Is it really just a crap shoot ?

Hi LittleMissCabover, been a while. Been out on a long one? Yes,it can be a crap shoot, with disastrous consequences. Do you have gray hair yet, you will. Being in the business so long, and seeing the kind of driver's out there, when I had my own trucks, I never once thought of putting a driver in my truck. I had seen 1st hand, some of my friends that were ruined, because of a driver they had hired. Major stuff too, like fatalities, that cost them their livelihood, and ended up driving for someone, just to stay afloat. Don't despair, it's not all bad. I also knew people that hired a driver, usually a word of mouth thing, and had great success. ( Not as many as failed, however) I could be wrong (I'm sure someone will point that out) but it seems one has to have several driver's, so when, not if, 1 of the drivers has a problem, the other driver's can pick up the slack, and the company keeps going. Trouble is with 1 driver, something happens, and you are done.
If I were you, no, I wouldn't put on a driver and keep doing what you're doing. The lure of all that extra money you'll make, can be quickly dashed will 1 phone call. I just didn't want to live my life like that. Good luck on your decision.

 

I've seen the mega orientaions. I took the bus to Cedar Rapids. I went back home on the 3rd day. 95% of the all of them. The ones with cdl and those getting cdls.... would not last 8 months. That was what I told the trainer guy there from my home state. He argued the merits of micro-management vs guidence and teaching the old fashioned way. By giving the driver time inthe seat and showing him exactly what you expect from him. That way you can hash things out very quickly and you both know in short order if thats a job they will stay with.

I'm stubborn too. And I am very good at reading people when I meet them. Curse.. gift... either way I can tell inside of a 10 minute conversation, reading body language, facial expressions, how he carries confidence or the lack of it, where his loyalty and priorities lay. Things I need to know before any driver will set foot in my truck.

I want a driver with strong character over experience. I can teach experience. I have the patience. I am a pretty good judge of character and it has served me well.

Though I must admit that I am nervous hiring my first driver. I'll be entrusting him with my livlihood in my first truck while I'm on the hunt for a second truck if I havent found one by the time he's ready to cut out and go solo. So I'm going all in. Do or die.

Oh.. and btw... The driver I have coming next month wants to become an O/O. So I understand that in order for me to be successful.. his time with me will be temporary. If he does right by me I will do everything I can to help reach his dream as what the owner of my carrier did for me. Its like watching yours kids grow into adults. Eventually they will leave the nest. If you've done a good job they will be successful in what ever path they choose.

Thats how I look at everything. Some guys will feel secure and stay as a company driver. Where others may be a bit more ambitious and use me as a stepping stone to reach higher goals. All I can do is pass on what I have learned, try to be as open minded as I can and use what I learn along the way to make the transition as painless as possible.


So its all good from any stand point. Drivers will come and go. Good or bad... you as a company owner will have to accept things as they are. Forest Gump said it best... life is a box of chocolates.

Hurst:smt111

 

