Do you look at safety ratings before you decide to drive for them

The best thing to do is check the score yourself, then call and ask the recruiter for the information you already know, and laugh as they fumble for an answer.

 

Absolutely I DO! I check everything I can under the sun about a potential new carrier.... I always have about 75 questions (sometimes more) for the carrier, dispatchers (I like to interview EVERYBODY), log people (if they have those), payroll, safety dept., maintenance, shop, mechanics, director of this and that and even the CEO.. That's what I did with my actual company... It's a small company though... I drove alllll the way from TN to OKC just to interview everybody.. including drivers.. those are the most important... they will tell you more than anybody else...
One of the reasons I chose the company I'm with now was because of their EXCELLENT safety record, and their equipment. Have been with them for over 5 yrs now and gone thru level I only twice. It's such a breeze to go thru the DOT inspection stations and always get that green ... But of course, I do my part in making sure the equipment is compliant and my weight is legal.
BTW, when I interview companies that don't give me all the answers, I know they are not for me....
There was one, I asked the dispatchers what mph they used when calculating duration of a trip... they smiled at each other and said I was asking "too much".... They said some of their trucks were governed at 70 others at 72 and 75... I checked their CSA score and found a lot of HOS violations, speeding and minor maintenance violations... I bet they push their drivers... regardless of their hrs, equipment problems, etc.....
I would not drive for a company like that...

 

I've never checked a CSA score a day in my life. I try to practice good legal habits, but it seems that I'm learning a new regulation daily. The only ones who seem to get targeted more regularly are small fleets and owner operators. They will get megas sometimes but not to the level of the small business man. When I worked for a medium size to mega, I never got inspected. Now that I work for a mom and pop, I hold my breath every time I cross a scale. I've been k spectee more times with this company than any other company.

 

I do and I also take a hard look at their equipment. If their trailers are rust buckets I keep walking. Cheap trucks like Cretes, Im walking.