New driver pay and other things

I hear the most amazing things from new drivers / trainees who are on my truck.

They’re all “hoping” to make $4-600 a week. Most have never made more than $700 a week in any job in their life. These are new or second chance drivers aged 26-60.

There’s part of the problem with company pay. I let them know if you’re only making $400 driving Western 11 you should be embarrassed, and look for work at a store or something. I tell them “sure you might have some $600 checks, but that’s a bad week.” Aim for $1000+ per week. They all look stunned when I say that. I mean WTF, and that’s why they’ll accept $450 a week during training.

CB’s and their demise I chalk up to trainers not having them. Since I bought one and have been using it, now 75% of my trainees have them when they get their own truck. It’s functionality is incredibly efficient and helpful. It’s nice to pull into our yard and hear people chatting away.

I really enjoy the new drivers excitement. I can barely describe their enthusiasm and desire to have a career. I mean some of these people are beat down like a pitbull and left in a ditch. I mean kudos to them for crawling out and giving it a go. They get my respect the old fashion way by hard work, good attitude, and competence, but I’m seriously impressed in their fortitude.

I factiously asked our head of training if they do psych eval on new trainees. His response was it would be nice... but we leave that up to you trainers and we both laughed. It was a good comeback.

Just a side note. These trainees that get flamed here and the TS lots mostly just want to know. They didn’t have the luck to be born into driving equipment etc, then they get a trainer who wants a mileage mule and bingo another bumper dies while parking. I use the sage advice provided here constantly and remind them they hold a professional license so they better act like it or it will be taken away.

Next....A trainee was mad at me about his pay. It was the whole gamut. Recruiter who wasn’t perfectly clear and a trainee who wasn’t paying attention. He got off the phone with payroll who explained it. but he was still worked up and began to aggressively talk to me asking “what I was going to do about it”. I asked him when he called payroll if I answered the phone. He said “No”, and I said “that’s right I don’t ####ing work in that department, I drive trucks.”

He laughed. He knew it.

I then let him know he was an idiot. I told him “who gets on a bus to a different city and then goes through unpaid orientation, and then after the first week finally asks what he’s being paid?”

So new drivers. Ask the recruiters the questions. Get them to write an email spelling it out and you’re golden.

And you salty old drivers. Don’t let up on them. They (me as well) need to learn. This ain’t no everyone gets a trophy job. This is trucking.

 

Thank you.

I appreciate all the professionals that have taken the time to beat me over the head. It actually makes life easier in the long run.

 

I’m going to get there. I want the trainees I work with to know they can get there too. No one is going to give it to us. That’s a good thing. Makes it more worthwhile.