Most of the time professional truck drivers get paid by mile. The rate gets higher with experience. Sometimes the experience from previous companies can also be honored. Usually they also pay for events like assisting with loading and unloading at the customer’s place and additional pickups or drop-offs. So you have to ask about how the entire pay plan works, not just about the per mile rate.

Practical or shortest miles

The majority of trucking companies pay for Household Goods miles which are the shortest miles that are not based on the actual routes for trucks. The difference between HHG miles and practical miles can be up to 5%. It depends on the area and the route itself.  When you’re looking for a truck driver job, don’t forget to check if the company pays for practical , shortest miles or by the hub.

Home time policy

The company will define how much time you must stay on the road working before you can go home and how much time you can spend there before going back to work. Make sure you are clear with the company on what you expect.  How much holiday time you get per year.

Compliance, Safety, Accountability

Trucking companies and professional truck drivers are responsible to keep the roads safe. So before getting a job with a company, check their CSA score. The lower it is, the better.

The average age of vehicles

The regulations in regard to toxic emission keep evolving, and so have to evolve trucks and manufacturing companies. Trucking companies that can keep up to these regulations are usually the ones ahead of the game. Also, the newer trucks are more dependable and comfortable for drivers
Auxiliary Power Units and Inverters

Inverters and APU’s are what makes trucks feel more comfortable and closer to home. They provide power for cooling and heat, mini-fridges, microwaves and other appliances while the truck’s battery system stays charged. Not all companies allow inverters and some have restrictions on the Watts. Be sure to check prior to employment.

Local, Regional,Dedicated Runs and OTR 

Besides over the road jobs, some companies offer more local or regional jobs. There are also dedicated runs for a single client. These kinds  of jobs usually allows drivers to have more predictable and consistent home time. Most of the time, performance is important for these kinds  of jobs as they are more desirable.

Paper or Electronic Logs

While some might fear that E-logs can affect productivity in a bad way, they actually have proven to be useful tools that help drivers keep on duty status up to date and clearly see the available time they have. Be sure to ask about proper training on the Elog.

Locations of Terminals and Amenities they offer

Terminals are one of the most important factors for many drivers. What are the locations and what do they offer? Do they have showers, laundry rooms, kiosks for paper scanning? This is an essential point to research before you agree to work for the company.

Other Drivers Recommendations

Drivers talk to each other and exchange their impressions about companies they work or worked for. Talk to drivers that you meet and don’t forget to check online reviews on message boards and websites.

Benefits

Do they offer a retirement plan? What about the company’s vacation policy? And what health and dental insurance do they provide? These are also important questions you should ask the company. Do they provide out of province /state coverage  ? Is there short and long term disability benefits?

Riders policy

Does the company allow riders? Must the riders go through an authorization process before he or she is permitted? Are the riders allowed to accompany drivers out on the road on specific times of the year? Are children allowed ? Is there an age requirement ?

Breakdown, Layover or Detention Pay

Most of the time truck drivers are paid for the idle time caused by the delays due to maintenance issues, delays at clients locations . So make sure to ask about this part of the pay plan. Not every company compensates for all delays.

Customer Base and Quality of the Freight

It doesn’t feel good when you have to sit and wait for freight for long periods of time. So check if the company has a solid customer base and if they deal with shippers or brokers. If they work with brokers, it is likely that they have a less stable freight base. Freight quality is also important. Drop and hook loads mean that you can spend less time at a dock and more time on the road actually getting miles.