Is it better to work for a large or small company?

Open the phone book and call an insurance agent. The agents that are independents and not specifically tied into one Insurance carrier would be your best choice. They can do the shopping for you and find the best deal. Rates vary state by state depending on how much the state government has the carriers under their thumb. The agent will help you get the insurance part of the plan, they can then guide you on where to set up the Health Savings Account part of the deal. Your bank may offer this, check with them. Otherwise you can get an HSA just about anywhere including banks and financial outfits on the internet. Just like shopping for the insurance, shop for a HSA that offers the best interest on your money or flexibility on how you can invest it. Much the same as shopping for who has the best IRA or 401K. You can always move the HSA to another place if you come across a better deal later. Do a Google on HSA and you will find a lot of information on the net.

 

Finding a good, smaller company is usually a word of mouth kind of deal. I knew one driver who just went to a local truckstop and watched all the trucks come in and then wrote down the truck company names and city, state they were out of and started calling them until he landed the deal he wanted. These smaller carrier usually have no need to advertise like the big boys since they mostly have a way lower turnover. Trucking is much like the music industry when it comes to finding a smaller carrier to work with. A little luck, making contacts with other drivers, and persistence. The big carriers that have high turnovers and think drivers are a dime a dozen have the money to throw at flashy ads in the truck magazines and websites. The good smaller carriers may not be concerned that you have little experience, it is usually your attitude, safety record, and overall work history that will win you the job. They want someone who is dependable, has a good customer attitude, and doesn't require a lot of "hand holding" to get the job done. But you need to be cautious as well.... ask a lot of questions about everything the carrier does. Talk with as many of the people in the office as you can. You will get a "feel" for how they do things and whether they are a good choice for you. Most of the big carriers won't give you a lot of insight on their internal operation, but a smaller company usually will. That is why joining up with a large carrier is a crap shoot. You really have no idea how they do things until you are in their truck.

 

I have been in that situation and it's usually a good deal because you tend to get backhauls for the shipper. Almost like private carrier work. The disadvantadge could be having all their eggs in one basket if the customer's business drops off.

On a separate note, I am hearing nothing but praise for the smaller companies here and I have worked for some fine ones.
But just being small doesn't necessarily make them any more reputable.
Some of the little family outfits can be a bunch of crooks too. Some of you guys know just what I'm talking about.
They can be all sweet and syrupy when you hire on, but it doesn't take long to figure out that kinfolk get priority treatment.

 

I'm at home tonight, thanks to that arrangement. I live about 3 blocks from our core customer in this area

As far as disadvantages. It would only apply if the entire company went belly up, each plant accepts it's own bids. It's never company wide.

We lost one in the south, gained another. Then gained one in the north end of the state this past contract renewal.

We're good for another 20 months at least.