How to compare two driver job offers without guessing

Make one row for each offer

Record the employer, terminal, route type, equipment, pay method, expected schedule and home-time commitment. Write 'not confirmed' when an advertisement leaves something out. An attractive estimate is not a guaranteed amount.

• Which miles are paid: practical, route or actual?
• What waiting, loading, unloading and breakdown time is paid?
• Is the quoted amount base pay, a recent average or a bonus-inclusive maximum?
• Where does the workday begin, and how long is your commute?
• Who confirms the final offer and start date?

Compare a realistic week

For an illustrative mileage offer of $0.60 per paid mile and 2,000 paid miles, mileage pay would be $1,200 before deductions and any additional pay. This is a calculation example, not a market-rate estimate or promise of miles.

Write down the expected total working time as well as paid miles. Include inspections, loading and waiting in your comparison. Ask how often low-mileage weeks occur and what any minimum-pay guarantee requires.

Separate recurring pay from one-time bonuses

Compare ordinary weekly pay first. Put a sign-on bonus in a separate column with its instalment dates and repayment conditions. Ask for the actual written offer rather than relying on a headline from an advertisement.

Check home time in concrete terms

Ask which days you can normally expect at home, where the truck is parked and how schedule changes are communicated. 'Weekly home time' is less useful than a clear description of a typical rotation.

Choose the fit, then verify the details

Rank the conditions that matter most to you: predictable schedule, time at home, equipment, support or pay consistency. Ask the recruiter to resolve the three most important unknowns before you accept.