...and I should have known better. Things have been slow where I work right now due to something at our dedicated customer that no one can seem to explain. We, as drivers, think they either lost a lot of accounts, or they are moving production elsewhere. Anyway, our hours and loads have been cut drastically, so I began to look for a new company to drive for.
So, not far from me is a small company that runs regional. They are very close to the house, so I apply. Very nice people, and they tell me that they run out and back from their customers and the drivers are home every other night, or at the most, out 2 nights. Again, sounds good. They run older pre-egr equipment that on the outside looks nice. I fill out an app, and am subsequently hired, and am sent for a pee test. All still seems good.
Then, and this is where I am at fault, as I didn't do the research BEFORE applying for the job, checked out their safety stats. As it turns out they are pretty bad. Their HOS Compliance exceeds the federal threshold, sitting at 90.7%, and their vehicle maintenance is close to exceeding the threshold at 69%. Over half of their roadside inspections produced some kind of violation, and over half of THOSE violations were serious enough to place the truck and/or driver out of service.
For anyone that doesn't understand, those percentage numbers indicate that that percentage of companies has a BETTER rating then the one indicated. To me, the 90.7% on the HOS tells me that they either allow or require that a driver routinely violate the regs in order do deliver freight on time. Either way, I don't plan to work for this company, and now have to call them and tell them I'm not interested in driving for them.
Moral of the story for any of the newer drivers out there. Make sure you exercise "due diligence" and check out the company before you apply and interview. They may not be what you thought they'd be. With 14 years experience, I should have known better. I'm just glad I found it out prior to actually getting behind the wheel and working for these people.
For anyone who doesn't know where to start, here is a link...
http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms/
Almost made a bad mistake...
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Voyager1968, Jan 14, 2013.
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