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Maverick Transportation
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April 2012
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by Amanda Jakl
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Category: Featured
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But driving a truck is about more than miles driven; it's a way of life. Choosing the right company can mean the difference between just a paycheck and a satisfying career. Steve Williams, CEO and chairman of Maverick Transportation, understands the difference.
With more than 1,200 trucks on the road, Maverick, and its maroon-colored tractors, is a well-known presence across the country. Headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., Maverick has terminals in Fort Smith, Ark., Gary, Ind., Madison, Ill., Middletown, Ohio, Green Bay, Wis., and Laurinburg, N.C. While Maverick made its name in flatbed, they also boast one of the largest glass hauling fleets and recently expanded into temperature control.
The Maverick Way
Williams started Maverick Transportation with just one truck and a dream: to change the face of the trucking industry. Maverick has continued to grow and succeed due to his vision. Williams believes in "doing what you say you will do with integrity, respect and commitment." Those values and principles are the foundation of "The Maverick Way," which has allowed the company to grow for more than 30 years. It's not just a catchphrase. Everybody in the company understands that being a Maverick employee is not simply what you do, it's your character.
"At Maverick we're going to treat you like we would want to be treated," says Brad Vaughn, director of recruiting. "We'll always be honest and upfront with you. We're always going to tell you the truth. It may not always be what you want to hear, but it will always be the truth."
The Maverick Way begins the moment a student is hired. Ed Tillman has been a trainer since 2009 and describes the welcome a new recruit will receive: "A student is a family member within a day or so of being hired at Maverick."
Vaughn elaborates on the attention each new driver receives. "[Students will] go through extensive hands-on training; they'll be given a book of pictures of every load we haul and how to secure it." It's not just the information that is extensive, it's the support system from the entire Maverick family that really stands out. All drivers receive a list of people they can contact if they have questions. Those people offer to be available around the clock.
John Wright, a driver for the company for more than four years, sees this Maverick philosophy resonate throughout the trucking community. "Maverick likes the people that are willing to help other drivers," he says, "be it other Maverick drivers or other companies."
Vaughn agrees, adding, "Something that we pride ourselves on is that [we] don't just take care of our own, but take care of the industry as a whole. Maverick wants to be a game changer, one driver at a time."
Pay Increases
Maverick recently announced a pay raise for current and potential drivers and on April 1, a new pay structure goes into effect. The company has raised starting flatbed pay and introduced longevity raises. Maverick also increased tarp pay, recognizing the challenges drivers face securing loads.
"We more than doubled our tarp pay," explains Vaughn. "Tarping a load is hard work. It's not easy when your tarps can weigh anywhere from 80 to 120 pounds and having to pick those up, spread those out. We definitely wanted to reward them for going the extra mile. It's something we've looked at for years and we're finally in a position to do it."
Maverick is a great place for new drivers to start. For students or drivers who feel they need a little more hands-on experience, Maverick offers an opportunity to sharpen skills and strengthen confidence without sacrificing pay. Maverick has increased training pay to $550 per week, up from $450. "Our training is top-of-the-line, we don't shortcut on anything," Vaughn says. Increased training pay is a strong incentive for those starting out in the business who need more experience.
Maverick wants to be a company that drivers want to stay with. At most trucking companies, drivers receive raises for two to three years, but at Maverick, all drivers receive a yearly increase out to five years. The company wants to reward their loyal drivers with a yearly raise. Vaughn says, "It's a longevity increase and that's the aim, to reward the drivers that stick with us."
Maverick rewards drivers who stay longer than five years with an increase in vacation pay. Vacation pay starts at a flat amount and changes to an average of what the driver is currently making. Vaughn explains, "You gain more vacation the longer your tenure is and your vacation pay increases as well."
Are You a Maverick?
Tillman, Maverick's 2010 Driver of the Year, points out that not everyone is cut out to be a Maverick. "I take pride in the fact that I'm a professional driver and that's the person we want to hire at Maverick. We want professional drivers, we don't want truck drivers."
Maverick makes it easy to find out if you have what it takes to be a member of its team. "Give us a call, check us out on the Web, even if you have just one question. If you don't feel like talking to a recruiter, flag a Maverick driver down, they'll be more than happy to answer your questions," says Vaughn. "We'd love to talk to drivers. Even if we can't help each other now, maybe we can help each other in the future."
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