Founded in 1932, Ruan Transportation started out hauling gravel around Iowa. Today, nearly nine decades later, the company is run by the third generation of the Ruan family. The company continues to focus on research and innovations.
Ruan provides Managed Transportation, Dedicated Contract Transportation and Value-added Warehousing. The company employs more than 6,000 team members across 300 operations.
Ruan Transportation Management Systems offers driving positions across the country in their Dedicated Contract Transportation unit.
Minimum company driver requirements include:
Must be at least 22 years of age
Must have a valid CDL
Have at least one year of verifiable tractor-trailer experience in the last 36 months
No more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years
No more than 1 DOT recordable preventable accident within the last 3 years
Ruan’s guiding principles are:
Safety focused
People first
Customer satisfaction
Exceptional performance
Driving Positions
Ruan has seven driving positions to choose from:
Dedicated Truck Driving Positions
The vast majority of Ruan driving positions (94%) are dedicated positions. Drivers in this position enjoy:
Consistent schedules
More home time
A dedicated customer
Familiar routes
Team Driving
Join a team to get more miles and earn more money. Ruan prefers drivers to choose partners they are familiar with and feel comfortable driving with.
Dry Van Drivers
Transport goods, including non-perishables, in a single trailer. Dry van positions typically have no-touch freight and will require a Class A CDL license.
Food Grade Tanker Trucks
Drive food grade tanker trucks designed to haul liquid food. The most common food item hauled is milk, but other items may be transported in hollow metal tubes. Drivers in this department must have a tanker endorsement and a Class A CDL.
Local
Drivers in this department are home daily. They run five days a week and have two consecutive days off each week. Freight is hauled within a day’s drive of home.
Hazmat Drivers
Drivers transport hazardous materials with a focus on safety. Drivers must obtain a hazmat endorsement as well as a Class A CDL.
Regional
Drivers in this department haul freight three to five days a week before getting some home time.
Professional Drivers are at the Foundation of Ruan’s Operation
At Ruan, drivers receive ongoing safety training and receive full benefits after 60 days of employment. Drivers are also recognized through awards programs, and 60% of drivers are home every night. Virtually all drivers are home multiple times or nearly every day of the week.
The work/life balance Ruan provides makes for satisfied drivers, which is why Ruan has a retention rate that’s four times the industry average.
The driver awards programs include:
Driver of the Year
Million Mile Awards
Megasafe Awards and Recognition Program
Ruan Recognition Program
Safety is at the heart of Ruan. The company was the first to implement a formal safety program in the 1940s. Since then, the company’s focus on safety has only increased. Ruan’s Megasafe program includes the Megasafe5 Rules of Working Safely and Megasafe7 Rules of Safe Driving.
Ruan Driver Pay
Pay and job duties depend on the position, although most drivers will earn $0.45 CPM.
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for drivers is $65,183/year, but other listed salaries include:
Driver: $87,640 (171 reported salaries)
Regional driver: $66,678 (659 reported salaries)
Company driver: $71,157 (18 reported salaries)
Local driver: $61,718 (64 reported salaries)
We can also look at some of Ruan’s job listings to get an idea of how much drivers earn and what’s expected of them.
Refrigerated (Dedicated Grocery) in Gastonia, NC
$0.45 CPM
Guaranteed pay of $1,050 per week
Home daily with consistent schedules
Gradual pay increases
Hazmat Regional (Hauling Batteries) in Kernersville, NC
Home weekly
Consistent schedule
$0.45 CPM, $22.5 for pickup/delivery as well as pre/post, layover and fueling
Average $71,000 annually, or $1,365 weekly
Hazmat endorsement required within 60 days
Team CDL (Dedicated Grocery) in Gastonia, NC
$5,000 sign-on bonus
Earn up to $91,000 per year
Tuesdays and Wednesdays off
No-touch freight
Dry Van in Statesville, NC
OTR position
Dedicated lanes with multiple stops per load
Drivers average 2,400 to 3,000 miles w/6 stops per week
Home weekly
No-touch freight
Holidays off
Average $70,000-$75,000/year; $1,350-$1,450/week
$0.45 CPM and $20/stop
Driver Benefits
Ruan drivers enjoy a number of benefits, including:
Medical: 4 plan options from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Worldwide
Dental (2 plans to choose from) and vision (annual exam, allowance for glasses or contacts)
Paid time off: Vacation, paid holidays and additional programs
Pre-tax savings plan: Health care flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
Short-term disability and long-term disability
Life insurance: Company paid benefit and optional coverage
401(k) retirement plan: Available after 60 days of service; company matches 50% of your deferral after 12 months of employment
Employee assistance program
Wellness and tuition reimbursements
Travel assistance
Will preparation service
Referral bonuses
Employee discounts
Sign-on bonuses
Driver Reviews
Ruan drivers are primarily happy with their positions, management and the company itself. Some drivers complain about management, but that’s common with any transportation company. Most are happy with the work/life balance, and many drivers have been there for several years (9 years or more).
Ruan does have a high driver retention rate, and that alone says a lot about the company, its policies and its operations. Drivers also praise the company’s focus on safety and the consistent work that’s available to company drivers year-round.
