Any and all questions about what companies are looking for in drivers!

Hey Pintlehook . . . in theory the relay system would help, but it can get pretty pricey, and still difficult to execute for time sensitive freight. That's why intermodal hasn't taken over . . . so much freight these days is "just in time" that 1 truck dispatch is still the most reliable. The biggest variable with relays are trying to sync driver styles and abilities. Many drivers have no issue driving 600+ miles on a 14/11, but many drivers can't/won't . . . especially if it gets late at night.

 

All the nannying is upsetting. I went to an orientation in MA for a company called Regency transportation. At the orientation the safety rep couldn't sit more than 3 minutes before having to get up and call a driver to pull over and explain why he broke hard or turned too fast around a corner.
I asked what the deal was and he showed us the computer models gpsing the trucks and told us that there's a warning system that can get you fired for this kind of behavior. UGH

Of course it wasn't long after that I left to drive home.
Ive been bouncing around a few friends doing 1099 work with unregulated uncensored uncameraed vehicles.

Im always on the hunt for a good company tha offers a good old fashioned promise and makes me want to work 110 percent.
But Im seeing fewer and fewer of those types and mostly out west where I d never see home anyway.
\

These recruiters that never drove are mostly unqualified to offer specific advice on important issues that would make me want to make 1000 mile trip to an orientation.
And it would be great to find a company where a driver can advance his time in and then become a recruiter or dispatcher etc.


Oh well, I am at the point where I just want to stay with a company to retire with and be one of those ugly mugs I see in those magazines with 1 or 2 million mile
high awards.

 

Unfortunately going with a small Co. usually limits your home time options, and they want recent experience, not from back in the "stone age". I know. I've put out a few "feelers".

 

The industry isn't very good at identifying and culling the "good" drivers from "bad" . . . and what that really means. You ask 10 drivers what a "good" driver is, you'll get 5 different answers . . . and a fist fight. So companies design their programs for some sort of middle ground that by nature isn't the most efficient.

The reality is drivers often don't want the truth, although everyone says they do. I tell drivers that they'll AVERAGE 2300/miles a week, but most companies say 2500-3000 miles. Do I get credit for telling the truth? Nope, most times I get drivers telling me how crappy my company must be. They go to the company that promises 3000 miles, and are pissed off 3 weeks later when that's not the truth . . . even though we all know that wasn't ever going to be the truth.

 

I'm a recruiter (want to be upfront about that), but from my experience it's tough. You really want to make sure that you get 6-12 months of otr under your belt fast so that you qualify for the better paying jobs. Unfortunately most carriers that will offer you otr don't compensate very well. I say find the best one for your situation/location, treat it like boot camp, and move on to the next/better position as soon as you can.

 

what do you do to tell a good driver from a bad? what do you look for as a recruiter?

 

It's impossible to tell, but most company standards are pretty similar. . . look at 3 year MVR & DAC reports and then whatever the particular company policies re: experience, etc.

My company is pretty lax really: 1 year recent OTR, Hazmat/tanker, no more than 2 DOT reportable accidents, no more than 2 moving violations (if minor can make exceptions for 3). - these are all pretty standard.

Most companies won't hire a driver if a speeding tix more than 15 mph, I can.
Most companies won't hire if "following too closely/tailgating", I can.
Most companies won't hire if more than 3 jobs in past year, or 5 in past 2 years.

Aside from that, how do you tell if a driver is good or not? Sometimes the DAC will show however many non DOT's, preventable/nonpreventable, but it's normally pretty empty, or things like "abandoned under dispatch"

 

Ads online, truck stop magazines . . .

That's a good question though, where do you look for jobs?

 

For sure they're tougher to find, but I know 2 small fleets in Chicago that will hire new drivers and pay them the same scale as their experienced driver . . . you have to find them though, they won't find you . . . one of them does back and forth from Chicago to PHX, so home every weekend