Finding the right company to work with can increase job satisfaction and income. Company size, driver training, and the quality of company vehicles all have a big impact on job experience.
Most drivers will want to choose a company with excellent pay and benefits, a sign-on bonus and other incentives. Today, we’re looking at GP Transco and Titan Transfer. Below, you’ll find out more about each company’s strengths and weaknesses.
What to Look for When Choosing Between Carriers
When choosing between carriers, there is no one-size-fits-all option. Location is always important, as you’ll want somewhere close to where you live. But other factors, like company size, benefits, and driver support, are also worth considering as they are also very important. Here’s what you’ll want to look for when choosing between carriers.
Company size
Company size affects company culture. Large companies may have better driver support, while other drivers may feel lost in large companies. Likewise, smaller companies may offer fewer benefits.
They might also offer benefits that are most important to their drivers. The right size carrier for each driver depends on the individual personality and needs.
Pay & Benefits
Drivers should compare total compensation when choosing between carriers. Take into account sign-on bonuses, education or training compensation, and other bonuses. Some carriers offer higher compensation for certain types of trucks or routes. It’s a good idea to compare total annual income with these options.
Sign-On Bonus
Some trucking companies offer sign-on bonuses equal to a third of the average total annual salary. Sign-on bonuses of $10,000 to $15,000 are a significant earning for new truck drivers and can be a deciding factor when signing up for a new company.
Be sure to check contract terms when taking the sign-on bonus. Some will require that you stay with the company for a specified period of time or work a certain number of hours. Check the details!
Load Types
Load types can greatly affect total income. Delicate or high-value loads may require extra time for transport and delivery. Certain load types, like ice road trucking or hazmat trucking, often offer higher compensation rates. Choose a carrier that regularly transports the type of loads for your certification.
Driver Training & Licensure
Additional driver training and licensure can be a significant benefit. Some companies will pay for, or reimburse, driver licensing and training. Choosing a company that pays for CDL training and additional certification can be beneficial as it can make for significant savings.
Company Vehicles
Vehicle quality will be one of the most important day to day factors for drivers. Well-maintained and safe vehicles are not only essential for driver safety, but reduce stress on the road and increase comfort.
Does this company provide their drivers with new, used or reliable vehicles? Are there options for drivers to lease the vehicles and work independently? Are there lease-to-own options? All of these options can guide your decision when it comes to choosing between carriers.
Discounts
Depending on the driver’s contract, some companies offer maintenance, insurance, and parts discounts. Fuel cards may be included or offered at a discount. Repair and maintenance may be fully covered, depending on your contract.
Headquarter location
Headquarters and hub locations matter more than almost any other factor. Most drivers want to work with a company close to home. You don’t want to get stuck 1,000 miles from home at the company’s hub. For this reason, choose companies with headquarters or a hub in your region.
Hiring Regions
While many trucking carriers have service throughout North America, they may not be hiring in all regions. Hiring regions will dictate the region of most routes. Choose a company that is hiring in the region you want to work.
Driver Support
Customer service, dispatch, and roadside assistance support are critical to the success of drivers. The best companies have exceptional driver support. A company culture that fosters inclusion and employee support will also increase driver satisfaction. Drivers need to know the company is there for them.
Review & Reputation
Company reputation and employee reviews can also help guide a carrier decision. Reviews on Indeed.com, the Better Business Bureau, and other sites are left by employees with on the ground experience. You can usually get a good sense of the company by looking at the comments left by current and past employees.
Company Size
Smaller businesses have to be responsive and flexible to manage costs and increase efficiency. Smaller fleets often have a stronger company culture.
On the other hand, large fleets usually have structures in place for driver support and fleet management on a larger scale. Either size company can work for drivers, it depends on the preference of each driver. Here is how GP Transco compares to Titan Transfer in terms of company size.
GP Transco
GP Transco has 169 full-time employees, 522 drivers, 750 trailers, and 530 tractors. The company works with owner-operators, solo company drivers, and team company drivers. This small to medium-sized company has more than 15 years of experience on the road and is known for good driver support and communication. Drivers are generally happy with GP Transco jobs and company culture.
Titan Transfer
Titan Transfer has 350 employees and a fleet of 550 trucks. Founded in 1999, Titan Transfer has grown to a company with over $71.44 million in sales. While it is larger than GP Transco, Titan Transfer is still a small- to medium-sized company with a good company culture. Drivers are generally happy with Titan Transfer, although some would like higher pay or more working hours.
