Hiring drivers / Employment Question (for Small Fleet Owners)

Good employees do not need bonuses and all of that other stuff. Pay them a wage that puts money in their pocket every week not a wage they have to wait for.

 

I may be in the minority here, but I would say ditch the company events and just pay more. I already would be working for your company weeks at a time I am assuming and the last thing I want to do is be with you instead of my family. We can book our own cruises and vacations and be together. No offence, but I have my have my own friends/family and you're just a job, I have no interest in being your friend, you're just a paycheck. If you are a good paycheck, I will bust my rump for you however.

That's how I am though, others may feel differently. I like to keep my personal & professional lives separate.

 

The problem is lots of companies offer this extra compensation to try and attract drivers. If you want good employees you need to not look like lots of companies and stand out from the crowd.

You may very well have the best of intentions with your rewards. Problem is it looks like the same old bs that so many advertise.

 

What would make you work for you? I'm assuming you know the job, lanes, and what the customers are like. I'll tell you like I told my old boss who had to hire temp drivers because of turnovers. You have to pay a guy enough that he won't even look for another job. Being a company driver your always looking for more and better. I was in a good place for my old boss. I had a dedicated run leave Monday at 2 am and come home late mon night or early tues morning, then Thursday at 2 am and home late Thursday night or Friday morning then run a route on Friday night which was optional down to Miami and back and he paid me $1200 for my regular and $1470 if I worked on Friday. I had my own assigned truck that ran 80 mph. I left because he added to my regular run but didn't increase my pay. But I went to a company that paid more and had me home every night. The only way you should pay your guys is a true percentage. You may have to eat some of the early profit, but in the long run it'll work out because guys will work to keep their job because it pays. What are you hauling and how long are guys out?

 

Been watching this forum for awhile, first time posting.

To me the biggest requirement to getting and/or keeping good drivers is to find out what the
driver wants. Some guys like to be micro-managed, some don't. Some like long runs, some prefer
regional freight. Some want home time, some don't really have a home. Some guys like dedicated
freight lanes, some don't. Some guys want to run safe, go to certain areas; aren't really all that
worried about the money. Some guys it is all about the money.

I realize that the company can't always give me what I want. However if I tell my dispatcher I
hate Chicago and get sent there every week from than on, I will move on.

THe real problem many Americans company owners can't figure out is it works a lot better
to lead people than to push them. Do you actually have any OTR experience yourself? Would
you be satisfied driving your own trucks, going to your customers, etc. The best boss I ever
had kept the oldest pile of junk on the lot for himself. Said he only drove part time so he didn't
need a new one. He had a few customers who were such a problem to deal with that he would
cover that load himself, he hated to make a driver do those loads.

In short treat others like you would like to be treated. If you have a good thing going word
of mouth will get you what you need. If you are just another fly-by-night outfit, no amount of advertising
on any website will help you.

 

Its not ALWAYS the company at fault there are some drivers that will never be HAPPY as long as the are driving a TRUCK