I was having coffee with one of the owners of VGN Trucking Inc. and we got into a discussion about what separates good drivers from great drivers. I have over 15 years of experience as a dispatcher along with many years of driving experience before settling into his dispatcher’s role. The owner outlined the 5 qualities that make a top-tier driver, and he was kind enough to share them with me. Here are the qualities that any driver seeking a raise should have. I’ll list the main points and expand on them as shared by the owner.

1. He’s a pleasant coworker.
2. He never fails to show up on time.
3. He’s a master of time management.
4. In spite of everything, he never grumbles.
5. He’ll pick up the slack when nobody else will.

Although VGN Trucking Inc. often instructs drivers on these same principles, I was nevertheless amazed to hear the owner provide almost word-for-word accounts of what makes a top-tier driver. I’ll try to give you the owner’s perspective as it might help certain readers understand the makeup of a top-tier driver. Let’s address his first concern.

1. He’s A Pleasant Coworker

The driver’s ease of cooperation with the dispatcher is cited as the driver’s greatest asset. In other words, is the driver a pleasant coworker?

Management at transportation companies uses similar phrases almost like a code. They all agree that there are drivers out there that are a real pain in the neck to deal with. Finding a person who is pleasant to work with fills them with joy. Overall, drivers have a lot of improving to do. Many people have the misguided notion that trucking firms couldn’t function without them, so they think they can rule the road like petty dictators. Don’t be duped by today’s conventional wisdom.

Some drivers are hardworking and low-key and don’t like drawing attention to themselves. One day I had a discussion with one of our fleet drivers and he felt that another driver was forced to perform the bulk of the grunt work since he never spoke out or stood up for himself. He told me about his fantastic runs to Connecticut. They were both collecting our loads late one night at the factory, and he suddenly inserted himself into the other driver’s life, even though they had never met before. The driver decided to ask another dispatcher about this other driver.

He also told me that the other dispatcher couldn’t terminate him since he has relatives working at the SAPA facility at high levels of management. After waiting two weeks, I was able to speak with the other dispatcher and inquire about the driver. The operator at the control center pretended he had no idea who I was referring to. The dispatcher continued his description, at which point he repeated his name and said,

“Oh, I get who you’re referring to. A week and a half ago, I had no choice but to dismiss the employee. He became too much of an inconvenience to bear. Since he apparently believed he could commit murder with impunity, I decided to end his antics.”

– dispatcher

2. He Never Fails To Show Up On Time

This kind of driver is on time, every time. In the driving world, being on time is everything. It positions him to be a rock-solid ambassador for the company. VGN Trucking Inc. has outstanding customer service. As a result, I won’t have to answer humiliating phone calls from senior management asking why their drivers aren’t focused.

A driver with a stellar record for punctuality is one less thing I have to worry about. Constantly monitoring a driver’s performance is a tedious task that no dispatcher, including myself, wants to do. Dispatchers have a lot on their plate as it is, and a driver that requires continual supervision and instruction is a major source of stress for me. Even though everyone knows that new drivers need help, a driver must eventually show that he is self-motivated and reliable.

Being on time every time puts you in an exclusive club of drivers who load planners can rely on to get to their destinations on time, which is a huge time saver. When planners are certain that a driver won’t cause disruptions, they’ll do their best to keep him working, which benefits both the driver and the company financially. Keep in mind that everyone at every level of management is being evaluated based on their performance. While a driver could be low on the organizational chart, he is nevertheless an integral cog in the wheel and must be relied upon by the rest of the team.

3. He Is A Master Of Time Management

The owner continues:

“A great driver is a master of time management.”

Being able to do this is an admirable trait in a driver. That he can make himself accessible when needed shows that he not only has a firm grasp of the ins and outs of the system but is also resourceful in finding ways to do so. A driver once asked me about this same problem and I told him, “When I have a good load to offer a driver, and he says he doesn’t have the time to do it, it really irritates me.” We’ve all experienced the panic of realizing we’ve hit an hour limit, yet elite drivers are able to plan their schedules three or four days ahead of time. It’s fine to let a dispatcher know you’re not available once in a while, but you shouldn’t do it all the time.

If a trucker is unable to manage his own schedule, he’ll find himself at truck stops watching TV. You won’t go far in this line of work if you act like that. If you are continuously whining to your dispatcher that you are out of hours, they will make sure that you are conducting 34-hour resets when it is not necessary. A driver who is short on hours must have just had a very productive week in order to prove his worth and productivity.

4. In Spite Of Everything, He Never Grumbles

Next, the owner said, “He never complains,” referring to the great drivers.

If you’ve met many truck drivers, you’ll know that this one trait alone makes them stand out. Those who work as drivers have a tendency to grumble constantly. You see it every time you go into the driver’s lounge at a corporate terminal, you will overhear a driver ranting about something. You can bet that the mood of the other drivers in the lounge will begin to reflect the whining of at least one of them. Complaining without shame is like a virus in the winter: it spreads like wildfire.

While some drivers may just grumble at one another, others are persistent in their complaints to me. I have some idea of how challenging driving can be, and I try my best to equip my drivers for success. I don’t want to hear my drivers grumbling about every single job they’re given. So when they do the work and carry their loads, it makes my life much easier. Even if you aren’t interested in the task at hand, just finish it and move on.

Truckers are in the business of transporting goods. Inevitably, some tasks will be more difficult than others, and it isn’t reasonable to think that every haul will be easy. We as dispatchers learn our preferences and like to satisfy them, but those who complain about every load are less likely to get the ones they want.

5. He’ll Pick Up Loads That Nobody Else Will

This is a great quality of a top-tier driver because he takes the loads that are the least desirable. A dispatcher will really value this information. He has a lot of work that needs to be done. He must delegate loads to drivers.

Here are my thoughts on this topic:

We dispatchers often have excellent memories. Don’t be that slacker driver nobody wants to hire again. There will be gravy runs, and the drivers who spend the time and effort to show themselves up for the challenging tasks will be rewarded by being offered those opportunities.

In Conclusion

There it is. I think you’ll have a better idea of what it takes to stand out in this industry if you take a look at how ownership and I as a dispatcher evaluate the drivers that are in the top tier at the company. Believe me, climbing to the top of the driver’s ladder is not all that difficult. To a large extent, your rivals will make things simple for you. The key to winning the game and making a lot of money in this industry is to always be one step ahead of the competition.

To the top, and beyond!