The Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge have named 17 winners of the second annual Best Fleets to Drive For survey and contest.


Best Fleets to Drive For is an annual survey and contest identifying the North American for-hire trucking companies that provide the best workplace experiences for their drivers. To qualify, carriers operating 10 trucks or more had to be nominated by at least one of their drivers (either a company driver or an owner-operator). CarriersEdge conducted the survey and compiled the research data, evaluating each nominee on the range and depth of offered programs, the overall effectiveness of those programs across key metrics, and the responses of surveyed drivers.

The winners are:

* Bison Transport, Winnipeg, Manitoba
* Boyd Bros. Transportation, Clayton, Ala.
* Brian Kurtz Trucking, Breslau, Ontario
* CalArk Trucking, Mabelvale, Ark.
* Central Hauling, Mabelvale, Ark.
* Coastline Transport, Fowler, Calif.
* Con-Way Truckload, Joplin, Mo.
* Dart Transit Company, Eagan, Minn.
* Don Hummer Trucking, Oxford, Iowa
* Kennesaw Transportation, Rydal, Ga.
* Laidlaw Carriers Van, Guelph, Ontario
* MacKinnon Transport, Guelph, Ontario
* Melton Truck Lines, Tulsa, Okla.
* MSM Transportation, Bolton, Ontario
* Schneider National, Green Bay, Wis.
* Shulist Trucking, Maple, Ontario
* Yanke Group of Companies, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

"This is the second time the survey has been conducted, and the data that has emerged from it has been very useful to the industry in terms of identifying trends and where things are headed," said Chris Burruss, TCA's president.

Mark Murrell, president of CarriersEdge, agreed, adding, "For example, the survey reveals that fleet sizes went down overall last year, but a number of the Best Fleets actually grew in size. Many of the Best Fleets also took advantage of low prices and interest rates to invest in new equipment."

According to Murrell, many drivers noted that the biggest area to get cut last year was employer matching 401(k) and RSPs. Many fleets dropped their employer match altogether, while those who kept it generally lowered the matching rate, he said.

Drivers also said that their fleets are continuing to invest in green technology, even though fuel prices have stabilized. "More and more bonus programs seem to be tied directly to environmental initiatives like fuel efficiency and idle time," Murrell said.

In March, TCA will announce the names of the highest scoring fleets from each of two categories: Best Fleet for Owner Operators and Best Fleet for Company Drivers. These overall winners will be recognized at the TCA Annual Convention, Feb. 28-March 3, 2010, at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas.