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The time to start a trucking career has never been better. Due to a national shortage of drivers, today’s trucking school graduates have an impressive range of hiring opportunities available to them. To compete for this pool of limited professionals, new drivers can also expect companies to offer a diverse array of incentives to make the job even more appealing. So what types of incentive programs can you look forward to as a new industry professional? Here are just a few popular approaches used in the current job market.

After Trucking School: Incentives to Look for as a New Driver

Sign-On Bonuses

In recent years, sign-on bonuses have become a popular method of attracting new drivers. These bonuses are lump sum payments offered to employees—typically after meeting probationary period criteria—in addition to their standard salary. Recent industry reports suggest that these bonus amounts continue to increase with current dry van averages as high as $7000.

Improved Pay Structures

trucking schoolThere are many different ways that trucking companies are reevaluating their pay structures to increase the amount of money drivers can bring home. Specifically, the American Trucking Association indicates that average salaries for professionals have increased 15% since 2013 due to increased freight demands. These increases are due to a combination of higher cents-per-mile and hourly rate structures.

Flexible Scheduling

Employers have found that offering flexible schedules for drivers can make a hiring opportunity more appealing. For example, many national freight companies make it possible so that long-distance drivers can expect to be home every weekend. Local fleets have also designed more efficient routes to ensure that drivers can complete deliveries within a business day and be home on a nightly basis.

Continuing Education

Drivers who want to master specialized areas of the industry can now find employers that help pay for continuing education. For example, these companies may pay for a new driver to go back to trucking school to learn how to become a diesel technician, stay aware of the latest truck safety practices, or practice truck and trailer maintenance—all skills that can only advance one’s career even further.

 

If you’re ready to earn more, enjoy steady employment, and take advantage of incentives like these, start a trucking career at the Professional Driver Institute in Churchville, NY. As a leading trucking school of the greater Rochester area, this educator offers a wide range of basic and specialized courses that can prepare you for the road. Focused on helping students succeed, these programs are designed to be completed faster and more affordable than those offered by other schools. Visit this trucking institute online to learn more about their training programs or call (585) 293-1203 to discuss enrollment.

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