Rider Policy For Various Companies

Hello everyone. I'm going to be going to a CDL school here in Michigan in about a week or so. Pay is of course a big concern for anyone making the career choice of trucking. My research seems to indicate most companies have fairly similar pay scales for the newbies, with fairly similar rates of increase, and understandably so.

With most companies being the same in the payscale regard, I think one of the biggest factors for my company choice will be the rider policy. I believe it was Stevens Transport said that adult riders are allowed after 90 days of solo driving with a $30 insurance premium. Most company brochures I read used words like "generous" and "flexible" to describe their rider policies. I was wondering what different companies offered, specifically, if anyone knew.

Tom, the simple answer is just call them and ask a recruiter.

But, just about all of them charge some type of premium fee. Some of them only allow immediate family members while others will allow just about anyone who has a legitimate I.D. Many of them have age limitations such as no one under the age of sixteen or something along those lines.

Here's another thing to consider when wanting to take a rider along. I'm a flat-bedder and a lot of the places I go to are very large industrial complexes like steel mills. Many of them will not allow a rider in the truck while on the premises. So, if I have a rider, I've got to find some place to drop them before I go into some of my shippers and receivers.

This varies from company to company. Some companies want you to have some experience before taking in a passenger. Others allow it from day 1. There's also the age restrictions that some companies have like Old School mentioned.

At Central we are allowed to get it from day 1 at a 1 time payment of 150$. But it all depends on the company.

Its definitely a question you want to ask a recruiter.

Rider policies are like wall paper, they change it all the time. But one thing to watch is if the fee for the insurance is WEEKLY, MONTHLY, or a one time payment. And I know you will miss your family when you get out on the road...but I'd recommend that you wait until good weather to take anyone with you. It may not be your driving, I know you will be as safe as you can. But take it from a wife of a driver who was a driver, and teamed year round. Its brutal in the winter, just plain brutal. And its harder on women than men, tho I hate to admit it. But in the spring....oh man....the beauty of the seasons and the awakening of mother earth will leave you breathless. Its a wonderful thing to share.....

Rider policies are like wall paper, they change it all the time. But one thing to watch is if the fee for the insurance is WEEKLY, MONTHLY, or a one time payment. And I know you will miss your family when you get out on the road...but I'd recommend that you wait until good weather to take anyone with you. It may not be your driving, I know you will be as safe as you can. But take it from a wife of a driver who was a driver, and teamed year round. Its brutal in the winter, just plain brutal. And its harder on women than men, tho I hate to admit it. But in the spring....oh man....the beauty of the seasons and the awakening of mother earth will leave you breathless. Its a wonderful thing to share.....

Thanks for the tip. I was hoping to take my wife out once the spring hits, I think she'd enjoy that and it might work best with our schedule. I'll keep it in mind, thank you.