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We hear all too often on the news about another company laying off employees or worse, closing their doors. Unemployment is the highest it's been in twenty-six years! Since January 2008, more than one thousand trucking companies has gone out of business. And most likely, things will get worse before getting better.

As a result of the hard economic times that we're in, both company drivers and owner-operators are pretty much staying with the company they are with which means that over the road trucking companies are seeing less turnover. That linked with less freight, trucking companies now have the "upper hand" in the hiring process.

Most companies have raised the bar on their hiring criteria where as in the past, they were in a situation where they needed company drivers and owner-operators so badly that sometimes the recruiter would hire less desirable drivers just to get a warm body in the drivers seat of a company truck or an owner-operator to move their freight. Even as an owner-operator, you still have to meet the hiring criteria.

Before the current recession, a driver could get upset with dispatch, quit and his next job was practically a phone call away. It was not uncommon for a driver to have worked for several companies in a twenty-four month period.

Well, for right now, those days are pretty much over. Recruiters are more selective in who they hire, because they can be, and owner-operators are included in that. In the past, a "job hopping" driver could find work but it is not so easy now. Companies are looking more closely at a drivers work history and driving record when making their hiring decisions.

Now is the time to recession-proof yourself. You can start off by being a great employee or contractor. Getting along with your dispatcher or fleet manager is vital! Agreeing to take that "not so good" load and not arguing or complaining about it goes a long way. Make yourself the driver or owner-operator who is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. Being polite to the office staff and easy to get along with can sometimes mean the difference between staying on the road and sitting idle.

Don't be a complainer! Remember that a constant complainer often solves nothing but does get labeled as a driver that no dispatcher wants to deal with. Sometimes an owner-operator may feel that he can complain about loads and constantly turn down freight because he is a contractor and rather be labeled as a savvy business owner.

During my many years on the corporate side of trucking, we often said that there were two types of drivers: the ones that never come across your desk and the ones that constantly come across your desk. The ones that never come across your desk were out there getting the miles and getting the job done. They were the ones that you fought to keep with the company. The ones that constantly come across your desk are well known and usually complain about the same thing and no matter what you do, nothing is ever good enough. Those were the ones that you would not fight to keep on board.
Be the one that never comes across the corporate desk in a negative manner. Instead, be the driver that your company can count on to get the job done and you will most likely be one of the keepers in a time of downsizing.

Also, it is vital to keep your driving record clean. If you happen to lose your contract with your current company, it will be much easier to land another job with a good driving record. Exercise discipline in the 55 mph states and resist the urge to speed-you will eventually get caught.

A good attitude, a stable work history, and a good driving record are all steps toward recession-proofing yourself and keeping a job during these tough times.