Everyone seems to be hiring truck drivers, but not all trucking jobs are created equal. Job seekers often gravitate toward companies that pay the most, although there are many additional considerations when evaluating an offer. Along with pay, health and work-life balance benefits should be taken into account. Some businesses even offer perks like access to discounted tickets and services, employee referral programs, retirement plans, bonuses, training, etc.
Each one of these offerings is worth taking into account when evaluating potential new employers. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of trucking companies known for having the best benefits in the industry.
And when you’re finished reading, check out the other articles in our ‘Trucker health and fitness’ series:
- Health matters: Trucker lifestyle tips
- Truck driver health: Keeping fit in a sedentary job
- Trucking companies with the best benefits
Quicklook: Trucking Companies With the Best Benefits
- GP Transco
- J.B. Hunt
- Old Dominion Freight Lines
- Roehl Transport
- Sutton Transport
- YRC Freight
How Trucking Companies’ Benefits Stack Up
The following trucking companies are known for providing some of the best benefit packages to their drivers:
GP Transco benefits
Health
- Multiple health plans
- Dental and vision insurance
Paid time off
- Vacation
- Holidays
Retirement – 401k with 5% match
Additional
- Driver recognition and safety bonuses
- $2000 employee referral bonuses
- Tablets furnished to drivers
- Pet-friendly
- Fuel savings profit-sharing
J.B. Hunt benefits
Health
- Multiple health plans
- Dental and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Account
Paid time off – Vacation
Retirement – 401k with company match
Insurance
- Life insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Voluntary critical illness
- Voluntary identity theft and protection
Additional
- Home and auto insurance options
- Paid orientation and safety training
- Service and safety bonuses or awards
- Nationwide discount purchase programs with companies like Dell, Whirlpool, etc.
- Financial wellness resource program
Old Dominion Freight Line benefits
Health
- Multiple health plans
- Dental and vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
Paid time off
- Vacation
- Holidays
Retirement – 401k with company match
Insurance
- Life insurance
- Supplemental accident insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
Additional
- Tuition reimbursement for CDL
- Tool purchasing program
- Referral program
- Safety awards and bonuses
Roehl Transport benefits
Health
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Employee Assistance Program
Paid time off
Retirement
- Retirement package
- 401k
Insurance
- Life insurance
- Voluntary insurance benefits
Additional
- Profit sharing
- Prudential Pathways (program that helps manage day-to-day finances and achieve financial goals)
- Transitions company benefits
- More home time
Sutton Transport benefits
Health
- Multiple health plans
- Dental and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account with company contribution
Paid time off
- Vacation
- Holidays after 90 days
- Sick days
Retirement – 401k with company match
Insurance
- Life insurance
- Supplemental accident insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
Additional
- Quarterly driver bonus program, individually-based
- Guaranteed home daily
YRC Freight benefits
Health
- 100% paid healthcare for drivers and family
- Dental and vision insurance
Paid time off
- Vacation
- Holidays
- Sick and/or personal days
- Jury duty
- Bereavement
- Overtime and delay time
Retirement
- Defined benefit pension
- 401k
Insurance
- Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
Types of Job Benefits
The federal U.S. government currently only requires businesses to provide the following benefits:
- Medicare and Social Security contributions
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Unemployment insurance
Additionally, businesses with more than 50 employees are required to offer FMLA benefits under certain circumstances, and health insurance.
Disability insurance provides partial wage replacement to sick or injured employees missing more than a week of work. It’s only mandatory in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, but is often extended in other states.
The following benefits aren’t legally mandated, but top trucking companies may offer them as part of drivers’ overall compensation packages:
- Paid time off (PTO) – PTO could include vacation, sick time, paid holidays, jury duty, bereavement days or even volunteer work.
- Training and/or tuition reimbursement – Some businesses are so eager to hire drivers that they’re willing to pay for them to get Commercial Driver’s Licenses. Other companies may help drivers pursue their college degrees.
- Bonuses – Along with base rates, many trucking companies offer sign-on, annual or quarterly bonuses. Employee referral programs are another opportunity for drivers to earn additional cash.
- Retirement plans – Driver benefits may include opportunities to participate in employer-sponsored 401k plans. Sometimes companies even match a percentage of their employees’ contributions, making it easier for drivers to build retirement nest eggs.
- Corporate discounts – Companies sometimes negotiate discounts with vendors that may be extended to employees. Drivers could enjoy price breaks on anything from vehicles, phone plans and event tickets, to travel or home appliances.
- Life insurance – Traffic accidents and health-related issues are two unfortunate risks of life on the road. Covered by your reduced-cost or free life insurance policy, your family’s protected if you’re involved in any worst-case situation.
How do you become a truck driver?
To become a truck driver, first, you’ll need to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). You can do this in as little as three weeks with a qualified CDL training school in your state. You’ll also need a regular driver’s license and a GED or high school diploma.
After you complete the CDL training program and earn a CDL learner’s permit, you can take the CDL exam. After you pass the written and practical CDL exam, you become a qualified truck driver and can start applying for jobs.
Some CDL training programs offer job placement, and some trucking companies offer CDL training for new employees or tuition compensation.
Additional factors to consider
Along with compensation and benefits, you should take these important job considerations into account:
- A potential employer’s safety record directly reflects the importance it places on the wellbeing of employees. Motor carrier safety data is available on the FMCSA website.
- The amount of time a company has been in business provides insight into its potential long term viability.
- Employee ratings offer a glimpse into what it’s like to work for a company. Job sites like Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com are great sources of insider information.
- Although turnover rates may be difficult to track down, they’re a good measure of general employee satisfaction.
- Minimum job qualifications, like a clean driving record or amount of experience, weed out many applicants.
Benefits are an important part of any job decision
With so many companies hiring at the moment, it’s a great time to explore your truck driving career options. However, you shouldn’t rush a decision or make base pay the only criteria. Look for a great benefits package, like the ones offered by trucking companies in this article, while weighing your options. Job satisfaction, after all, often comes down to finding an employer that cares about its employees.
For more information that can help you evaluate potential new employers, read Best trucking companies to work for.
FAQ
These trucking companies are among the best for anyone that wants to get started in the industry. They offer exceptional salaries and benefits for drivers without any training.
Carrying freight that requires specialized training pays the most – and is often more dangerous than typical dry van trucking. Examples include tanker, hazmat, oversized and ice road trucking.
The biggest trucking company in the world is UPS (United Parcel Service). It operates one of the largest private trucking fleets globally, with more than 119,000 delivery vehicles in 2022 delivering around 24.3 million packages each day. In the U.S. alone, UPS operates around 46,000 brown delivery trucks.
Sign up for a FreightWaves e-newsletter to stay informed of all news and trends impacting supply chain careers and operations.
