The transportation industry is an expansive and complex ecosystem, responsible for moving raw materials, components, and finished goods across states, countries, and even continents. This massive flow of items that we depend on in our everyday lives is made possible through the efforts of millions of professional truck drivers. Among the high paying trucking jobs available today go to a group known as company drivers—men and women employed directly by transportation companies to operate their trucks and deliver freight.
Company drivers play an integral role in the industry with a set of unique responsibilities, skills, and challenges. Getting to know company drivers provides insights into the inner workings of freight transportation.
Why Transportation Firms Rely on Company Drivers
There are a few key reasons why many trucking and logistics companies maintain a fleet of company drivers on their payroll, rather than solely using independent owner-operator drivers.
Firstly, employing their own drivers allows companies to have much greater oversight and control over their operations. The business can set standards for safety, training, certification, routes, schedules, vehicle inspections, maintenance protocols, cargo handling, administrative tasks, and more.
Secondly, company drivers provide a steady, stable supply of labor the company can count on day after day. There is inherently high turnover among independent contractors in trucking. Company drivers, on the other hand, tend to stay in their jobs for years and provide a consistent workforce. This allows trucking companies to better meet the demands of shipper customers and provide continuous services.
Additionally, with company drivers on staff, trucking firms have internal disciplinary procedures and oversight to maintain standards. If issues arise with a particular driver’s performance or conduct, the company can take direct action rather than lose control as with a freelance independent contractor.
Key Responsibilities of a Company Driver
As one might expect, company drivers take on a wide array of responsibilities on the job each day. First and foremost is safely operating their large commercial motor vehicle and cargo. This includes conducting pre-trip and post-trip inspections, adhering to all regulations, practicing defensive driving techniques, documenting hours of service, and focusing on accident prevention.
Upon arriving for a pickup, company drivers oversee the loading process to ensure cargo is properly handled and secured without damage. Weight distribution, tie downs, and other measures guarantee the load is transported without incident. Drivers must verify all pickup/delivery documentation is completed accurately by shippers.
Throughout a haul, the company driver is responsible for ensuring the schedule is met and arrival times are adhered to. They must plan routes and fuel stops effectively. Dispatchers at company headquarters monitor movement and expect regular check-ins if delays arise. Upon delivery, drivers again oversee unloading, verify paperwork, and obtain customer signatures before departure.
Administrative tasks are another major part of the job, like submitting fuel receipts, toll logs, inspections records, hours of service logs, proof of delivery documents, maintenance needs, incident reports, and other myriad forms required of commercial fleet operations. Organization and timeliness with paperwork is essential.
In short, company drivers are accountable for carrying out their employer’s transportation services safely, professionally, profitably, and in full compliance with regulations. They are ambassadors of the brand.
Key Benefits Provided to Company Drivers
In addition to their regular wages, company drivers enjoy certain benefits typically not available to independent owner-operators. These additional advantages improve retention rates and financial stability for drivers.
Health insurance is a major benefit, with medical, dental, and vision plans to cover the driver as well as family members. Life insurance may also be included. For drivers facing the rigors and risks of logging hundreds of miles each week, access to affordable healthcare is a major incentive to work as a company driver.
Many company drivers also participate in 401(k) retirement savings plans offered by their employer, with contributions matched up to certain limits. Over the span of a lengthy driving career, this can add up significantly. Independent contractors need to fund their own retirement savings fully.
The company absorbs the cost of fuel, repairs, maintenance, insurance, and other operating expenses for their trucks. Drivers do not have to bear these costs as independent contractors do.
Company drivers enjoy a greater level of job security than independent contractors, who can lose contracts and loads due to business fluctuations. Company drivers know they will have a job to return to and can expect a predictable weekly paycheck.
Paid time off, sick leave, and vacation accrual allow company drivers some degree of work-life balance. All drivers face demands of long hours and frequent overnight trips away from home. But company drivers get intermittent breaks and have annual paid vacation.
Finally, some company-sponsored training and tuition reimbursement programs assist drivers seeking to advance their skills. Obtaining additional certifications, endorsements, CDL training/recertification, transportation management tech training, and logistics coursework is encouraged.
Conclusion
Company drivers are the workhorses of America’s freight transportation system. Their skills developed over years behind the wheel, professionalism, and adherence to standards make company drivers ideally suited for the structured, hierarchical environment at most trucking firms.
These drivers take on major responsibilities spanning safe vehicle operation, customer service, admin tasks, maintenance, and regulatory compliance. The layer of management above company drivers strives to deploy sophisticated logistics systems and lean processes. But it’s the dispatched company drivers out on the road who ultimately ensure the nation’s goods arrive intact and on time. They provide an invaluable service moving the inventory that stocks our factories, stores, and homes. Company drivers are the human heartbeat of the global supply chain.