Each industry has a certain turnover rate that is associated with it. Many individuals are aware that one of the largest turnover rates of any industry belongs to the trucking industry. This turnover rate is generally generated by drivers only remaining at a company for a few months and then leaving for another place of work. In some fleets, the turnover percentage can approach 100%.

One thing we focus on when we are submitted an application at Lone Mountain Truck Leasing that is not credit or income related is the work history of the applicant. We look at the person's work history to see what they are doing once the truck leaves our lot, and if they've been employed by one company for a couple of years with thoughts on remaining there. If a driver has spent more time within a particular business, they know how to succeed within that company's structure, and who to talk to in the business.

Like any job, in trucking when you start somewhere new, you do not start at the top. If you were to work for a large corporation, you would not expect to be paid and treated the same as employees who have been with the company for many years and have more experience than you. The same holds true at a trucking company. The drivers who have the most experience, and have a long history with the company, as well as with the dispatchers, are usually going to get the easiest and highest paying loads. This occurs because every company wants to keep their loyal employees happy.

Even though a brand new driver might have the same skills as a veteran, the new driver is always going to have to prove themselves before they get any preferential treatment from anyone at their new place of employment.

One downward spiral that some drivers can get stuck in is caused by not staying with one company for an extended period of time. Because of this, they don't have the success they would like to. A recruiter or fellow driver may tell them that certain truckers are doing very well at another company. However, they tend to leave out that these are veteran drivers that have stayed in that one business for a long period of time. Going to one company, then hearing a success story of another, and leaving to pursue that one is not the best way to become successful.

There are initial steps you can take to make sure that the company you may be working for fits you. First, look for both veteran and new operators at the company to talk to. Ask them separately how they are treated to get a how they enjoy where they work. This way, you can compare how they treat the new employees versus the veteran ones. If both opinions seem positive, maybe that is when you want to join up with the company. If you do join the company and find out that it is not what you are hoping for, give it a little bit of time to adjust and get to know some people there, in order to build good working relationships. This will help you increase your chances of success. In about a year, if you find that the job is still not a fit, start searching for other employment. This way, your next employer can see that you would be willing to stay at a job for more than a few months. When contemplating your next move in the trucking industry, it would be prudent for you to keep this information in mind.