Looking for a good stepdeck company

If you want to eventually get your own truck and work on percentage, you may want to look at some of the owner operator carriers and see if you can go to work for an owner operator. Landstar, Universal Am Can, Mason Dixon, CRST Malone are all owner operator companies. Out of those I listed, Landstar probably has more step decks, but any of them could have steps along with flats. CRST Malone and Landstar have open deck training, but if you already have some experience in that area, it may be minimal. All of those I listed will often help owner operators who are leased to them find drivers. You go through the same approval process as you would if you were an owner operator. All of those I listed pay percentage and most likely those owner operators who are leased to them and have drivers will also pay percentage. Daily is another company that utilizes steps along with other types of trailers including multi axle. I believe they are based out of Pennsylvania. Jones is another company that has steps, but I don't remember if they have company trucks. If not, you might find an owner operator who is leased to them. They are also headquartered out of Pennsylvania.

 

Check out Kaiser Transport, you may not be able to refuse loads (I think only o/o's can do that) but from what I've heard they are a very good company to drive for. If I were looking to get into that work they are who I would choose.

http://www.kaisertransport.com/

Here's a cool vid made by one of the drivers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2i_XQvmmDE

 

Since you've been doing the homework, and you've mentioned the only one I know that is heavy into Canada (according to friends that work for them) then ATS is your best choice. They have a lease/purchase that one of my friends there has, and he likes it...YMMV, so that may be a good fit for you and if you love doing Canada, they'll love you.
Plus they do/train you for heavy haul and gives you more options.

The other companies mentioned may work for you too, but it sounds like your more geared for ATS. The important thing for you to remember is that the best way to determine your own hometime is as an O/O or L/O.

Good Luck

 

Well if he goes to that company, he will be paid mileage.
All company guys are paid that way.
Then even on the share cropper program he will start mileage. Then later they will give him the option to switch to percentage pay on that program..

He will not be able to stay with a step all the time either.
They are famous about you switching trls....

 

What is wrong with a company that makes you switch trailers?

 

nothing, I thought I read he just wanted to pull step deck trls.
The other place if he goes there he might have a flat 1 trip and then drop and get a step.

If switching trls. means keeping you going for the wkend that's great.
Pulling one trl. all the time can also work or it can hurt you.
All depends on the market area you are in.
This I know all too well.

 

Maverick runs some stepdeck.

 

I'm running with Keim, and we are mainly flats here. You will get steps fairly often if you ask, but it's not there all the time. We also do a lot of Drop n Hooks, mainly at our bigger customers, ie: sheetrock. Most of the rest of your list is do-able except for a big hill climber truck. None of the medium or bigger carriers turn up for the hills. Unless your always out west maybe. The one big Plus, IMO is the big sleepers on the new 660's, you might say it's too big, but I'm not gonna say that.

So good luck making your decision!

 

Based on your list, I would suggest you check out Daily Express. They pull steps and just about every other type of specialized trailer. They run all 48 and Canada. They are one of the few large open deck companies that pay percentage to company drivers. I am not sure if you are allowed to choose loads. It appears they run decent equipment. Don't know about their idle/APU policy. Their home time would be in your guidelines, and they run a lot from IA & IL to Baltimore. You would probably end up passing through the house on a regular basis. I am not sure what their pay would end up, but I would assume you would be at or above industry standards.

Also, they have a program to move you from company driver to independent contractor.

http://www.dailyexp.com/companydriver.html

If you end up with your own truck in the future and are looking for a different carrier, let me know. We are looking for contractors along I-70.

Good luck with your search.