The trucking industry is currently experiencing a driver shortage. Due to a low driver supply, more trucking companies are offering a sign-on bonus to new drivers. You can get paid well at the best trucking companies and get rewarded for quality work. Want to find trucking companies with a sign-on bonus? We’ve narrowed down the list to our favorites.
Quicklook: Best Trucking Companies With Sign On Bonus
- Best For High Sign on Bonus: Cowan Systems – Match Now
- Best For Work Flexibility: Carvana – Match Now
- Best For Updated Trucks: Hirschbach Motor Lines – Match Now
- Best For Guaranteed Weekly Pay: Fort Transfer – Match Now
- Best For Tenure Awards: John Christner Trucking – Match Now
5 Best Trucking Companies With Sign On Bonus
Several trucking companies offer sign-on bonuses for incoming drivers. These bonuses reward your performance and incentivize longer working relationships. These trucking companies offer attractive sign-on bonuses.
Cowen Systems
Cowen Systems is a Maryland-based transportation and logistics company. They employ roughly 1,700 drivers. The company takes work-life balance seriously and places all drivers in a job that fits their abilities and talents.
Best For: High Sign on Bonus
Pay Rate: $57,000 to $71,000 per year
Sign On Bonus:
- $15,000 for most drivers
- Some drivers receive $20,000
Bonus Payout Scale: The company pays half of the bonus within the first six months. Many drivers will receive their complete sign-on bonus within 18 months.
Bonus Qualifications:
One of the following:
- 1 year of documented experience
- A hazardous materials endorsement
Special Features:
- High sign-on bonus
- Receive half of the bonus within the first six months
- Community outreach activities
- Work life balance
Benefits:
- Voluntary term life insurance
- Driver referral program
- Weekly payroll with direct deposit
- Basic life insurance covered
Disadvantages:
- Lower pay rate than other trucking companies
- Requires a hazardous materials endorsement which is harder to get
- Most drivers must wait 18 months to receive the entire sign on bonus
Carvana
Carvana is a disruptive trucking company that gives optimal work flexibility. Drivers can work home each day instead of traveling across many states. You get to stay closer to your family while earning a respectable salary.
Best For: Work Flexibility
Pay Rate: $66k/yr
Sign On Bonus: $9,000
Bonus Payout Scale: Carvana provides a quarterly bonus program
Bonus Qualifications: Not stated
- Must be at least 21 years old
- 6 months of driving experience within the last year
- Must be able to drive 10-speed manual transmission
Special Features:
- Driver recognition programs
- You get to be home every day
- Company paid mobile phone
- Carvana treats your birthday as an official holiday
Benefits:
- High pay
- Discounts on vehicle purchases
- A consistent paycheck not based on mileage per week
- The company sometimes hands out shares of Carvana stock to employees
Disadvantages:
- 14-hour workdays
- Poor safety and maintenance
- Low quality equipment
- Lack of community activities
Hirschbach
Hirschbach has served customers for over 80 years and offers industry-leading pay. The company provides CDL training, so you get paid while you train. You don’t need any out-of-pocket costs for your training.
Best For: Updated Trucks
Pay Rate: $80,000 to $100,000 per year
Sign On Bonus: $4,000
Bonus Payout Scale: Incentives based on miles driven
Bonus Qualifications: Not stated
Special Features:
- New truck models from 2019 to 2022
- Come with WiFi
- Free SiriusZM
- Weekly and monthly incentives based on safety and miles driven
- Receive $1,500 per year in a long-term savings plan
Benefits:
- $1,000 per week minimum pay
- $0.50 per mile for all miles
- Critical illness options
- CPM raises every 6 months
- Maximum of $0.55 per mile
Disadvantages:
- Fast-paced environment
- Negligible work-life balance
- Minimal medical benefits
Fort Transfer
Fort Transfer has served the transportation industry for over 90 years. The company strives to provide customers with quality service and reliability. The trucking company gives employees various growth opportunities.
Best For: Guaranteed Weekly Pay
Pay Rate:
- $2,000 per week
- Guaranteed pay for 2,500 average miles per week
Sign On Bonus: $2,000
Bonus Payout Scale: The first $1,000 comes after completing orientation. The remaining bonus is spread across mileage checkpoints.
