To switch trucking companies the smart way, get your own records first, line up the new carrier's offer in writing, and only then give notice. That order protects your paycheck, your DOT file and your home time. As of October 2026, here is a practical checklist for experienced CDL-A drivers who are thinking about a move.
How do I know it's time to switch carriers?
Most drivers move for one of a few reasons: pay per mile that hasn't kept up, miles that dried up, home time that isn't honored, equipment that keeps breaking down, or a dispatcher relationship that has gone bad. A single bad week is not a reason. A pattern over two or three months is. Write down what is actually wrong, because that list becomes your filter when you compare offers. If your top complaint is home time, a higher-paying job with the same schedule is not an upgrade.
What should I do before I give notice?
- Pull your own records. Request your Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report. According to FMCSA's program, it shows up to five years of crash data and three years of roadside inspection data, and drivers can buy their own report. Check your Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse status and your state motor vehicle record (MVR) as well. New carriers will see all of it, so you should see it first.
- Fix errors. If an inspection or crash entry is wrong, you can challenge it through DataQs. See our guide on how to challenge a bad inspection.
- Check your medical card and CDL dates. An expiring medical card can stall a start date.
- Collect your own paperwork. Keep copies of settlement statements, bonus agreements, your pay history and any home-time or detention promises you were given in writing.
- Know what you owe. Review your sign-on bonus terms, any training or equipment agreements and any lease. See Can they claw back my bonus? below.
How do I compare job offers fairly?
Pay per mile alone tells you very little. Ask for the full picture in writing:
- Pay structure: cents per mile, how miles are calculated (practical vs. hub), and what is paid on top (stops, layover, detention, breakdown).
- Average weekly miles for drivers on your lane type and fleet, not the best driver's number.
- Home time: how many days out, how many days home, and whether it is guaranteed or "requested."
- Equipment: truck age, brand, governed speed, APU and inverter, and whether you get a dedicated truck.
- Benefits: when insurance starts, deductible, 401(k) match and paid time off rules.
- Freight type: dry van, reefer, flatbed or tanker, and how much of it is no-touch. More on this in current CDL-A openings and the job match quiz.
A hypothetical comparison
This is a made-up example to show the math, not a real offer. Suppose your current job pays $0.58 per mile and you average 2,300 paid miles a week. That is $0.58 × 2,300 = $1,334 a week. A new offer pays $0.64 per mile, but drivers on that fleet average 2,000 paid miles. That is $0.64 × 2,000 = $1,280 a week, which is less, even though the rate is higher. Add a $0.03 per mile safety bonus on the new job and it becomes $0.67 × 2,000 = $1,340, only $6 better, so home time and equipment may decide it. Always multiply the rate by realistic miles.
How do I vet the new carrier?
Look the company up on the FMCSA SAFER system before you apply. Confirm it has active operating authority, check the power unit count, and review its inspection and out-of-service rates. Ask other drivers about how settlements and breakdowns are handled. Be careful with carriers that appear brand new or that recently changed names, which is the chameleon carrier problem covered in our post on vetting carriers before signing. Also read how to protect your paycheck from carriers in financial trouble.
What does the hiring carrier have to check?
Under 49 CFR 391.23, a carrier hiring you must investigate your safety performance history with DOT-regulated employers from the previous three years, query the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, and obtain your MVR within 30 days of hire. Previous employers have 30 days to respond to requests. You must give written consent for those requests, and if you refuse, the carrier cannot let you drive a commercial motor vehicle.
You also have rights. You can ask the new carrier for the investigation information it received about you and, under the rule, the carrier must provide access within five business days of a written request. You can request corrections of wrong information and submit a rebuttal statement if a correction is refused. This is why checking your own record first matters.
Can they claw back my sign-on bonus?
Possibly. Many carriers pay sign-on bonuses in installments and require you to stay a set period, and some require repayment if you leave early or are terminated. Rules are set by the agreement you signed, not by a universal law, and state law varies. Pull your bonus agreement now and look for: the vesting schedule, whether repayment is prorated, whether it applies if the carrier ends the job, and whether you owe interest or collection fees. If you are close to a vesting date, compare the cost of waiting with the pay difference of leaving. This is general information; ask a qualified professional about your situation.
How do I leave the old job cleanly?
- Get the offer in writing and confirm your start date and orientation requirements first.
- Give notice in writing, and bring the truck back clean with all required paperwork, keys and equipment. Take photos at drop-off, and keep the date and time.
- Return company property (fuel cards, tags, tablets, uniforms) and keep receipts or confirmation.
- Ask about your final settlement date and what is deducted. Escrow, if any, should be explained in your original agreement.
- Keep leaving professional. Previous employers report on you, and the trucking world is small.
What are the common mistakes when switching?
- Quitting before the new job is confirmed in writing, then hitting a delayed start.
- Judging a job by the highest cents-per-mile number instead of weekly miles and home time.
- Ignoring a sign-on bonus clawback until the first bad settlement.
- Not checking your own PSP report and MVR, then being surprised by an error.
- Leaving the truck without photos or a return receipt, which makes disputes harder.
- Switching too often. A string of short stints can raise questions at the next carrier.
- Skipping the carrier's SAFER profile and relying only on what a recruiter says.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I stay at a carrier before switching?
There is no legal minimum, but many drivers aim to stay long enough to vest bonuses and show a stable record. If a carrier is not paying you correctly or is unsafe, do not wait out a schedule.
Will my previous carrier tell the new one why I left?
Under 49 CFR 391.23, previous DOT-regulated employers must provide safety performance history on request, including accidents. You can review and correct what is reported.
Do I need new drug tests?
Typically yes. Carriers generally require a pre-employment drug test and a Clearinghouse query before you can perform safety-sensitive work. Confirm the details with the carrier.
Can I switch if I have a few violations?
Often, yes, but carriers have their own hiring standards for violations and crashes. Know your record first, and use the job listings to see requirements before you apply.
Where can I find parking and fuel info during a transition?
Our parking, truck stop and diesel price pages help, and the driver resources page has more tools.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and agreements vary; ask a qualified professional about your situation.
Photo: Thomas Schilling, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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