Carriers looking for stability and predictability in their over-the-road hauling operations are turning to dedicated trucking combinations. Hiring a driver and truck as a team is also more cost-efficient than leasing space on someone else’s equipment, with the fitting business prospect hassles. Dedicated fleets are also available to handle specific commodities or customers requiring that service.
What is dedicated trucking?
Dedicated trucking is putting a driver and a complete set of equipment under an exclusive contract with a single carrier to haul that carrier’s freight exclusively. The dedicated truck driver in Washington DC runs daily in and out of the same terminal, with little or no downtime between loads. The trucking company manages the entire operation, including dispatch and fuel management.
What is hotshot trucking?
Hotshot trucking is a dedicated service in which the carrier expects the driver to run no more than a specified number of hours between stops. For example, the driver might be expected to take one 10-hour break every 24 hours on the road. A hotshot service may or may not include over-the-road operation. It is essentially a combination of dedicated and independent trucking, with some restrictions imposed by the carrier in exchange for lower rates.
How does dedicated trucking work?
The driver and truck are under an exclusive contract with a single carrier to haul that carrier’s freight exclusively. The driver’s pay is based on miles driven and hours worked, and the driver is responsible for monitoring fuel levels to ensure his truck is never off-duty for a fuel stop. In addition, the driver is responsible for all off-loading, fueling, and traffic control. The carrier sets the driver’s average speed.
Benefits of having a dedicated truck driver
1) Flexibility: With a dedicated fleet, drivers can day-in and day-out haul a carrier’s freight.
2)Availability: The driver can be at the terminal as soon as the order arrives or just before the day’s last load is ready. With fewer off-hours downtime, drivers can haul more freight at one time.
3) Communication: By managing a fleet through one dispatcher, carriers can better communicate with drivers and track their performance. When there is no turnover in work, crews can develop stronger relationships that result in more efficient productivity and more stability for both employee and employer.
4) Safety: By hiring a driver and equipment team, the company can create a consistent team that takes a long time to develop. In addition, when there is turnover in work, both parties need to adjust more often to new faces and personalities.
5) Cost: By building up an experienced team ahead of time, carriers preserve existing capacity for themselves and save on hiring costs. The carrier knows what it’s getting from its dedicated fleet, bringing savings across the board. This also works in reverse – if carriers hire too many drivers with no way to fill their hours with freight, they could face some short-term expenses paying drivers to stand by or working weekends just because the equipment was sitting there.
Carriers looking for stability and predictability in their over-the-road hauling operations are turning to dedicated tractor/trailer combinations. Hiring a driver and truck as a team is also more cost-efficient than leasing space on someone else’s equipment, with the fitting business prospect hassles. Dedicated fleets are also available to handle specific commodities or customers requiring that service.
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