King of the Road Survey

The majority of Atlas Van Lines Professional Van Operators (PVOs) spend more than 40 weeks on the road every year. To learn more about our experienced PVOs and their lives on the road, we conduct our King of the Road Survey. This year, 363 responses from Atlas van operators across North America were received, representing 42 states in the U.S. and seven Canadian provinces.

The survey provides insights into PVOs’ favorite brands, highway essentials, use of technology and how they stay fit while on the road.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR’S KING OF THE ROAD SURVEY INCLUDE:

Drivers are health-conscious and eco-friendly.

Seventy-six percent of PVOs surveyed said they exercise while on the road by moving furniture, while 30% walk, run or do other forms of exercise while at truck stops. Also, PVOs are making healthy eating choices while on the road. Eighty percent of PVOs choose to drink water throughout the day over sugary drinks such as teas, sports drinks, juices and sodas. Fresh fruit was the top choice for a favorite snack while on the road (49%), followed by peanuts/mixed nuts (44%) which jumped from an occasional write-in to 22% in 2009. Chick-fil-A dethroned Subway in 2018 and is the clear favorite fast food restaurant again among Atlas PVOs in 2020 (47%), where they can make healthy choices such as grilled chicken sandwiches, wraps and market salads.
 
With environmental care continuing to be an increasingly important responsibility, PVOs and Atlas agents are doing their part to be environmentally friendly wherever they are working. Fifty-three percent of PVOs are limiting unnecessary idling at a standstill, while another 39% are using Prepass/EZ Pass/Best Pass to reduce emissions. See how Atlas agents are taking action for a sustainable future at atlasvanlines.com/move-green.

Drivers are connected through technology.

In addition to using the latest and greatest tools, PVOs are also employing technology to stay more connected to work, family and friends while on the road. A new question this year asked about the favorite social media platforms of PVOs and Facebook is the clear winner (71%) followed by YouTube (39%) and Instagram (25%). The majority of PVOs are accessing email daily (94%) and the internet (93%) daily, similar to 2016 and 2018 but significantly above prior years). With many PVOs spending 40 weeks or more on the road, today’s technological advances are helping them stay connected—no matter their geographic location.

Favorite brands and other highway essentials include:

• Best coffee: Starbucks
• Favorite fast food restaurant: Chick-fil-A
• Favorite hotel chain: Comfort Inn
• Best truck stop chains: Flying J & Pilot (tied)
• Favorite on-the-road snack: Fresh fruit
• Favorite on-the-road music genre: Talk/news/sports radio
• Best tires: Michelin
• Most-used motor oil: Shell Rotella
• Best tractor: Kenworth
• Favorite grocery store/supermarket: Walmart
• Most common-used smartphone: Apple
• Most common-used cell service/network provider: Verizon

The King of the Road Survey results are revealed in conjunction with Atlas Van Lines’ annual driver appreciation event, known as BRAVO (Boosting Recognition of Atlas Van Operators). This three-day event takes place at participating Atlas agencies around the United States and Canada and recognizes the hardworking drivers who travel across the country and interact with Atlas Van Lines’ customers on a daily basis.