Hi Hurst, (cool handle btw) The last thing I want to do is rain on your car show. America wouldn't be the place it is today without people like you. HOWEVER,,,, I'm going to be 60 next month, and have seen a lot more than you have, and I'm not bragging, it's just the way it is. I want to use my years of experience to help people. I've seen people just like you, with high hopes, hire driver's that seemed perfectly fine, and they were taken down, for whatever reason. A driver is NOT an O/O, kind of like renters vs. homeowners, they just don't have the same ideas as an O/O or a homeowner. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you have a lot more faith in mankind than I do, only because of what I've seen in all my years. I know I won't change your mind, and it's not my intent, because I've found once someone decides to go for it (hiring a driver), they usually go ahead with it anyway, and deal with the consequences later. If I could hire an O/O to be a driver, that would be ideal, but O/O's rarely become driver's for someone else, because once an O/O, always an O/O. I wish you the best of luck, I do, but after years of seeing schmo drivers tear up equipment and ruin the O/O's lives, there was NO WAY anybody but me would touch my old Pete. And that's an old man, with years of experience talking. Thank-you.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4375643]Hi Hurst, (cool handle btw) The last thing I want to do is rain on your car show. America wouldn't be the place it is today without people like you. HOWEVER,,,, I'm going to be 60 next month, and have seen a lot more than you have, and I'm not bragging, it's just the way it is. I want to use my years of experience to help people. I've seen people just like you, with high hopes, hire driver's that seemed perfectly fine, and they were taken down, for whatever reason. A driver is NOT an O/O, kind of like renters vs. homeowners, they just don't have the same ideas as an O/O or a homeowner. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you have a lot more faith in mankind than I do, only because of what I've seen in all my years. I know I won't change your mind, and it's not my intent, because I've found once someone decides to go for it (hiring a driver), they usually go ahead with it anyway, and deal with the consequences later. If I could hire an O/O to be a driver, that would be ideal, but O/O's rarely become driver's for someone else, because once an O/O, always an O/O. I wish you the best of luck, I do, but after years of seeing schmo drivers tear up equipment and ruin the O/O's lives, there was NO WAY anybody but me would touch my old Pete. And that's an old man, with years of experience talking. Thank-you.[/QUOTE]

I respect your wisdom and experience over me. I'm not far from 50 myself. So make no mistake.. I didnt just fall off the turnip truck.

Hire a driver is part of a series of goals and steps I need to follow through with. 3 yrs ago I set out to get back into trucking and become a small company owner as my final goal. I'd like to be able to get out of the seat in 3 - 5 yrs and just dispatch drivers. That is my end goal.

So far I have reached various milestones with positive end results. It was rocky at first. But I am getting the hang of things and getting better as I learn more and more.

I respect your words of caution. I understand the perils of hiring drivers. And as you already know.. hell or high water, this is something I have to follow through with. If it doesnt work out... I always land on my feet somehow and I know how to roll my own truck. I'm a survivor. This is something I need to do for my own peace of mind. I dont want to have any regrets later in life wondering what if? So good or bad..... I need to know if I can push it to the next level. This is my retirement plan. I'm the kind of guy with wads of cash under his mattress, yet living a humble life style.

And yeah man.. you and I grew up in a time period where it was fantastic to be a kid. The things we could get away with. I wanted to drive a truck. 25 questions and $10 later I had a class A chauffers. BJ and the Bear.. Jerry Reed and Smokey and the Bandit. Days long gone.. but I still remember getting inspected and the officer asking me for my cab card and log book. Me... sorry officer, I havent had time to update my log today. Officer.. ok son.. well make sure you have it next time I see you. That was that.

Hurst:smt111

 

Excellent post, you obviously have the "grapes" to make it happen, and it probably will fall in line for you, just by the kind of person you are. Poor LittleMissCabover is pretty quiet, hope I didn't scare you. Listen to Hurst, he's obviously thought this through.:smt023 I was in no position to buy a "driver friendly" truck, and if someone ruined my old Peterpuller, I'd have shot 1st, and asked questions later, it was that cool of a truck. Irreplaceable. I wonder where it is today?

 

And here I thought you were smarter than that.

 

I was desperate. I hadnt been otr in 15 yrs.

But after seeing what I saw I left. I'd rather flip burgers then drive for them and trust my life while I sleep to what I saw at their orientation. Naah.

Where I ended up wasnt much better. Probably worse in many ways. Happy all of that is behind me now.

Hurst:smt111

 

I like to watch this for a good laugh sometimes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyUbfeZyZD4

 

Self analysis is important when making decisions that could effect your entire life.

Once you decide to hire a driver you will need to be willing to commit yourself 100% to what ever happens. You need to follow it through and give 100%,.. good or bad.

Show a strong firm commitment and your driver 'should' understand where he/she stands and what is expected. Try not to get on a personal or too friendly level. It can make business decisions difficult if you need to let that driver go. Never make it personal. I can hire someone I dont like, provided I am positive they can do a good job. Its just business.

Hurst:smt111