Suggestions for Longevity Awards

Did you read the original post? They are talking about ONLY $500 why even bother. A spec truck is a lot more money than $500. A nice paint job is more then $500 depending on the color

 

Nothing really respectful about that response. However, when you have company at the appropriate level and wanna cut bonus checks to good company drivers, let me know and I'll come work for you.

 

Since you can't/prefer not to give cash or a gift card, just celebrate him. Bring him for a steak dinner and honor him. People like recognition, pats on the back, I'd even daresay some people like that more than money. Give him a nice trophy or something.

 

I don't know. A thousand or two bucks, or a truck that you basically spend you'r year in spec'd how you'd like?

IDGAF either way. But were I a company driver, I'd probably take a truck better suited to my comforts.

Personally, a truck is nothing more than a tool. I don’t care the make or model, if I can work the hell out of it, good enough.

Other guys appreciate other things, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

There are quite a variety of suggestions here, and they come from three different perspectives:

• Employees
• Independent business owners
• Independent business owners who have employees

I understand the tax challenges in giving cash that the OP mentioned, and as an employee I hated getting a bonus but having a large portion withheld for taxes, but there are legal ways to accomplish this if the company so desires.
The "$500-ish" level that @AMANDP said he/she could "get away with" indicates to me that yes the company recognizes a good employee, but really doesn't appreciate just how much a good employee brings to their bottom line. The distinction may be the difference between a company that views what they offer to customers as primarily low price versus those that can charge more because of a high level of service.They will view their employees through the same lense I imagine, i.e. how much is it going to cost to get and keep a good employee versus how much they can afford to pay that same employee. Semantics? To the company perhaps but I believe that the employee reacts differently to the two approaches, even if the gain is similar.

To the point of the thread though, and especially if the level of appreciation that @Ruthless mentioned is not an option for the OP because he/she is also an employee, I feel that @blairandgretchen hit on a good point, which is to give the driver something they will appreciate, but also try to give the supporting cast at home something that says " We as an employer appreciate the sacrifices made at home as well". This is difficult as a company policy because not everyone has someone at home, but a gift like an all expense paid weekend at a resort, or funds for whatever activity the employee enjoys outside of trucking go a long way.

So all this is to say that appreciation, in my opinion, should be both something that the employee will enjoy and appreciate while on the job, and something that the supporting cast can enjoy away from trucking. Doing this with a $500 budget is a challenge and will require regard for the employee individually, rather than just driver # xxxxxxx. To the OP's credit he/she is putting forth the effort.

 

I always got profit sharing cheque, it was issued week prior to Xmas. Varied year to year and based on percentage of my gross, over $1000 every year so there was some incentive to run extra miles

 

Yeah - I can read.

So does the 'spec truck' make the drivers any more $$. ?

 

No, it just gives you the option to drive a truck you like and make it your own. I don’t think a company is going to give enough money to make a difference.

When they give drivers money it probably never going to be big enough. $500 seems like a waste of time and even an insult for years of driving. You want enough money to make difference. So they will need to give drivers like $10,000 or some amount that drivers will see as a goal to stay at company for say 10 years.

You let drivers spec their own truck it might cost $5,000 more and it’s something other drivers will see every day as sign of the company is happy to have drivers stay 10 years and you get something extra for doing that.

Money is good also but unless it’s a bigger amount it could be seen insulting and how little the company cares about their drivers. Once you take pictures and give driver the money people kinda forget about it I think. The custom truck the driver spec will be seen everyday. The driver will probably enjoy driving it everyday

 

How about a steak dinner or 5 steak dinners at someplace like Texes Road House. I think if possible hiding the actual money amount is better. Because most people will look and say $500 that half a weeks pay or something. If you had 5 steak dinners you will be thinking the company is paying for it so get the best or biggest thing you can get.