduce your empty miles. That can overcome the generally lower rates someone like URS is known for.

Smaller outfits often get similar routes set up with used one way and snowbirds the other. Those can be quite lucrative in the spring and fall, which make up for the lower revenue of the summer and winter.

 

I don’t know that one is better or worse than the other as everyone has different ideas of what is a great company. I choose to partner with a large carrier and like doing so. I could make more per loaded mile on the spot market currently, but I like the way I run and am generally happy with my net income. The freight I haul that has less than desirable rates currently is supposedly going up significantly with a new contract in the months ahead. My opinion is that the failure to drastically increase those undesirable rates will certainly negatively effect the customers getting their vehicles delivered. There is a already a huge shortage of carhaulers and cheap contact freight will not do anything to lessen the shortage.