What Could A Company Offer To truckers To get You To WANT To Work For Them?

Actually the truth is so simple, but most companies never get it.

Honesty is key as has been said here.

Everyone here knows that the trucking industry is very competitve. So you can never in honesty say you have the best program. Every day of every week some company is changing their program to attract new drivers. Tomorrow's better program is today's second rate. So be up front and honest with drivers. We know other companies will offer better pay/home time and such sometimes. But retention is important. For that reason be willing to adapt your program to the ever changing market. When it grows stagnant your drivers will leave. Honestly tell them your driver program is something you are working on. That you want their input and feedback. And honestly listen to what they tell you. If you make your current drivers happy, they will not only stay but word of mouth will bring in new drivers for you. Ever notice how little the top companies really have to advertise?

Listen to your guys, not us we dont work for you. We can tell you the basics. But we cant assess your curent program and tell you what to adjust. Even if we did there may be things we dont know of, a rude dispatcher, an un/under prepared FM, all sorts of things. Thats why I really say ask the guys you have now. Priority #1 should be to make them happy. But make sure they know that the program is ALWAYS open for change and their input is ALWAYS welcome. When you stop listening to them.....the company across the street didnt stop listening.

If your current program stinks, be honest with them. Tell them you know that and want to improve. The more they know you care about retention the more they will be willing to give you that extra input and go the extra mile for you. If you think you have the best program out there, be honest, be listen to feedback.

At the same time realize that not every driver is going to be as honest with you as you deserve. Some will take advantage. The simple fix to that is be honest.....when you say "you dont work here anymore"! Keep your good guys, let the trouble makers go. Most drivers dont want to abuse a company, just get along well within their guidelines. Home time is diff for everyone. Some want home every night, others dont care if they only get home for Christmas. So that wont make or break you IF you just tell them up front what your policy really is. Pay is a key factor for most. But dont advertise that you are averaging 3500 miles a week if in reality you had one truck run that one time 7 years ago and have hopes to repeat it someday. Just tell them what to expect. My bills are lower than some, higher than others. I can work with therefore more miles than some, less than others. But when I sign on I expect to get close to what you tell me I can. If I cant live on what you tell me then I simply wouldnt apply. Therefore we come right back to honesty. You mislead me in an ad, with a recruiter or anything else odds are I wont be happy in a few months and will likely be talking to your competitors. That isnt good for you or for me. So even if recruiting is slow, just take your time and find drivers that can work within what you offer.

Therefore in all honesty I cant tell you for certain what would make drivers sign with you. We are individuals each with diff wants and needs. To that end I dont think there is a real sure fire fit all answer. We all want more miles a week than DOT allows, and to be able to be home every night. The reality of it is that isnt practial. So a company that inflates its ads to claim things like that will usually only attract the most desperate drivers, and even they wont stay long. What we need is to be home often enough to enjoy our lives, and be in the truck enough to make a comfortable living. That is diff for everyone.

Remember the guys running your trucks up and down the roads are real people. Not just a dot on your GPS. Treat em with the same respect, dignity and honesty that you wish them to treat you with and you WILL find enough drivers to make your fleet work.

 

100% honesty

A minimum salary statement...up front. If other words, I want you to promise you won't SIT me (unless it is at my house), when it benefits you. IE Saves you $4...cost me $200

$1600 per week for OTR minimum.
$1100 per week regional, with 2 days off.

For OTR drivers 2 days off for every 6 worked. Most won't take them...but offer it anyway.

Allow days off to be banked.

No BS dispatchers ... Dispatchers that DO their JOB, and part of that job means looking for loads BEFORE I arrive at my delivery. Not after.

Additionally:
Health insurance, holiday pay, additional pay for incompetent shipper/receiver BS, lay-over, stop pay. NO touch freight.

 

I agree with dance694u. Realistic detention and layover pay. Paying 25.00 for 5 hours sitting is ridiculous.

Dispatchers that understand the time involved in a truck going down the road. Just because it is only 300 miles, IT CAN take longer than 6 hours.
They think as 4 wheelers.

 

• Automatic Detention Time after 2 hours
• .45 cent or more per mile
• 2500 mile per week guarantee
• No loading or unloading, ever.
• Good equipment
• 3 week per year paid vacation and holiday pay
• No NYC, No California

 

I wonder how many companies might start advertising
"No California"?

 

Well really something simple as offering hotels. Or make the sleeper more comfortable:

i.e.,:
1) Light control
2) noise control---soundproofing
3) temperature and ventilation control----WITHOUT IDLING

4) provide on board shower and restroom.


Not to be insulting or condescending but if you have to ask, it's obvious you have no clue; Don't too feel bad(but feel a little bad)---you're typical managment.

I suggest you actually get in the truck and drive the thing for a week or two. Better yet a month. Haul loads, make deliveries.

Then report back to us.

 

Most trucking companies only want drivers to drive for them. The truth be known though it would be refreshing to be able to move into management as one gets older. Dispatch, Safety, Driver recruiter, ect could all be done by former drivers.

Think of it like this.....Anyone who works in an office has desires of moving up the corporate ladder don't they? Why is it that drivers don't get that same oppratunity?

Also a retirement plan other then the dredded 401k would be nice. Hometime and the way a person is treated by the company far out weighs pay in my book.