What type of trucking company should you work for? Would a small, close-knit company be right up your alley? Or do you like the idea of working with a big team of drivers? This article will go over the pros and cons of both, namely in three main areas.
Small vs. Big Trucking Company Pay
In most industries, it seems like the bigger companies have the ability to pay employees more. In a way it makes sense. For example, if you’re a marketer for a brand like Coca-Cola, every decision you make has a big impact. But if you market a very tiny brand of soft drinks, your decisions aren’t affecting as many dollars.
Trucking is different. Smaller companies tend to pay a bit more than bigger ones. Smaller companies have less overhead, meaning there’s generally more money to go into the pockets of drivers.
Bigger companies have an advantage in terms of consistency. They’re more likely to have big contracts with steady work. They also have more money to spend on equipment, so you may find they have more “drop and hook” jobs that let you spend less time loading/unloading and more time driving.
Small vs. Big Trucking Company Flexibility
This one seems to depend more on the culture of the company vs. the size. For example, some smaller companies are very flexible because they’re family-oriented. They realize how important you are to the company and don’t want to lose you. When you have something come up and need to take time off or change your schedule, they’ll accommodate you.
On the flip side - some people say big companies are more flexible. Large trucking companies have plenty of drivers and trucks. If one of their drivers needs to take time off, it’s no big deal. There’s always a lot of other drivers who can pick up the slack.
Pay attention to culture as you look around at different truck companies. Do they seem like one that will be accommodating and flexible when you need them to be? If so, it’s a winner - no matter what the size.
Small vs. Big Company Benefits
Are you interested in saving money for retirement? How about having a great health insurance plan? Or maybe you just want some kind of benefit like an FSA to help pay for childcare?
In general, big companies will have better benefits than smaller ones. For example, they might match your 401K contributions, free life insurance or a good deal on health insurance. Because they’re covering hundreds (or more) of people, they’re able to negotiate better deals with these companies.
Smaller companies don’t fare well here. The good ones will definitely offer these types of benefits, but they probably won’t be as good as a big company.
There’s no right or wrong here. Some people like small trucking companies, and others like large ones. They both have their pros and cons, but at the end of the day, it’s largely about the company culture and people who work there. Focus on finding a company with great people you would love to work with.
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Courtesy of Cuselleration