Bonus Qualifications:
- Tank & Hazmat Endorsement
- 6 months liquid bulk tanker experience in the last five years
- Reputable driving record
Special Features:
- $2,000 per week in guaranteed pay
- $5,000 referral bonus
- Stop off pay
- Back dedicated lanes
Benefits:
- Additional earnings potential if you have a passport
- New truck (2020 Kenworth T680)
- Paid orientation
- Bonus opportunities
Disadvantages:
- Primarily hiring in Georgia and nearby states
- Low sign-on bonus
- Requires both tank and hazmat endorsements
John Christner Trucking
John Christner Trucking is a family-owned business with over 35 years of experience. They deliver transportation solutions with integrity, dependability, and stewardship. The company offers work-life balance perks and a company culture unlike any other.
Best For: Tenure Awards
Pay Rate: Teams start at $0.55 per mile and receive $40 detention pay per hour
Sign On Bonus: $4,000 orientation pay
Bonus Payout Scale: Tenure awards at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years
Bonus Qualifications:
- A valid Class-A CDL and 6 months of tractor-trailer driving experience
- No more than 3 moving violations in the past 3 years
- No more than 3 preventable accidents in the past 3 years
Special Features:
- Employee assistance program
- 401(k) with profit sharing
- Higher pay during the holidays
- More rewards as you stay with the company longer
Benefits:
- $0.02 per mile safety bonus, paid quarterly
- 6 Paid Holidays
- 1 day off every 7 days out
- Paid vacation based on tenure
Disadvantages:
- No minimum weekly pay
- Less paid vacation for new drivers
What Is a Sign-On Bonus?
The best-paying trucking companies often offer a sign-on bonus to attract experienced drivers. Drivers receive extra payments based on how they perform for the company. This bonus payment comes from outside the driver’s salary. Trucking companies offer this bonus to account for shortages and high driver turnover in the industry.
How Do New Hire Sign On Bonuses Work?
Trucking companies will not immediately give the bonus to new hires. Instead, these bonuses are incentives tied to specific milestones. You should check the conditions for the bonus before accepting an offer. Many bonuses stipulate the driver must travel a set number of miles to qualify.
Factors to Consider With Sign On Bonuses
Multiple trucking companies may present you with a sign-on bonus. How do you assess your choices to determine the best sign-on bonus? Before you sign on with a trucking company, consider these factors.
Bonus Payout Scale
Trucking companies with a sign-on bonus incorporate a payout scale. They reward drivers based on performance metrics such as miles traveled. Instead of paying a bonus at the end, companies pay multiple bonuses based on milestones.
The payout scale reveals each mileage checkpoint for your bonus payments. You’ll have to drive the miles to earn your bonus. You won’t receive a bonus just for starting with the company.
Bonus Qualifications
Some trucking companies only give bonuses to qualified applicants. You may need a set amount of experience or a specific license to qualify. If you do not have the qualifications, you will not receive the sign-on bonus. Make sure you are eligible for the bonus before applying.
Pay Rate
Before you accept a sign-on bonus, check the company’s pay rate. A high truck driver sign-on bonus can overshadow low pay. If you don’t hit your milestones, you won’t receive your sign-on bonus. Then, you’ll be stuck with a low income.
The sign-on bonus will get paid over 6-12 months. After that, your pay rate determines your salary. Don’t let a short-term sign-on bonus distract you from low pay.
Driver Turnover Rate
Truck driving is a hard job. Many truckers are hitting their retirement years, and not enough young people are replacing them. High turnover rates have pressured some trucking companies to offer larger sign-on bonuses to new drivers.
Some companies experience high turnover because of the industry’s outlook. However, other companies experience high turnover because of significant problems. If a company experiences high turnover, figure out why before accepting their offer. You don’t want to become part of the turnover statistic quickly.
Safety and Equipment
Before signing on with a company, you want to feel safe. If a company stalls on updating equipment, your life could be in danger. No amount of pay is worth putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Choose a trucking company that prioritizes safety and has good equipment.
Find More of The Best Paying Trucking Companies
Our list of trucking companies provides a starting point. You can review each of the offers and reach out to each company. The trucking industry has a labor shortage. This situation gives you more leverage for getting accepted and receiving desirable pay.
Want to see the other trucking jobs available? TruckDrivingJobs helps you find local trucking companies that need truck drivers with Class A CDL. Browse through the TruckDrivingJobs.com listings today to find the best jobs nationwide!
FAQ
The average sign-on bonus for truck drivers is $2,300.
The signing bonus is not part of your salary. It is a one-time payment spread over months or years throughout various checkpoints.
A company can only change your bonus if they notify you first.
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