The Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge are once again seeking nominations for the 10th annual Best Fleets to Drive For, a list of companies that are honored for focusing on workplace culture and commitment to drivers,

Since 2008, TCA and CarriersEdge have sought to identify and recognize these top tier carriers and exactly what makes them so successful. Their 2018 Best Fleets to Drive For contest and survey is now open for nominations.

“Innovation is a necessity for trucking companies to thrive in this ever-changing industry,” said John Lyboldt, TCA president. “While keeping up with technological innovations is important for staying a step ahead of competitors, innovations in a company’s relationship with its drivers are the key ingredients for building a real team.”

For a company to be eligible for the contest, a for-hire fleet must have 10 or more trucks and operate in the U.S. or Canada and a professional truck driver must nominate the company online at BestFleetsToDriveFor.com. TCA membership is not required. The nomination period is open between Sept. 5 and Oct. 31, 2017.

Once a company accepts their driver’s nomination, CarriersEdge will contact them and have them complete an electronic questionnaire and telephone interview. Senior management and a random sampling of the company’s drivers will be surveyed to learn more about aspects of the company’s workplace environment, such as compensation, safety practices, benefits, equipment, training, etc. The answers to the survey reveal the key innovations that help to attract and retain skilled personnel in the trucking industry.

“Building on last year’s insights about driver/office staff communication and the importance of making drivers feel like valued team members, we’re going to be asking specifically how companies keep drivers integrated with the business,” said Jane Jazrawy, chief executive officer of CarriersEdge. “We’re also digging more into maintenance, particularly around new vehicle technology, to see how fleets keep drivers running and their communication process around it.”

The top 20 finalists will be identified as Best Fleets to Drive For and will be announced at the end of January. From this pool, companies will then be divided into both “small” and “large” categories and two overall winners will be recognized March 25-28, 2018, at the TCA Annual Convention in Kissimmee, Fla.

In late October, companies that have been nominated (or believe they will be nominated) and are considering participating are invited to learn more about the survey requirements through a free webinar outlining the questions that surveyors will ask, data requirements, and methods for collecting better information.

For more information, click here.