Alexandria, VA — The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and CarriersEdge announced the winners of Best Fleets to Drive For — a survey and contest for North American for-hire trucking companies that, well, identifies the best fleets to drive for.

And the 20 Best?

1. Best Cartage – Kernersville, N.C.
2. Bison Transport – Winnipeg, Manitoba
3. Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc. – Clayton, Ala.
4. Celadon Canada – Kitchener, Ontario
5. D.J. Knoll Transportation – White City, Saskatchewan
6. Don Hummer Trucking – Oxford, Iowa
7. Erb Group – New Hamburg, Ontario
8. Fremont Contract Carriers – Fremont, Neb.
9. Gordon Trucking, Inc. – Pacific, Wash.
10. Grand Island Express – Grand Island, Neb.
11. Kriska Holdings – Prescott, Ontario
12. Landstar System – Jacksonville, Fla.
13. Motor Carrier Services – Northwood, Ohio
14. Paramount Freight Systems – Ft. Myers, Fla.
15. Sammons Trucking – Missoula, Montana
16. Steelman Transportation, Inc. – Springfield, Mo.
17. Tennant Truck Lines – Orion, Ill.
18. Trimac Transportation – Houston, Texas
19. WTI Transport, Inc. – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
20. Yanke Group – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

TCA noted some of the best practices that emerged from the survey — many of which those in the trucking industry may want to take note of, like the fact that more fleets seem to be offering drivers profit sharing as part of their compensation packages.

The survey also found that company drivers are driving the same number of miles and earning about the same income as last year. For owner operators, miles are also flat, but income has increased by "a scant five percent."

“One might think that as the economy improves, a driver might earn more, but, surprisingly, these statistics appear to show otherwise,” commented Mark Murrell, president of CarriersEdge. “Fortunately, the drivers at our winning fleets still have high driver satisfaction levels, as a result of well-balanced program offerings.”

TCA and CarriersEdge also noted the increase in fleets offering continuing education to their drivers. Half of the fleets surveyed said they offer tuition reimbursement for drivers who take accounting, management, or similar lines of study. Fleets are also sending more drivers to conferences and trade shows, and helping them earn professional accreditations.

The next stage of the contest is to announce the highest scoring fleets for two more categories: Best Overall Fleet for Owner Operators and Best Overall Fleet for Company Drivers.

These overall winners will be honored at the TCA Annual Convention, March 4-7, 2012, at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL.

TCA also noted five fleets that worth keeping an eye on for innovative driver programs:

1. American Central Transport – Liberty, Mo.
2. Epes Transport System, Inc. – Greensboro, N.C.
3. Liberty Linehaul, Inc. – Ayr, Ontario
4. Melton Truck Lines – Tulsa, Okla.
5. TimeLine Logistic International – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan