* Advice please * Welcome packet for a new driver

That is a good package. You have done quite well.
Not much more needed. Having a new hard hat, gloves and Hiviz as well as updated green book is also good.
Small flashlight and tire guage is good to.

The best thing is a clean detailed truck. Inside and out.
A new quality matress would go along way.
Sets the point of taking care. It is easier to keep a truck clean and clean and neat if you start with one.

 

The only coins you need are quarters. $10 will give you 1 to 2 loads of wash depending on where you are. That's the only time I use change.
A microwave is nice too, but I don't know how much you want to spend. Ours was about $50.

 

Where have you been all my life?

 

Sorry dude but my drivers get this .... ... .

that's it.

Seriously don't overthink this.

The problem is you should do more to shore up the hiring process and find the best drivers you can, then give them benefits being your driver.

I think the best drivers are the ones who deserve the rewards, not the crap drivers who appear to be the problem. We need to weed out the bad and promote this as a profession, not a job.

I have a list of things my drivers get, from OOIDA membership to discount cards. I make sure they get off time outside of the truck and even in many cases pay for their travel. These things go farther than a gift basket.

I also don't play the "we keep the sheets and crap in the truck because we are cheap" game. The trucks get cleaned out, disinfected and mattresses are tossed (I am very anal about that) and the trucks have all of that in them before the driver is even assigned the truck. New sheets are in stock, they ain't the best (no Egyptian cotton high thread count) but they hold up and get regularly replaced.

 

I for one would find your gift basket an amazing and generous surprise. I hope your new driver appreciates it.
Bottom line for a driver is miles, money and respect. I would say you covered the respect portion nicely. Demand the same in return.

 

Girl, it isn't about miles. I do agree with you on money and respect but there are other things involved.

 

You are right. I guess I've just got a little tunnel vision left over from my flat pay per miledays. I'm actually new to percentage pay and it definitely isn't about miles alone.

 

Yep I had that mentality from the old days where you had to make miles, there were no other options.

BUT that said, have to add respect starts with you, the driver, not with anyone else. If you don't respect yourself, don't expect anyone else to.