When beginning a new job, many people simply want to learn their role and focus on only what they were hired for. If they’re hired to pick up a phone to answer and make calls, then they’d make sure to just learn that job. That’s it. If they’re brought into a company to process paperwork, or maybe they’re a sales or tech specialist, then that’s what they do. Focus on the task at hand and only do what you were brought in for. Some folks out there excel at more than ...

The best thing about being an independent contractor is that there are an endless number of opportunities in the world that allow you to be your own boss. Some of those opportunities are certainly difficult to attain, while others are more easily accessible but sometimes far less enticing. Whether you’re an experienced owner-operator or an independent contractor looking to get into the expedite industry, choosing the right carrier to run for makes all the difference in the ...

Trying to reach our youth seems an ongoing struggle these days. But as I’ve observed many times throughout my recruiting career, ‘you’ve got to know your audience.’ By saying as much, the audience in this case may just be the young adults looking to find their place in the world. Specifically, the world of truck driving. As the ongoing driver shortage continues, many companies and carriers are attempting to turn their attention toward a somewhat untapped resource of t...

It’s almost common knowledge that driver turnover rates in the trucking industry tend to hover around or above the 100% mark. However, believe it or not, there are some fleets out there that have figured out a way to reduce their turnover rate. Which has shown to be more beneficial for both driver and company. Here are some suggestions for how to go about providing a better atmosphere for drivers, while lowering turnover. Show Them the Money “Money talks and BS walks,” ...

Being your own boss induces a certain level of excitement, anticipation, and fear. When considering starting a career as a Sprinter van owner operator, it’s important to perform your due diligence and research what you could potentially come across or what you should expect. The first thing to keep in mind is that you are the master of your own Sprinter, so you decide what you do and where you go with it. Do you already own your Sprinter and you’re simply looking for a pl...

Driving a commercial vehicle can certainly be a lonely job, and it can be all too easy for mental health hurdles and challenges to creep up on a driver as the miles roll by. Extended time away from family and friends and long periods without human interaction can be detrimental to anyone’s psyche. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and with renewed emphasis being placed on folks and their mental health these days, here are some ways drivers can help maintain their own me...

A common conversation topic among professional truck drivers is the notion of no longer driving for someone else, but rather following their dream of becoming an independent contractor and thus one’s own boss. So, how does one go from career steering wheel jockey to being their own head honcho? Well, let’s consider the ways. How It Typically Starts Most folks begin their working lives in a low-level type of job. Maybe it’s as a server in a sit-down restaurant, or as an ...

  Making the decision to lease your truck on with a company that will help provide the freight needed to turn a profit can be quite a harrowing undertaking. How do you know you’re making the right choice when deciding who provides you with the best freight opportunities? Perhaps the most important question you should be asking yourself is, what is best for me and my situation? The following considerations should be made as your process of choosing a carrier unfolds. Who’...

Career truck drivers tend to prefer the solitude of the open road. Who wouldn’t? You get to take your work with you and make money wherever you go. No one to answer to (other than perhaps dispatch and the Department of Transportation), and you’re touring the countryside while getting paid to do it. What’s not to like about that? However, as gratifying as driving solo can be, it’s often accompanied by the risk of losing out on extra cash by limiting oneself in earning ...

Have you ever been turned away from a driving opportunity because of a questionable work or driving history? Maybe your PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) possesses more cons than pros, or your DAC (Drive-a-Check) employment history displays a less-than stellar work record with your previous carrier. Over the years, I’ve endured the misfortune of having to discuss a trucker’s inability to land a driving position with a company. And, more often than not, the reasons fo...