Driver Perks

Take this crap over to the political section. These comments in NO way answer a question or help the OP of this thread at all. Keep the hot air contained in its respective areas

 

Do you want to play real football or flag football?

If you REALLY want to play football, you are going to have to start with good coaches (good office personel, breakdown/roadservice, dispatchers). And then you have to recruit the best players. But see, the problem is, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM! Then you have to trust them to do the job and win the big game.

I do understand why trucking companies are the way they are...trying to hold drivers hands and micromanage them and keep them happy, while the drivers bellyache and complain about every little thing at the same time giving excuses why they got out of bed this morning and were not ready to work.

Years ago, I had a safety man ask me what do I do to be safe. I told him that the safest thing to do is to avoid bad situations as much as possible. If you know that I-35 between San Antonio and Dallas is 400 miles of hell most of the day, avoid it. The first snow...go ahead and park into the truckstop and let everyone who is going to die, go ahead and get out on the road and die. Point is this: If you have a driver, who through his work history in your company, had proven that he is a solid player, TRUST HIM. If he pulled off the road because of road conditions, trust him. If he says that he can make the deadline, trust him. Reward the drivers who have earned your trust. How do you do this? PRELOADS!

I understand why some dont want to preload drivers, because they book a load and the driver doesnt show up on time. But a good driver is like a force of nature. Unless the road gets shut down, he will be there.

Also, have an incentive for drivers to be good samaritans. If one of your drivers gets into a bind, and another driver gets him out, reward that driver for his teamwork.

One more thing...I see drivers mentioning home time. Your good, solid drivers...thats the core of your team. Strengthen the core. Get em home. Theres really no reason why a company cant get drivers home every 10 days. I know why they dont, some guys cant seem to leave the house and their loads wind up being delivered 3-4 days late. I'm not talking about these, I'm talking about A-Game players, the guys who do what they say theyre going to do. If they get near the house (within 200 miles), let them take a detour, run by the house, and chase mama around the bedroom. When they get done, they will eat, take a nap, and climb back into the truck. And if they need to take a 34 out on the road, get them a motel and tell them to get out of the truck. Theres still plenty of inexpensive motels out there where this shouldnt make a dent in your company's budget at all. 2 days in a motel (take a dump, shower at will, have an adult beverage and watch some TV) and he will be ready to rumble.

Contrary to what the beancounters may think, all drivers are not created equal. To a beancounter, "safety" is a way to make a crappy driver competitive. If a driver gets hurt because he couldnt walk and chew gum at the same time, the trucking companies will outlaw gum chewing all together. So instead of having 1 driver that couldnt walk and chew gum, you have a bunch of drivers that cant walk and chew gum. Safety rating drops through the toilet. Why? Why didnt the anti-gum chewing policy work? Because if a driver cant walk and chew gum at the same time, why the heck should he be allowed to drive a truck if you are really concerned about safety?

"Well, the guy that cant walk and chew gum at the same time runs for a cheaper rate than one that can walk and chew gum."

I see. But do you want to play football, or do you want to play flag football? When that safety rating drops, so does your freight base. $$$$

 

"Please", you forgot the magic word ... " Please " , without it I don't hear you !

 

Pay me for my time! If the truck breaks down, I should be paid. If it takes longer then 1 hour to load or unload, I should be paid. If I am available for a load and there isn't any, I should be paid. If I drive that truck 500 miles, I should be paid for 500 miles, not that pc miler crap. No one in your office works for free! Why should you drivers be expected too?

You, being a safety director, realize the impact of your CSA score. Many drivers will "Overlook" a problem with a trailer they might have just picked up because they only get paid when the wheels are turning. Pay these drivers a hourly wage while waiting to get the truck fixed and you will see your CSA scores improve as the driver would be more likely to make sure that any problem with the equipment is fixed as soon as possible.

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned is the ability to move up in the company. Some drivers might not ever want to move up but others might. The ability to climb the corporate ladder could help retain drivers who might have a goal of moving on to higher things.

I highly suggest that every dispatcher spend a week in the truck with a driver every year so they can understand what a driver has to deal with in their daily operations.

Ample time off should also be a consideration. 2 days off for every week out should be realistic. Get the driver home when he needs to be home is a must! More companies lose drivers for this one reason alone probably more then any other besides pay.

 

As a soon to be graduate from a local college CDL course, I applaud you pallet crusher for taking the time to find out what really entices a professional driver to stay with a company. It sounds like you want more than just steering wheel holders. Use the knowledge of the professionals on here and build a better company.

 

This, I'm not so sure about. Modern sleepers are more roomier than a Midtown Manhattan studio apartment. I think I'd rather take a 34 in my sleeper than in some "lowest common denominator" no-tell motel. Bedbugs, drug dealing, prostitution? I'd feel safer in my truck.

Mustn't mess with Mastertech, or his bird will eat me!

 

I work for a family owned company with about 130 trucks. On special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries etc and randomly throughout the year normally when you have gone above and beyond or a no violations DOT inspections they will reward you with a gift card. Normally $50 or more to a nice restaurant. Maybe a Visa or a gift card to a T/A would be better for an OTR driver. I really appreciate them doing this. Makes me feel like they actually appreciate me working for them.

Heck, along those lines and its something that doesnt cost the company a penny is a phone call (or in person) to say "thanks, your doing a great job". I hear that often and its a good feeling because I know that its sincere and not a forced thanks.

Dont forget to ask YOUR drivers for their input on your question about the perks.

Just be honest with and respect your drivers.

 

I couldn't agree more with the first suggestion! Too many times companies hire a driver, and that is all that driver ever will be, no matter what the driver's education, ability and desire is. He is "simply a dime a dozen truck driver." That attitude will lose a lot of good employes and potential management folks.

I don't know if the second suggestion is realistic or not. But it is something that should at least be looked at. One of the biggest problems that I see with it, could well be the driver's attitude about having someone else in "his" truck. I honestly think I would have had a problem with that, when I was OTR. It is one thing to have somebody else in the truck during your driving time, but having to put up with someone else in your "home," could create problems.

 

I have actually brought that up with my current dispatcher Judy. Her not being hard on the eyes has absolutely NOTHING to do with it.

The real reason would be when she dispatches me is to look at her and ask: "O.K. Judy..How the #### are we gonna do this?