Is it really just a crap shoot ?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by LittleMissCabover, Dec 19, 2014.

  1. LittleMissCabover

    LittleMissCabover Light Load Member

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    I'm thinking about adding a driver. I know about things such as : driver qualification file; insurance qualification, workers comp insurance, dac report, application process, verifying past job references, pre-employment drug and alcohol screening and DOT physical. The question is .... how do I know that I make the proper hire ? The 10/10/10 rule won't work, I don't think. IS IT REALLY JUST A CRAP SHOOT ?
     
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  3. Lowa3468

    Lowa3468 Heavy Load Member

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    yep, unless you are talking to a driver, that is already driving for another company and has some time there that you can verify, again still a crap shoot, but your chances for a better driver does improve.

    as far as work. comp. etc... if you pay on a percentage, let him pick and choose loads whether you find like 3 loads and allow him to choose one. you could 1099 him.

    if you can hire a driver and have the driver feel like he is a part owner may also go farther for you too. Read on here in one of the threads where someone was talking about splitting 50/50 after expenses. (Don't think that applied towards regular maintenance, or major breakdowns).
     
  4. Hurst

    Hurst Registered Member

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    I'm in the same predicament.

    Yes,.. its a crap shoot.

    The one thing you can do is to go the extra mile with your driver to get to know them.

    I'm hiring my first driver in January. I know him from another company I worked for. He is young,.. but level headed. Good character. But,.. still young.

    My plan is to team drive with him for a month or two and see what bad habits he's developed and do what I can to get him to run my truck, my way. The first week or two he will be on his best behavior. Thats a given with anyone. I want to make him feel safe and easy with me,.. let him push his boundaries so to speak,.. find out where his strong points are and where he needs guidance. If all goes well,.. then I let him out on his own. If not,.. well I send him back home.

    My other idea is to take some time off and check out some of the trucking schools near me. Speak with some of the staff and try to feel out which student is showing the most fortitude. Then as an O/O take one of them under my wing and train him how I want him to work for me. That way any bad habits are my bad habits.

    If you arent willing to go the extra mile for the sake of your business,.. then how can you expect a driver to have any respect for you? If you just want a steering wheel holder,.. lots of those posting up here on TTR.

    Thats how I feel about it.

    So you can roll the dice and hope luck is on your side,.. or you can try to sway the odds in your favor.

    Hurst:smt111
     
  5. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    We added a truck, and tried a couple drivers. We pay 30 percent of the gross of the truck the broker call me or my son first to say this is what I got. Once we say ok he calls the driver to see if he likes the load etc. Tried two different people like this, neither worked we are looking again. Equipment isn't new but very nice extremely well kept. Pulling air ride hoppers with vibrators etc. So yeah it's a crap shoot
     
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  6. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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  7. dca

    dca Road Train Member

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    Excuse me, curious... what exactly are you looking for ? (No I'm not going to apply)
     
  8. Boardhauler

    Boardhauler Road Train Member

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    I think it depends as much on the employer as the employee. Some people have the temperament & some don't. I know that I do not have the personality/skills/desire to deal with employees. I came to that conclusion after having as many as 12 at one time. I will settle for a lot less income to escape the responsibility & stress. And FWIW I think truck drivers must be the hardest employees of all to deal with, the job just seems a lot of people that are almost as stubborn as I am.
     
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  9. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

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    I'm going to agree with Boardhauler here. As a relatively new driver i spent 1.5 years with a company straight out of Trucking School and they gave the same justification for hiring newbies as the OP and Hurst. Because I'm new to truck driving i have no previous life experiences or tendencies and habits built up. It's rather absurd IMO.

    What they failed to realize is that
    1.I'm a type A personality. If you don't give me the freedom to run the operation as efficiently as i can We're not going to get along. I quickly like the majority of other drivers worth a darn grew to resent them and quit when i got fed up leaving only the steering wheel holders. If you micromanage i promise you steering wheel holders is all you'll ever keep and it will be your fault.

    2.Yep I'm stubborn and I'm exactly what you need. Your challenge is being able to work with a guy like me. It means gradually loosening up on the reins and giving trust and respect where it's due. Why do you want a guy like me? If you let me I'm going to maximize profits and run the truck just like an O/O as if it was my own especially since i would like to go O/O one day.

    Guys like me don't call crying when #### happens. We know #### happens and we deal with it on our own and only call when we have exhausted every option we can think of.

    Ex.
    -Road shuts down, I pull over and pull out the Atlas and get on the CB to quickly find a route more than once this last winter. Keep on trucking and the load is on time.
    -Having trouble figuring out load securement I do my own research and call my own resources and get it figured out.
    -Light Bulb Goes out I grab a new one and get it put on and keep on trucking. Same thing for Coolant lines and other silly crap.
    -Load has a tight window? i Plan the trip out and do what it takes to get it done or if not feasible I let you know before i pick it up.

    I do the exact opposite of the above when I'm being micromanaged and treated like an moron. I and many other employees will act like a moron if that's how you insist on treating us. I expect the first 6 months or so to be feeling each other out, but if after that your still treating me like an incompetent child the problem is on you.

    I know I'm Rambling and I'm a bit emotionally charged on the subject, but I think the point is Valid. It's important to realize when you make the decision to grow your fleet past 1 that you are now making a jump as big as going from CO driver to O/O. Just as your Business skills are put to the test when you go from a co. driver to a business owner your personal skills will be put to the test making this jump.

    We're currently in a strong Bull Market for Drivers. Retention will not be easy.

    I quit my job last month to take the rest of the year off along with being sick of my employer for reasons listed above and more. The day I quit I had 4 job Offers I declined just by letting friends and family know i had quit. I even had a local place paying over 60k a year working 4 day work weeks home every night I turned down because i don't want to stay in CA. Since then I've been offered several more I've turned down for various reasons.

    I finally have my sights on what is in my mind the perfect job and it has more to do with enjoyment of my work than anything else. Drivers need to make money, but for guys like me Happiness in my work is the most important factor.
     
    p47, Lady K, 123456 and 1 other person Thank this.
  10. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

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    Just as an afterthought re-reading your posts. I wouldn't recommend taking a guy with no OTR experience. Coming from a company with 600+ trucks that on average had 10 people in orientation every week they would be thrilled if 1/10 stayed for a full year. Every time i hit a company terminal their was a newbie quitting and turning in his truck. The Isolation and long hours take out a lot of folks in the first month.

    Let the mega carriers deal with the newbs. They can deal with the turnover far better than you can. Heck the majority of the mega carriers have high turnover built into their business model.
     
  11. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    The almighty irs disagrees with you. If someone drives your truck. They are an employee. You can not 1099 an employee. There is no wiggle room on this. Well, you can and the first time you are audited you are facing tens of thousands in fines.
     
    "semi" retired and bigdogpile Thank this.
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