ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The Truckload Carriers Association has opened up nominations for their popular Best Fleets to Drive For survey once again.

The survey-slash-contest requires owner-operators and company drivers to nominate the fleets they drive for — that’s not only a good way to get on your boss’s good side, it could also be good for your paycheck as the annual driver pay at past finalists has risen by at least 10 percent over the past five years.

But it ain’t no pick-a-winner-out-of-the-hat type contest.

After a company is nominated and chooses to continue with the survey and contest, its “policies and processes are scrutinized, from benefits and professional development, to driver and community support, to safety record and company culture,” TCA explained.

Last year’s Best Overall Fleet for Company Drivers was Grand Island Express out of Nebraska. According to Grand Island President Tom Pirnie, the competition “forces a carrier to examine, in depth, its recruiting, HR policies, procedures and benefits. A review of maintenance and safety practices and results is also necessary.”

And that’s a good thing, even if you don’t win. “The whole process will give you a benchmark as to how you compare to your competition. It will bring positive change to your company,” Pirnie said. “The competition can supply renewed energy and focus on company improvements. Setting goals and working on improvements can upgrade the communications and morale of all the associates, including the drivers themselves. Winning or placing in the top 20 creates company pride and unity.”

The deadline to nominate your company is November 1, 2013, and you can get the forms here.

And don’t forget about the all-Canadian version of Best Fleets to Drive For, expected sometime in 2014.