Recruiter (new to trucking industry) looking for driver opinions on the recruiting process. Help!

I prefer email, it has a date/time stamp, and the contents are there for everyone to read. A case in point, we pay you .46 cpm, but we are not going to tell you over the phone that you are required for the first 6 months to be on perdiem, and we charge .02 cpm. That means i really make .44 cpm, but I want the option not to be on perdiem, I adjust my withholding and have plenty of deductions, and I would rather keep the .02 cpm you are charging me. I could go on and on. Also the newbies without a CDL, that need to go to a CDL mill, most of the mega's will not send you a copy of the contract you are required to sign, they expect you to read it and sign in when they present it during orientation. I would not do it.

 

Ya basically it doesn't matter if you would or not, everyone assumes you will.

Another thing that might be getting in the way, you are dealing with the dredges of the industry. The best drivers already have a good job or own their truck. And if something happens and they need to find a new one, they know the good jobs dont advertise. And i would assume, don't use 3rd party recruiting companies.

 

So your main concern is getting people to commit and the rest is a byproduct?
That's easy....find out their need and meet it.

It might mean a lot of work on your end. My question is.......Are you ready for the answer??

 

I think a lot of drivers are unhappy. We tend to like to window shop other companies and see what's out there.

If i put in an application, the company will probably contact the one I work for to confirm no failed stuff tests or accidents. This means they now know I'm looking. If I'm not ready to jump ship, most of us would prefer that doesn't happen.

 

You're essentially a broker, a category of persons that "most" people in trucking have a very jaded view of. Many many many of us have been on the receiving end of a bait and switch, and we would prefer to limit the chances of that happening again.

"But I'm not like that, I'm totally honest, upfront, and forthcoming!" That's what they all say, frankly.

 

Are you sure it's not the answers you're giving them? Every now and again I go window shopping for a new job. I keep finding the same thing - there is no where that will be definitively better. Some have better pay, others benifits, others equipment, etc. Once I've weighted each factor and done the math I end up in the same place. What's the benefit of moving then?

It's also been my experience that third party recruiters are recruiting for companies I don't want to be associated with. I'm looking at you US Express. When I was in cdl school I was talking with a 3rd party recruiter of a "mid size company". Turned out to be US Express, a company that my school would not let recruit on campus.
In addition 3rd party recruiters have no real knowledge of the company they're hiring for. They know only what they've been told. Some of which would make excellent fertilizer. One whiff and your potential recruit is gone.

 

I find it hard to believe companies are looking for drivers. Cass Index shows upwards of 20% of equiptment is idled each quarter in some sectors of our Industry because they generate costs and without drivers or freight to offset those costs. My vehicle is a cost generator right now, I suspended the insurance on it until the funds are diverted to a certain amount so it can be properly repaired again in a few months. If I am idling my personal vehicle to build funds on a income that does not change then it's strictly a cost/benefit problem.

GOOD truckers are rare. You can go through 50 and maybe find 10 you want. The rest will either be sent home or burn out in 90 days like expected. The problem is our schools teach to pass the CDL test and Companies promise the moon and no one ever spends a hour anywhere with them at any time in the process to really teach them what trucking culture demands of them should they be involved in it for the first time in life.

Everyone wants drivers with one year experience. Or forget it. I suggest that the company QUIT being so stupid with such a filter knowing that 10,000 new CDL grads nation wide wont get a job for a year because your company wants it's OH SO PRECIOUS EXPERIENCE. Come on now. Don't be stupid.

Today's Generation wants to write two or three sentences on Twitter and be done. It's impossible to hire people on three sentences. Maybe it is GOOD that they quit on so light a task. What do you think is going to destroy them mentally when they are faced with ice for the next 6 miles on Breezewood Hill? Aww too hard, I'll quit. I did not sign up for this etc etc etc.

You would hire me in a heart beat because I am a warrior and don't need too much other than the revelant equiptment, payroll and forms to submit trips when delivered plus a stack of comchecks and prepass transponders. Im gone. Bye see you next winter when I come home after 10 months making money.

I carry a photo copy of 10 years employement. I give them to any company that wants it. Here you go. There is another 20 years if you want that too. Most new drivers cannot be bothered to sit down and list 10 years worth of broken quit part time work from the last 50 employers....

Again regarding websites... if you can get a driver to sit down and submit forms, Id's etc it only takes me a few minutes. But to a newbie sitting on the computer at home, they don't have that information ready to go. They have to roam the house putting together from bits and peices of paper, tax returns etc whatever the information you require. Then submit it. Forget it they say.

The Industry does not treat new hires very well. If I was a ATP air line pilot with 30 years experince being considered for your airline and you say you come down to our headquarters for the tests and paper work, it's a good bet you will issue a A380 and routing information plus crew at the end of that time period without any doubt as to actually GOING TO work.

Orientation fills with 50 people. 40 of which will be sent home. Why did we bother bringing them in all over the USA by plane, train, bus, car and hitch hiking? They don't KNOW that there is a job waiting. Only to be fired and told to go away on many things that are against them.

Companies bring in Immigrants from overseas with a Federal Program to be reimbursed for expenses to do so. The company would love to spend 7000 on the immigrant (After all we are a nation of immigrants...) then bill Uncle sam for a percentage over that expense as a profit IN ADDITION TO ONLY PAYING that immigrant .20 a mile because that person knows NOTHING about American by god Trucking culure and the .50 or .60 a mile pay scale that wait those precious few like myself whom survive 30 years. You can send 3 immigrants out in trucks and triple your revenue for the price of one of me.

As a driver to see non americans suddenly filling the fuel line wandering about trying to grapple with the enormous task of fueling and paying for a truck in addition to all sorts of Americanism we take for granted such as don't block the #### line just to get coffee.... Courtesy goes to the way side.

It is way easier for you to tell a Immigrant or NEWBIE in a few words as possible to go do this or do that. Try to tell ME to go do this or that, especially if it violates HOS, logs, etc etc I give you resistance and blow back backed by Federal Rules which I will quote chapter and verse while defending why I will NOT take this load. Give it to mr Turban he will gladly do it for you. And if the Law catches him your company can write off mr Turban by saying. Oh well, a bad employee so shameful and DAC him out of the industry to protect other Employers like yourself.

See where Im going? Im just getting started. But I think I wrote enough to maybe see where this goes in a good discussion. You wanted a driver view. Well Sir, you got it.