If you ask Teresa Byes of Springfield, Ohio what she likes about Bennett, she answers very quickly.
“Because they’re the best,” Byes said. “They have an awesome reputation, and we just love the company.”
Byes, who is a driver for Bennett’s DriveAway division, started driving for the company about two and a half years ago when her partner was driving and got Byes interested. At the time they were also driving for another company, but ultimately, they let the other company go and now drive exclusively for Bennett.
Byes said there are times when she rides with her partner and then there are times she drives solo. Since she lives in Springfield, Byes usually starts with driving international trucks out of city, and then she can take whatever lines up with that. And what she drives can be anything from a bobtail tractor, a box truck, a straight truck…“Just about anything,” she said.
Byes said she likes being able to choose where she’s going.
“We have our iPad with us and we can look at the board anytime,” she said. “That way we can line up our loads and plan our trips. That’s probably the most helpful in being able to actually get us going and keep us going. ”
She also said she likes being able to take time off when she needs it without being pressured to take another load.
“It (the flexibility) gives us time to deal with personal things,” she said. “That’s something that not a lot of other companies offer, and it is a great benefit!”
Drivers and their safety has always been the number one priority at Bennett, and Byes said when she is on the road, she feels like she has Bennett’s full support. Whether she’s broken down on the side of the road or needs a hotel room for the night, she said Bennett’s staff does whatever it takes to help with the situation.
“I really feel like Bennett treats their drivers right, and they really have their drivers in mind when it comes to things going on out in the driving world,” she said. “I’ve had breakdowns and all kinds of situations out there, and I really feel like the Bennett staff has been there and provided a lot of help…and all the dispatchers have been totally great.”
Byes children are now grown and she said this is her time to get out and see some of the world. Byes said she can do that driving for Bennett. But then, she can also take the time she needs to be with family too.
In fact, she said she just took some time off to help a family member who is recuperating from surgery. What’s Byes advice for women who are interested in driving? She said it’s a great opportunity, but you have to take the time to get to know the system.
“Sometimes it takes some time to get a feel for how things to work,” she said. “You just have to get familiar with it and talk to the dispatchers. Hang in there a minute. Don’t just jump into the situation and jump right back out saying this isn’t working. You’ve got to give it time, and once you know the ropes a little bit, you’ll see that it works.”
Byes also added that with the DriveAway opportunity there are so many different things that can be customized to suit someone’s specific needs and schedule.
“I know some women who are backpackers and don’t have a tow car,” she said. “…Other people do tow their cars. (You have to) get out there and figure out what works for you. The total flexibility of being an independent contractor, managing your own business, and how it fits you, is I think, the best opportunity there.”
If you ask Teresa Byes of Springfield, Ohio what she likes about Bennett, she answers very quickly.
