And twelve years in, I’ve stayed with the same distributor because the 5:30 a.m. start, predictable pay, and health insurance beat chasing new apps every season. If you’ve turned a route into a longer-term path (trainer, lead, dispatcher), what helped you make that jump without losing the stability?
I moved into lead by asking for a weekly “acting” slot — covering dispatch on Wednesdays and training new hires on my light days — so I could prove it without giving up my route; it’s like test-driving the role. Did your depot allow shadow shifts or a 60–90 day trial? Track your route KPIs and one SOP fix you own, and get the acting rate in writing so the stability stays put.