Not Your Dad’s Truck Driver Job

Remember growing up hearing your dad tell stories about how tough he had it on the road? Somehow each story included driving uphill, in 10 feet of snow, with one head light and 6 bald tires. As with every good story, there is a bit of truth to how it was back in your dads driving days. The roads were open and for the most part free. Regulations on drivers and trucks were not so tough and the truck driver of the day, worked a little harder and ran a little faster than the next guy. Trucking companies, each with their own set of rules and benefits, could steal a driver away for a penny more a mile and that was attractive!

Fast forward to 2013 – Government regulations on how hard you run, how fast you drive and the training required to get behind the wheel have slowly decreased the pool of available, qualified drivers.

What is a trucking company to do when a penny isn’t as attractive and CSA scores keep good drivers at bay? Many turn to truck, health and family incentives. Melton Truck Lines, a flatbed carrier based out of Tulsa, OK has been innovative in their approach to attract drivers. In addition to the rising of a new, state of the art 77,000 sqft corporate headquarters, Melton also offers programs like IMWell, a Health initiative that provides a full-service primary care clinic and a dedicated medical team that comes at no cost to the driver. Along with IMWell, Melton offers many attractive benefits and a pay package that is hard to beat with Melton drivers pay ranking in the top 1% in the industry.

Rigs…

Back to your dads truck with 6 bald tires and a missing eye… how times have changed. Checking out new truck models from Peterbilt, Freightliner and Volvo you will find drivers driving in style. Many new models like the Volvo 670 VNL780 come with the XE powertrain to increase fuel savings, new hood, headlight and recessed door handle design to help reduce wind resistance and increase aerodynamics, Eco torque and I-Shift, an intelligent automatic manual transmission that chooses the most fuel-efficient gear to help you get to cruising speed faster. A stark contrast to your dad’s rig.

Trucking jobs are evolving just as the drivers are. Increased technology, safer rigs, better home time, pay and company offered benefits make driving a truck one of the most secure job opportunities in this tough economic market.

Check out the truck driver jobs offered by carriers when you search HiringDriversNow.com. You might want to pick a company with a ride along program…for dad!

Share your dad’s trucking stories with us…