Five Skills Every Driver at a Trucking Company in Minnesota Should Possess

When you’re looking for an excellent trucking company in Minnesota to take on your shipping needs, it’s important to consider not only their prices and overall reputation, but also the skill and dedication of their driving crew. Make sure to ask about their track record for safe, on-time deliveries, and educate yourself on what makes a truly great truck driver. After all, many people can learn to drive a truck decently enough, but far fewer truly excel at the job.

Here are five qualities to look for in a driver:

• Reliability: Dependability is arguably the number one quality of a good driver. If a truck driver says he’s going to deliver a certain product in a specific way, and have it to you or to your customer at a specific time, he should be able to follow through every time. Of course, sometimes delays occur that a driver can do nothing about, but as much as is in his power, he should have a good reputation for delivering what he promises. Additionally, he should be able to trouble shoot situations that arise, so that if your company runs into a snag, he can come up with a solution.
• Self-reliance: Many job postings from a good trucking company in Minnesota today advertise for self-starters or independent workers—and these traits are especially important for any driver worth his salt. Think about it: an office staff works together in one building, and if they have any questions or concerns, they can get up from their desk and find their answer at another nearby desk or department within minutes. This is not the case for a truck driver, who is typically out on the open road by himself, and far from a technical support team. If something does not go according to plan, he must be able to react quickly to keep the truck and cargo safe.
• Up-to-date knowledge: Since drivers are generally reliant on their own skills and knowledge, a good one will make sure to stay up to date with current information on best practices for truck maintenance, shipping and more. That way, when they have an issue, such as a broken down tractor trailer, a big traffic jam or a change in their cargo instructions, they’ll have the means to deal with the situation correctly.
• Understanding of their truck: Speaking of breakdowns, an excellent trucking company in Minnesota employs drivers who can perform basic maintenance on their trucks in case of a problem on the road. Drivers should be able to keep their trucks up to the current safety standards and make their work environment safer for themselves and other drivers on the road.
• Courtesy: Even though truck drivers spend the majority of their time on the road, they must also be able to interact pleasantly with clients, and be able to accommodate their needs.

When you are trying to decide on the right trucking company in Minnesota, don’t forget that the drivers on staff should be an important part of your final decision. K-Way Express, Inc. has high standards when it comes to every aspect of our business, including the drivers we work with. Contact us today to learn more.