I quit my current job for Beeline services inc in Baltimore MD

You call it a bidding war..... I call it making a negotiation.

I made a negotiation for a dedicated route at a mega company a while back, so I know its possible. They was wanting to pay me per mile for a dedicated short haul route (280 miles round trip daily Monday thru Friday drop and hook terminal to terminal) where I would have only made $44,352 per year gross. I told them I wanted the job because of the nature of the work involved but the money was not enough. I told them I wanted to be paid a flat daily rate. By the time the negotiation was done this Mega company had come up to $63,700 per year gross at a daily flat rate.

So from $44,352 per year at the starting offer.... to now $63,700 per year ..... That's a difference of an additional $19,348 gross per year up from their original offer.

So when guys thinks its not possible..... That's exactly what they want you to believe. its all a matter of perspective. Every job interview is a chance for you to sell yourself, most people just take what ever crumbs they are thrown. You never know how desperate a company is to get drivers. Why do you think companies are offering $1500 -$10,000 sign on bonuses? its because the sign on bonus is a one time cost to incentivize drivers to come work for their company, why not instead of the $10,000 sign on bonus they just pay the driver $10,000 more per year? Because over the long term it will cost them more vs a one time $10,000 sign on bonus.

But then the flip side is what's stopping me from working at the company long enough to get the $10,000 sign on bonus and then quit and go to another company. Now they have to offer another $10,000 sign on bonus to attract a new driver to replace me.

Companies could keep drivers longer by just scrapping the sign on bonus and simply paying higher wages.

You can call it a bidding war/ I call it making a negotiation that is fair for both. Every job interview is a business deal between two parties. If they say "we don't negotiate", simply say "Ok that’s fine, if you change your mind later, give me a call so we can work out a deal that is fair for both of us".

If they are unwilling to negotiate then its a red flag not to take the job ...... find another company that will make a fair deal. If the company is desperate enough for drivers they will negotiate, but it still has to be a fair deal for both. Don't go asking for the moon and stars.

 

Because I am not trying to squeeze every penny out of them. You have to look at the entire package, do they have slip seating, can you take the truck home. Do they offer HSA accounts, how long is the vesting period matching on the 401k, how good is the medical benefits, do you have to unload the freight.
You have to look at everything and ask lots of questions.