Driver responsibility with the cleanliness of issued trucks?

The exterior can be handled via truck wash if it is a major concern. It's fast and easier on the driver to deal with. But, it sounds to me like you want to keep your costs at a minimum at the drivers expense.

The thought of washing the exterior of the truck after a 10-14 hour day makes me ill and fills my mind with dread. Driving is not a difficult job, but it is taxing to the body. If the driver you hire is compensated nicely enough for the extra work, he may not mind.

The interior is your right as the owner to dictate the minimum standards. Interiors shouldn't get trashedm but they do. Soda's, coffee, tobacco, cigarettes, food, and other unmentionable things are part of the trucker lore. When you hire the individual, you will have to judge what type of person he/she is and if you think they will take care of your equipment. One man's pig farm is another man's paradise.

My old company had a cleanliness policy that would fine a driver $50.00 if the truck interior was deemed "dirty". Ironically, you could always tell which driver was the guilty party of it.

So, in the interview process, ask the driver's handle. If Animal, Caveman, Pigpen, or Trashbin pops up, I'd just turn them down.

Just a bit of advice.

 

Every company that I have worked for required the driver to keep the interior of the truck clean. But every company that I worked for also provided for truck washes for the exterior of the truck. Whether it be the drive through wash, (that only does a fair to poor job) at the Knight yard in Phoenix, or the other companies who actually employed people to come in and wash the trucks.

I have never, nor would I work for a company that required the driver to do the manual labor or washing the outside of the truck. Now that is not to say that I haven't washed some trucks myself. I have, when it was filthy, and not convenient to get it to a yard.

But if you, as an owner, truly take pride in the looks of your trucks, then it is your responsibility to provide a means to get it done. It should be the driver's responsibility to keep the inside clean, and to make sure the truck is taken to where it can be washed.

 

I wash my truck once a week unless it is too cold outside. If it is raining I wait till I am out on a non rain day and run it through a truck wash. I personally do not think it is too much to ask for a driver to keep the truck washed. The employer has some responsibilty here also. The employer needs to provide a working enviorment that taking pride in the equipment is the norm. Have a policy that you want the truck washed 2 times a month. You as the employer will pay to have it washed out on the road. If the driver washes it at home or on his time off pay him for his time. I would pay the driver $25 dollars. But, I think 2 washes a month is a good number. Tell your drivers what you expect. Pay for the wash on the road or pay the driver for his time if he washes it himself.

 

I don't know if you'd consider it or not but the leasing companies offer good lease rates on 2 or 3 year old trucks returned from previous leases . There are many advantages to leasing including not risking getting shafted using unknown shops on the road when breakdowns occur . Leasing contracts also include washing the truck .

 

If you provided the means to do it I would think that would go a long way towards it being done.. I worked for a company that would pay for the cleaning supplies.. everything from paper towels, windex, rags, polish, armor all, ect... to the outside.. 2X a month I could use a truck wash to get the outside done.. In the shop we had steam cleaner, jewelers rouge, pads, soap, and the shop vac., All free to use if you wanted..

The biggest "key" was during the interview process, we were asked how we felt about certain things.. truck cleanlieness being one.. Stuff like home time, pay, compensation, ect.. was all in writing.. Mostly all we had to do was have a receipt and we could do anything.. (Up to $50.. over $50 you needed permission and a receipt)..