Bennett Motor Express “Drive-away”

If you are not looking for full time work it is alright. One of my side businesses is selling tow trucks and car haulers, which I deliver to the end user. I signed up with Bennett and Truck Movers as a contractor so I had access to revenue runs to get back home. Did a year as a contractor for Bennett, good people and they will never harass you to work. They have a load board, you see all the trucks in the system and decide which one you want, rates are always open for a little negotiation.

This is a contract position, so no benefits, insurance or taxes taken out of your check and you are responsible for all costs associated with delivering the truck including fuel, tolls and transportation to/from locations. Most folks use a tow behind vehicle so they have transportation, also gives you room to carry more than what fits in one duffel bag.

Their runs are designed for you to profit about $150 per day, if you pick them right you can do better. Also, if you have passenger endorsement it opens up many more loads. They will make you attend an in-person orientation for 2 days then turn you loose. Overall, if you are just looking for busy work and something to do they are not bad, have a family to feed I wouldn't count on it as a viable job.

Truck Movers is a little better paying, no in-person orientation, but they don't have a load board so their dispatchers call you every day to offer you loads. They are working on a "offer board" which should cut down on the phone calls but it isn't perfect yet. Just like Bennett, you are a contractor fully responsible for all costs of delivery but it seems like Truck Movers has more two-way loads, meaning you can find close work heading back to the terminal you came from. They are more of a hub-spoke system than Bennett which is very random where you get the trucks from.

Truck Movers offers singles (one truck) or deck sets, which are the stacked "piggy back" trucks you see. Deck sets require doubles endorsement and a hands-on training session. A lot of work undecking and reassembling the trucks. They also has a union division, Iron Tiger that is a full time job with benefits. A lot of work.

My advice for someone that has done it, if you like adventure and living out of a suitcase with a hotel every night it may be fun. Sign up with more than one driveaway contractor so you have plenty of work to chose from. On a side note, Bennett gets most of their new truck work from Iron Tiger/Truck Movers, so you may see the same load from both companies with Truck Movers paying .20-.30 cpm higher rate.

Being from the DFW area, Truck Movers has plenty of trucks coming up from south of the border, you should have no problem getting line haul work from the crossing to their terminal locations. This is the easiest, even when doing deck sets because you don't have to undeck, just park at the terminal and run.

 

How do these companies charge you fees for running for them? Is it a every trip run or weekly rate to run for them?

 

How do these companies charge you fees for running for them? Is it a every trip run or weekly rate to run for them?

 

These are typically contractor positions with the fees, if any, deducted from your settlement. Fees usually include anything the prepaid for that was the contractor's responsibility such as fuel or if you purchase insurance or other optional items through them.