Trucking News, Updates, & Back Issues

Smoker Craft Inc. is a boat manufacturing company, located just south of Goshen, IN in a town called New Paris.  They build small to medium pleasure craft boats.  They are looking for a few good men and/or women who would be willing to hire on as professional drivers in the capacity of Company Driver’s or Owner Operators.  The work is very easy and basic.  Driving the truck will be the hardest part of your job.  Smoker Craft delivers boats all over the lower 48 states as well as Canada.  If you’re able to cross into Canada, the income potential is that much greater.  Approximately 22% of their loads go into Canada, from East to West.

Whether you are a Company Driver or an Owner/Operator the job is still the same.  You will come to the plant, drop and hook and head off to your next destination.  Drop the empty trailer you hauled from the load before and hook onto a trailer/load all set to go.  All loading and strapping will be done when you arrive.

Some loads will be a single stop only; some loads will be multiple stops, but no more than 3 stops.  When you reach the designated dealer, you unstrap the boats; the dealer comes out and unloads the boats with either a fork truck or an overhead hoist.  Once the load is unloaded, you dismantle the racking, throw it into the trough of the trailer, strap it down and down the road you go!!!  Dismantling the racking takes no more than 30 minutes total.

You can run certain lanes you prefer, or you can be adventurous and see the US and Canada.  Because they are a family oriented company, they want you to enjoy family time as well.  Smoker Craft dispatches loads on Sundays and you’re back home Thursday night or Friday morning.  If those days don’t work for you, they can adjust your schedule accordingly. About 75% of our drivers are home every other night and 95% of our drivers are home on weekends.  For those who are not, it is because they choose not to be.   If you are a company driver Smoker Craft will work with you to take the truck home on your week-ends or overnight stays mid-week.

Smoker Craft pays for all your miles loaded and deadhead from point A to B and back to point A.  They also pay tolls, permits and border crossing fees.  They have enough loads that drivers have the potential of driving from 2,000 miles to 3,500 miles per week based upon your choice.

Company Drivers

A driver starts out at $0.44/mile, after 30 days it increases to $0.46/mile and after 60 days it increases to $0.48/mile.  In addition, the driver is paid a $0.02/mile safety bonus on all rates provided there is no freight damage or accidents.  The bonus is paid weekly with your regular paycheck.  If you have boat damage or an accident, depending on the severity of either, the bonus could be rescinded for 30 or 60 days.

Owner Operator

Smokercraft pays owner operators $1.90 per mile for all miles loaded and deadhead from point A to point B and back to point A. This is provided you have your own MCC authority and carry your own cargo insurance of $100,000. If you do not have your own authority or cargo insurance you can lease on at $1.60 per mile. We also pay a $35 per stop fee and a $50 boat return fee. In addition we pay a $50 border crossing fee. We require a minimum of $100K / $300K liability insurance, with a 1 million dollar umbrella Liability rider.

Drivers also also earn  $29.60 stop pay for every dealer they stop at and $35.00 pay for returning warranty boats back to the plant.  If the equipment becomes inoperable, the driver earns $16.86 an hour after the first two hours.  Canadian loads, the driver is paid a per diem for each day in Canada.  Smoker Craft provides top tier health benefits with dental and vision as additional options.  They also provide a 401k match retirement plan and life insurance and a generous vacation policy.  Payroll is paid weekly each Friday and direct deposit is available.  All trucks are ELD compliant.

If this sounds like your idea of great job check Smoker Craft out at http://www.smokercraft.com