Based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, WTI Transport has been in business since 1989 and services the Midwest, Southeast, Northeast and Southwest.
The company, which has terminals in Mobile, Birmingham and Nashville, is a 100% open deck carrier, and they specialize in the shipment of building materials, roofing materials, iron, aluminum and steel.
In 2013, WTI joined the Daseke Inc. family.
WTI offers employment opportunities for company drivers and owner-operators. They also have a lease-purchase option for those who want to transition into becoming their own boss.
WTI Driver Qualifications
Regardless of which position you pursue, WTI has a number of requirements that all drivers must meet.
- Must have a valid Class A CDL license.
- Must be at least 23 years of age.
- Must live in the hiring area.
- Must have at least one year of OTR experience in the last two years (no flatbed experience required).
- No more than three moving violations in three years; no more than four in four years.
- No DUI, careless driving or reckless driving violations.
- No excessive speeding tickets in the last three years.
- Must pass the physical agility test.
WTI will consider applicants with a felony conviction, and all potential drivers will be subject to a background check.
The carrier also likes to hire military vets, and will provide flatbed training to potential drivers.
WTI Pay and Benefits Information
WTI uses a different pay structure than most other carriers. Whether you work as a company driver or an owner operator, WTI pays on a percentage basis.
Company Drivers
OTR drivers receive 28%. Drivers who want to be home every weekend will receive 26%. All drivers are paid weekly.
The transport company says the highest paid flatbed company drivers earned $60,000 last year. Salary information from Indeed shows that truck drivers earn $42,920 per year (based on three salaries).
Company drivers can also join the Daseke Employee Stock Awards Program, which provides $4,000 in Daseke Stock Units (vest 20% annually) on the Grant Date. The program allows drivers to earn ownership in Daseke’s companies, which now owns WTI.
Employees also take advantage of a number of benefits, including:
- Medical, vision, dental and life insurance
- Layover pay
- 401(k)
- Rider program
- Home time on the weekends
- Deadhead pay
- Driver referral program
- Paid time off after one year
- Short-term disability
- Drivers can take their trucks home
- $2,000 sign-on bonus
- DirectTV in cab
- $100 for clean roadside inspections
Owner Operators
Just like company drivers, owner operators are compensated on a percentage basis. The percentage depends on whether you come with just a tractor, or a tractor and a trailer.
- Owner operators with a tractor only will earn 70% of gross revenue.
- Owner operators with a tractor and trailer will earn 77% of gross revenue.
Owner operators also enjoy a number of benefits, including:
- Option to purchase medical, vision and dental insurance
- No force, centralized dispatch
- Paid weekly or on demand
- 100% paid fuel surcharge
- Short haul, long haul or regional available
- Base plate program
- Pre-pass program
- Home on weekends
- $2,000 sign-on bonus
- Rider program
- Expert fuel program
- Paid fuel taxes
- Discounts on tires, maintenance, fuel and parts
Lease Purchase Program
For drivers interested in becoming their own boss, WTI has a lease purchase program that will get you into your own truck.
WTI’s lease purchase program offers the following:
- 100% fuel surcharge
- No money down
- No force dispatch
- No balloon payment
- $2,000 sign-on bonus
- Low-cost insurance options
- Expert fuel program (saves you up to 43 cents per gallon)
Flatbed Training
Drivers who have at least one year of OTR driving experience can receive flatbed training from WTI.
The company will pay for all hotel and travel accommodations during training. Drivers get their own hotel room.
Once the training is complete, drivers will be able to sign on as a company driver earning 28% (OTR) or 26% (regional) of gross revenue.
What WTI Drivers are Saying
Is WTI a good company to work for?
That depends on who you ask.
Naturally, the company’s website features glowing reviews about working for WTI. The main “Drive for WTI” page features comments from a driver who has been with the company for 24 years. The driver says he is paid well and treated with respect. He also says he gets home nearly every day.
Another driver praised the company’s percentage-based pay model, and says he gets paid more for running less miles.
On Indeed.com, WTI has a 3.3 out of 5 stars rating based on just six reviews. Because the review pool is small, it’s hard to make an accurate judgment as to whether this is a good company to work for.
Drivers who left reviews had mixed feelings. Some say they were treated poorly and that the pay was low. Others said WTI is a great company to work for if you’re not afraid of hard work.
Another reviewer was allegedly laid off because of refusal to relocate. Another was unhappy because of the long hours: 7-5 daily and on call after work hours.
There’s also one complaint about the company on Rip Off Report. The complainant says the company sold him a truck with a blown head gasket, and that WTI would not fix the truck.
It’s important to remember that people who have negative experiences are far more likely to leave reviews about employers online.
WTI has been in business for more than two decades, they’re a financially stable company and they have plenty of work. The best way to find out if the company is good fit for you is to apply, attend orientation and give it a try.