TCA Announces 2010 Best Fleets to Drive For

Alexandria, VA - January 26, 2010- The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), in conjunction with CarriersEdge, and official media partners Ramp Media Group and Over The Road Canada, is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Best Fleets to Drive For survey and contest:

• Bison Transport, Winnipeg, MB
• Boyd Bros. Transportation, Clayton, AL
• Brian Kurtz Trucking, Breslau, ON
• CalArk Trucking, Mabelvale, AR
• Central Hauling, Mabelvale, AR
• Coastline Transport, Fowler, CA
• Con-Way Truckload, Joplin, MO
• Dart Transit Company, Eagan, MN
• Don Hummer Trucking, Oxford, IA
• Kennesaw Transportation, Rydal, GA
• Laidlaw Carriers Van, Guelph, ON
• MacKinnon Transport, Guelph, ON
• Melton Truck Lines, Tulsa, OK
• MSM Transportation, Bolton, ON
• Schneider National, Green Bay, WI
• Shulist Trucking, Maple, ON
• Yanke Group of Companies, Saskatoon, SK

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.

“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.”

Murrell said 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 stated.

In addition to industry trends, the survey also provided a glimpse into some of the most innovative programs carriers are operating to recruit and retain drivers. Notable company initiatives include Don Hummer Trucking’s quilting club, through which drivers fill some idle time making quilts that are later raffled or donated to charity, Bison Transport’s extensive corporate intranet, which allows drivers’ family members to login and see their satellite position, Boyd Bros. Transportation’s seasonally adjusted mileage-based bonus program, and Kennesaw Transportation’s starting pay program, which is based on the driver’s longevity at his previous employer.

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, February 28 – March 3, 2010, at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About TCA
TCA is the only national trade association whose collective sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry. The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal container carriers operating in the 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Representing operators of more than 200,000 trucks, which collectively produce annual revenue of more than $20 billion, TCA is an organization tailored to specific truckload carrier needs.

About CarriersEdge
CarriersEdge is the leading provider of online driver quality improvement solutions. Comprised of online testing, training and reporting tools, along with expert business analysis and consulting services, CarriersEdge allows trucking companies to improve business performance by improving driver quality, and do so without the compromises required by traditional alternatives.

About Ramp Media Group
RAMP Media Group, with main offices in Atlanta, Georgia, is best known as the originator of the digest size driver recruitment magazine and as the publisher of OTR - Over the Road Magazine, Pro Trucker Magazine, and Inside Trucking Online. RAMP is also well-known as a leader in nationwide efforts to improve the health of the professional driver population and is proud to serve as a Platinum Sponsor of the Healthy Trucking Association of America (HealthyTruck.org).

About Over The Road
Over The Road is Canada's leading recruiting & retention solutions company comprised of outreach mediums such as Over the Road Magazine (National), Destination: Emploi Camionnage (French), Truck Post (Western Canada), and several truck stop marketing services. Over the Road's newest offering is Infinit-i Solutions which is a web based platform that provides training (videos) and internal communications with a complete tracking and reporting system.