How do I keep and motivate good drivers

Getting and keeping good employees is simple: Pay more, treat better, good reliable equipment, and keep the wheels turning with predictable home time.

I would rate your chance at success at 0.1 %. The number one cause of business failure is lack of management experience in the business field selected. Number 2 is lack of money. Often number 1 causes number 2.

Honestly, if you do not have trucking, brokering experience it will be very hard to learn on the run. If you have never owned a business before, trucking will be a very difficult first one.

Let's start with buying the trucks, do you have a CDL? Can you fully inspect a truck? How much do tires cost? How about an engine overhaul? Make a mistake buying and the great deal just doubled. Used big rigs can be like big pythons; they can squeeze every last dime out of you. Even the good ones see a shop more than any of us like.

How about truck insurance? General business liability? Workers comp insurance? Can you even get it?

I think you need a better plan and some experience in the transportation industry. Don't want to drive; become a broker, a dispatcher, anything< but first learn from someone who is making it.

 

Hey Lonesome - first off, thank you for your services in the middle east! I'm ex-Army myself and have a full understanding and respect for sacrifice and duty.

I'm in Georgia myself, and working toward being a one truck operation under my own authority. I've got a few questions for you regarding a new operation.

Who's going to be running the books and keeping you on the up and up with DOT, safety records, etc. - this you need to know inside and out. For me, I'm looking for a management company to get things rolling. It may cost alot up front, but weigh the risk against return on this one. Once I have a good idea of what's required a few years down the road (and the first few audits are out of the way) I'll be weighing the cost vs. return more heavily.

Who do you already have lined up to work? Hopefully you have a few good drivers to get you started, as this can be the difference between the fast life or a slow death.

Before buying any trucks, do a LOT (tons) of research on specs and setup. The wrong setup for what you plan to do can be the difference between 5 and 7 mpg, or 95% uptime vs. 75%, and then there's the shop bills. Equipment doesn't have to be brand new to please the drivers, but it is good to have "owner/ operator options", fridge/ inverter, and good maintenance and upkeep is worth it's weight in gold.

The #1 thing any driver would expect is to be paid fairly for the work being asked, if you can do that reliably (no rubber checks) you're on the right track. This is what anyone expects when they show up to work, and should keep them showing up. You may want to consider paying a percentage of the load profit. Check out what other companies are offering to pay, and get your own figures together.

#2 would have to be treating people fairly and accurately across the board. Keep in mind you may get a bad driver that expects too much of the equipment, the pay, your patience, etc. and be prepared to "light 'em up". When a good driver is doing you right and making the company look good, be prepared to reward them (bonus or ?). Ask them what they'd like and see what you can do.

Just my opinions, and my 2 cents, anyone feel free to throw in. I'd like to add that I'm no mastermind, but I try to listen well and find common sense in what I hear.

Good luck and good business to you!

 

Maybe you should look into being a fleet owner for an expediter carrier . You'd own the trucks but the drivers would be independent contractors working on percentage . The carriers and drivers would be responsible for most of the paperwork . Another option would be leasing tractors to FedEx Ground to move sets of doubles between terminals .

 

Not legal and proper under IRS laws.

 

I, Would not even want to work for you.
You would have too of been a driver, Last thing I want someone telling me to do a job. That never been in my shoes.