Are you thinking about getting your CDL qualifications and working in the freight industry? There are many good truck driver jobs available. In fact, some of them pay well and come with excellent benefits packages. However, it is sometimes hard to find the right job at the right pay rate. Here are 4 tips to help you land the best trucking jobs.
1. Do You Want OTR or Local?
What kind of route are you interested in? For example, would you like to drive locally or regionally, so you are home with family more often? Maybe long haul truck driving jobs will interest you. Make sure and check to see what positions are available before you apply. Ideally, the best trucking jobs have both regional and OTR positions for you. This gives you the most options.
2. Check Average Pay
Reputable freight services list job pay at their websites. This makes it easy and simple to check pay rates. For example, if you are new to the business, check to see what average annual wages are for trucking school graduates. Also, check their typical average wages and what the top 20 percent make, to let you know what you can expect.
3. Choose Practical Miles
Many freight services pay their drivers by standard miles, but this is not the best way to earn pay. For example, standard (also called HHG) miles pay the driver for the shortest distance between delivery points. On the other hand, a practical miles payment system pays you for the most efficient routing, and you average more money this way.
4. Sign-on Bonuses
Don’t forget to compare sign-on bonuses. This is a good way to put money in your pocket. The best trucking jobs offer generous sign-on bonuses for both experienced and inexperienced truck drivers.
