Ever wonder what question's to ask a new company before signing on with them?

Keep this in mind a true contract works like this, you drive your own truck,lease that truck and pay for fuel. You are responsible for your own workmens comp,pay all your taxes and all of social security. and you get a statement at years end on your wages. THIS IS NOT OK< IRS has rules,if an employer tells you to sign a contract do not do it unless you are 1st leasing that truck,able to take and pick you loads yourself and be able to refuse loads when you want to,in other words you are running your own business, paying and getting credit on all fuel costs that you can deduct as business expenses at years end and quarterly,IF YOU ARE driving his truck with no lease you are not responsible for getting workmens comp insurance and paying all social security,he has to pay half by law. Alot of these employers owe IRS liens and make you sign a contract this is a shady deal,IRS and your home state employment office will make him pay your half of social security and there is a big fine for him not paying workmens comp for you.he has to have it. If you get hurt you will have to sue him,if you sign a contract you are screwed. THE IRS RULE IS THIS, if you drive his truck and he picks the loads and you can't refuse a load, and your not actually leasing his truck,you must have a written lease for him to get away with not paying half of your social security and taking taxes. Don't let this happen to you. You won't have deductions at the end of the year, you can get stuck with all the taxes and responsibilty on accidents,carg damage and all kinds of things,you could lose your house cars etc thru lawsuits. before you sign anything with a contract deal check with your accountant and employment office where you live or the IRS,you will do yourself well by doing this.

 

3. If paid by the mile, how is mileage calculated?
Hub miles____
Computer program such as PCMiler, HHG, etc.____
Dispatched miles____
Loaded miles____
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Good question Journeyman.
In my opinion...HUB miles may not always be the most miles (when it comes to these 4 ways), but, It usually comes to more than PC Miler, unless the driver has found some really great SHORT CUTS (In which case, it will probably make the trip longer in hours.) I believe HUB will be the fair way for all concerned to calulate miles driven. Unless of course, a driver has a habit of taking the longest way every trip just to increase his miles. Maybe a certain % percentage over or under the PCMiler calculations would be fair. But, please tell me...what company wants to be fair?

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I've used this same list but added/modified it with:

8. What is the company policy on fueling?
Driver choice of supplier____
Company choice of supplier____
Fuel Card supplied____
Driver pays & company reimburses___

Ask the company about their fuel network. How extensive is it, etc.? Also do they used forced routing including fuel stops? One company I spoke with had a bad reputation of calculating their paid mileage but not adding in the forced routing out of route just to fuel at a particular station. Same company is known to route drivers 100 miles out, unpaid, to save this money. Also ask if the companies contract with the fuel supplier precludes the driver from collecting in the "Perks" programs offered by the fuel supplier. Can't remember which carrier has done this but it has been reported. Those perks can really help you save some money.

9. Does the company pay for:
Layovers____
Detention time____
Canceled loads____
Multiple drops and picks____
Tolls____
Truck washes____
Trailer wash-outs____
Scale tickets____
Minor road repairs to equipment such as clearance lights, wiring, etc.____

Ask the company if their shipping contracts have penalties written into them for detentions, etc., caused by consignee or shipper. The company may advertise these but so many have been reported not to pay for it. When you hit a dock, and the trucks are lined up waiting for unload, it is nice knowing that even if your company is bad about paying you then hopefully they have a clause that allows them to collect as an incentive to shipper/consignee to make sure you are not last in line.

27. Are speeds governed? Yes ____ No ____ If so, governed at what speed? ____________________________

Also ask if the company has a policy on what average speed you are allowed to log at? One company I spoke with slipped and allow the trucks are governed at 70, they do not allow logging higher than 60 MPH. Not a problem most times but if you hit a long run, with 65 MPH legal average speed limit, then governing at 70 MPH means nothing. Also ask if the company limits their cruise control to a max speed? Have been reading where this is fairly common practice also to save fuel.

13. What benefits does the company offer?

On the subject of bonuses ask them specifically how they are determined, calculated and paid. Most I have spoken with based theirs on mileage amounts driven and one or two provided unattainable or unrealistically attainable mileage. Do a little math and be realistic about it to see if you could attain those mileage levels. Also ask if they pay bonuses monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually.

34. Opti-Idle? Yes ____ No ____

Ask what the company's idle policy is. Do they use APU's, opti-idle, etc. Is idle time tied into anything other than bonus'? Is your performance report based in any part on meeting the idle policy limits? If you continually do not meet the idle policy what is the company's policy for handling that situation?

Additional questions to ask:

Where is the company orientation held? Remember, if something occurs at orientation you are going to have to make your own way back. I have not spoken to one company yet that will pay your way back.

How often are orientations scheduled and when is the next one?

How long is orientation?

What does the orientation cover?

Most companies will want to have their own physical and background checks performed. Ask if they will perform these, and fully complete them, prior to you attending orientation? Does not matter how squeeky clean and healthy you think you are. If they perform them at orientation and dislike something you get to find your own way home. This is one area I am surprised at with companies. I have not found a company yet that would not describe their physical and background check process with their requirements for washouts.

Hope this helps!

 

Great post. Very informative and useful. Thanks for the health!

 

good info,

 

GREAT info! Thanks for the posting!

 

This will help out a lot when company recruiters come to TDDS to do there presentations for us, thanks for the info.

 

i made a spreadsheet to compare trucking companies. it's a 4-page spreadsheet that covers 8 topics (training & orientation, routes/freight, pay, equipment, fueling policy, hometime, benefits, and misc). got my info off internet, company's websites and brochures, and speaking personnally with recruiters. i have info on roehl (the company i chose), transport america, crete, schneider, cfi, kllm, trans am, and millis.

it was a huge help to be able to look at things in black and white, in the same format.

if anyone would like a copy, i'd be happy to email a copy to ya.

 

I'd like a copy bittersweet, Thanks