Drive for a Company That Cares About Your Family

Every trucking company says it cares about family. This video is three drivers explaining what that turned out to mean in practice.

The clearest example is Brandon's. Before Doug Andrus, his family didn't own a home and didn't own their vehicles — they were in debt and struggling. Now they own a five-bedroom house where each kid has their own room, both cars are paid off free and clear, and the debt is gone. He also points at something smaller that added up: detention pay. At his previous carrier, sitting eight hours at a customer was simply unpaid time. Here it isn't. Gary and Suzanne make the same point about downtime that's outside a driver's control.

The other half is the part that doesn't show up on a pay stub. Drivers describe being known by name rather than by truck number, and having the latitude to be at a family event without negotiating for it. Justin Waagen frames it as deciding week to week whether to run or stay home. If you want the arithmetic behind those decisions, the compensation calculator lets you model take-home, and the driver benefits page covers the 401k match and insurance contribution.

If that's the kind of operation you're looking for, see what's open, apply directly, or call (800) 336-1034.

Video Transcript

Doug Andrus was built on a family basis. The grandfather made the company, owned the company, ran the company. So it's always been about providing for your family — but it's also mainly about your family. You want to be able to do a job, make money, but still be home to spend that time with them.

As a dad, you want to be there for your family. You want to provide a safe place for them. Being able to provide that for my wife and my children has been amazing.

We decided to drive together because we like being with each other. What makes Doug Andrus better, I'd say, is that you're not a number here. Everybody knows you. I can tell they genuinely care about you — they want you to be successful, they want you to be happy, and they want you to enjoy your life on the road. If you have something going on that your family's involved in and you want to be there for it, you can. If you want to go out and make money, you can.

They take good care of their drivers. The pay is good, benefits are great, and we've always got new equipment to drive.

With Brandon working at Doug Andrus, we went from a family that didn't own a home, didn't own our vehicles, in debt and struggling — to a family that owns their own home, a five-bedroom home where the kids can all have their own bedroom. We own all our cars free and clear and we don't have any debt.

Detention pay — at the other places that was non-existent. That's money out of your pocket. With Doug Andrus they take such good care of you that there's really no point looking for anything better, because you're not going to find anything that values family as much as they do.

The lifestyle we've got here is great. I wouldn't trade it for nothing. If you value family like I do, come check out Doug Andrus and see what they have to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "family-first" actually mean at a trucking company?
In this video it means three specific things: latitude to be home for family events without negotiating for it, pay structures that cover time outside your control like detention, and being known by name at the office. Drivers contrast all three against previous carriers.

What is detention pay and why do drivers bring it up?
Detention pay compensates you for time spent waiting at a customer's dock. Brandon notes that at previous employers, sitting eight hours was simply unpaid — the wheels weren't turning, so he wasn't earning. Doug Andrus pays for detention, layover, and breakdown time.

Can drivers really choose whether to work a given week?
That's what the drivers in this video describe. Specifics depend on your fleet and route, so ask about the fleet you're considering. Take the Find Your Fleet quiz if you're not sure which one fits.

Can spouses ride along?
Yes. Travel companions including spouses and pets are permitted. Gary and Suzanne drive as a team, and Brandon and his wife chose to drive together as well.