Pay & Benefits
Here is a comparison of pay between the two companies:
| Experience Pay Scale | GP Transco | Titan Transfer |
| Less than 1 year | $82,000 | $40,336 |
| 1-3 years | $86,000 | $52,670 |
| 4-10 years | $90,000 | $61,698 |
| More than 10 years | $110,000 | $64,920 |
GP Transco Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Free dental insurance
- Free vision insurance
- life insurance for free
- Long- and short-term disability
- 401(k) with 4% match
- Base pay 25% higher than industry average
Titan Transfer Benefits:
- Mileage bonuses
- Safety bonuses
- Tenure raises & bonuses
- Referral bonuses
- Training bonuses
- Anniversary bonuses
- PTO
- Milestone anniversary paid vacations
- Paid life insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid holidays
- Home terminal bonuses
- 401k company match.
Average Sign on Bonus
A sign-on bonus can add a substantial boost to first-year salaries. Here are these companies’ offerings:
GP Transco: No sign-on bonus information available at this time
Titan Transfer: No sign-on bonus information available at this time. Titan Transfer does offer weekly bonus opportunities for drivers.
Load Types
The variety of loads will attract different drivers with various goals. Here are the main load types that these companies work with:
GP Transco:
- Full truckload
- Dedicated
- OTR
- Long haul
Titan Transfer:
- Overroad
- Dry van
- Flatbeds
Driver Training & Licensure
Driver training, licensure, or reimbursement can all be major attractions. That said, GP Transco does not offer training, licensure, or reimbursement. On the other hand, Titan Transfer does offer a 20 day CDL-A training program to qualified applicants. They also offer training bonuses.
Location
Hubs are a major deciding factor when selecting a trucking company. GP Transco’s headquarters are located in Joliet, Illinois, whereas the headquarters of Titan Transfer is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Hiring Regions
GP Transco:
- Pacific
- Mountain
- West North Central
- West South Central
- East North Central
- East South Central
- New England
- Middle Atlantic
- South Atlantic
- Alaska
- Hawaii
Titan Transfer:
- Pacific
- Mountain
- West North Central
- West South Central
- East North Central
- East South Central
- New England
- Middle Atlantic
- South Atlantic
Driver Support
Driver support is essential when you’re on the road. Here is how the companies support drivers.
GP Transco
Gp Transco is dedicated to treating drivers like humans while providing exceptional driver support to their employees. Here’s what GP Transco trucking features in terms of driver support:
- Incentive program that rewards fuel-efficient behaviors
- Samsara AI Dash Cams reduce accidents by 30%
- Seamless API integration
- Paperless DVIRs for better communication with maintenance staff
- Excellent dispatchers
- Exceptional safety department
- Well-maintained fleet
Titan Transfer
Titan Transfer is committed to protecting drivers. While there are complaints about pay, employees are generally satisfied with the driver support, training, and cultures. Titan Transfer features for driver support:
- GPS technology and voice transmission recordings for improved safety
- Night dispatch
- CDL training for new drivers
- Refresher courses for returning drivers
- Job placement
Company Indeed Reviews
Indeed reviews give an unfiltered view into company experience. Experiences are diverse and both companies received both positive and negative reviews. Here are the averages:
GP Transco: 3.9 stars
According to reviews posted to Indeed, GP Transco has received a rating of 3.9 stars. GP Transco offers good pay and benefits. The company receives a significant number of 5-star reviews from drivers. The 2- and 3-star reviews are mostly from drivers who were unhappy with company culture and its lack of flexibility.
Titan Transfer: 3.5 stars
Titan Transfer received a few 5-star reviews, but across the board there were more 4-start and 3-star reviews. There were also more unhappy employees with 2-start or 1-star reviews. Complaints were mostly from employees about compensation or lack of mileage opportunities.
The Right Company for You
Whether you choose GP Transco or Titan Transfer comes down to your preferences. Both companies operate in most regions of the United States. The company sizes are similar. Both receive overall favorable reviews from current and former employees. But beyond that, it’s all about deciding what matters most to you.
GP Transco is a smaller company with excellent company culture, good benefits, and overall positive employee reviews. Titan Transfer offers CDL license or training, which can be an incentive for new drivers. They also have a good culture, strong bonuses, and incentives. Their employee reviews were a bit lower, but overall, they’re still positive.
Which company should you choose? That depends on your needs. After reviewing regions of operation, current openings, type of transport, and starting pay as well as benefits, it’s time to decide which one is the better fit for you. Either way, your decision will be great, seeing as both companies support truckers and build the industry, helping you grow your trucking career and gain valuable experience in the safest manner possible.
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