.... Give Chicago a chance, Foreign Owned but American Thinking

The escrow being withheld isn't necessarily a problem, but the fact that usually only places ready to screw over their drivers is. I would never put up escrow money as a company driver, and 3 weeks without pay seems unnecessary. You're only listing your red flags, and covering them up with a "don't worry about it if you're a good driver"...

You've also left out any real details of the job. Dry Van? Running area? Pay (and not just your "weekly average" that is usually a high end)? Accessory pay? You should be offering a pretty decent pay package to put up with some serious turn offs.

Just some tips to help you out, because your post looks like a nice person advertising a bad company.

 

Here's why you cant find drivers. You dont know how to run a business, I know you dont know how to run a business because you are trying to shift all of your risk on to your employees. That tells me you have no confidence in your own ability to make money and cover costs. We take enough financial hits as truck drivers already and no one in their right mind would accept more. I can name two dozen companies just off the top of my head that do not ask for any of the things you require and judging by the way you are trying to cover potential risk I'm almost positive you pay no more than they do. So why on earth should any one drive for your company? If you cant compete you dont belong in this industry, too many #### companies treat trucking like a no risk enterprise because of relaxed labor laws. Its ####### gross.

 

Why in the world do drivers keep going to companies like this?

 

This is a prime example of why the industry is having issues. The driver bears all the responsibility, all the risk and in the end takes home a insignificant portion of the profit in the name of "escrow" "safety" all acronyms for BS.

 

Beyond Transport In your first post you say you can't believe that drivers would avoid Chicago. Have
you ever personally driven a truck in Chicago? Have you ever had to try and find a safe place to park? Have
you ever been asked to deliver at some of the older warehouses in town, small docks, tight streets, low bridges,
restricted routes, crooked badge carriers who only care about the money?

I have personally been in many different parts of Chicago many times. I don't care if I never see Chicago
again.

 

First
-Let me disclose here that we hold a week and half or two weeks of pay, and your pay is on the third Friday that you are with us, but we state that up front right away and definitely don't hide it.

Are you broke? I do not know you I do not trust you with that much of my money.

Second....
-Secondly, we collect an escrow of $1000, this is for a number of reasons for both of our benefits. If, in the worst case scenario, you cause an accident that is your fault or damages, or anything of that nature - guess what? that money is there and it is no longer a burden to cover charges. Again, if you decide to leave us that money is reimbursed to you.

Are you broke? I do not know you I do not trust you with that much of my money.

Third...
-Unfortunately, its just not our goal to have the newest trucks on the road

Are you broke?

Fourth....
-I think that this is reasonable. I can't promise you will be home every weekend, this is trucking and anything can happen! Bad weather, bad shippers, and in general bad timing - sometimes there is unforeseen traffic, sometimes your equipment might break down.

Let me guess....Broker freight, Chicago Broker Freight....Maybe reefer??? This is why your broke, you should avoid Chicago like the plague.

Fifth....
-We try to get you home approximately 7-10 days. I think that this is reasonable.

approximately??? would that be closer to the 7 or the 10? How about every 5 I think that's reasonable.

Final....
-At the end of the day we understand that this is not an easy job, and most of the time it feels very under appreciated. We try to do the best we can, but I am having a seriously hard time of finding good qualified drivers and I just don't understand why that is. Am I being unreasonable? What's missing that I am not catching?

Its because you are judged by your customers, if they suck so do you and if your hauling a lot of cheap and heavy robinson freight they suck trust me. Also, I have no interest in financing your company for you through my paycheck and escrow, run your own business do not expect me to do it for you.

Sorry, not even on a bet. You should just sell your trucks and buy a convenient store or something. Oh and by the way [h=2]Foreign Owned but American Thinking[/h]aint helping you any.....

 

I am sorry some people here are rude to you. You don't deserve that.
If you are not attracting drivers, that is because your compensation is not quite competitive. Wages have risen. You mentioned $1000/week in another thread - that is no longer adequate. You have to charge a bit more and pay a bit more.

An experienced driver does not need to work for less than $1200/week.

 

P.S. if your business model cannot fund a competitive wage in today's job market, there is an alternative.
If that is the case and I had your job, I would be finding ways to contact drivers who are recently out of school and still working for low wages at their training companies. C.R. England comes to mind. They are very cheap with their drivers and have a school/terminal in Burns Harbor, Indiana. You might focus your recruitment efforts there.

You may be in a tough spot - even "upper tier" companies are starting to do their own training and bold moves may be necessary for someone in your position.

 

Ahhh Typical... I can almost bet the driver can kiss that $1000 good by accident or not as soon as he quits, I put money on it. Been there done that No thanks