New Drivers: Stick with Your Starter Company!
Standing by Your First Employer
Updated Sept 2022
Imagine: you’ve just gotten your first driving job with a company, and you’re excited to start building your career! You’re already making your five and ten-year plans, and none of them involve staying with your current company for more than a year. You wouldn’t be alone; many new drivers move on to “greener pastures” after their first year. But what if you decided to stick with your starter company past that initial year?
Staying with Your First Company
It is a sad fact that many trucking companies almost expect that new drivers won’t last. Around 70% leave or find new jobs within their first year. However, there is the potential to set yourself apart in the top 30% by defying these expectations. If you commit to your starter company, there are ample opportunities waiting for you.
Favored Driver Status
As you become more experienced and well-known within your company, your dispatcher or driver leader will take notice. A hardworking driver contributes more to the team. Your dispatcher knows this and will want to send out their top-performing drivers to ensure the best run.
Return on Investment
After a year with your company, you’re no longer the new kid. You’re a producer, able to bring in a profit for your company. All the blood, sweat, and tears you put into earning your CDL Class A start to come back to you in what’s called a return on investment (ROI).
Your Thoughts Matter
The more experience you have with a company, the more likely your peers are to ask your opinion. Once you’ve proven that you can handle yourself on the road, your coworkers are likely to trust you more, have confidence in your thoughts and actions, and respect your decisions. It’s difficult to earn those things if you bounce around from company to company.
Improved Pay
Reputable trucking companies very often offer raises and bonuses to their employees after the first year. This reward shows drivers that they’re appreciated. It takes time to build the relationships and the trust that comes with these rewards.
Drivers that stay with their companies have been seeing their salary steadily increase the longer they stay with their carriers. The average pay for drivers that have spent more than one year is between $80,000 – $100,000, depending on the company.
A great driving school won’t trick you into working for a company that doesn’t deserve your loyalty. Enroll in our CDL program today! We’ll help you find the perfect company for your trucking career.
