Driver responsibility with the cleanliness of issued trucks?

I Dont know how it is everywhere else, but around here, but myself, all my friends and ex-co-workers, put everything they have into the truck. it is a big part of your life. (My wife used to call herself "the other wife") LOL!! But she would still help me clean, wash, etc. It pays the bills, take care of it, whether its your own, or the boss mans.

 

Without a manufacture. no job for either.

 

If your expecting your drivers to do something extra for you becouse your good to them you have a hard lesson coming my friend. Fact is the more you give, the more they expect from you. Its their job! You write the paycheck (being good to them) on time. If you have to be a "JERK", so be it. Its your co. to be ran as YOU see fit, not what somebody else thinks or how they feel. I may sound alittle extreme but I have been there. I think its a good thing that you feel the way you do about being good to them, as did I, but be good to them for what they do, not what you want them to do. Make it clear, what you expect, and if your expectations are not met it calls for termination. Do not allow yourself to be painted as all talk and no action. Also in your interviewing process bearinmind, anyone worth a hoot, is probly working somewhere, beware of people that are not employed, its usually because of them, not the co. they were working for as they all would have you believe.

 

I agree and disagree with Randall. That all may be a bit necessary with a large company, but I think Lonesome is creating a more familial outfit, and small enough to BE personal. Look what's happened to the mega companies! You'd might as well go to prison as work for them.
That said, I used to run hard as heck, illegal from the first run to the last, before it burned me out. I STILL kept the cab clean and got to the truckwash every time Prime would let me. My reasoning is this, and I mean to correct a WRONG perspective on many driver's part:
It doesn't mean a diddlydang wether or not my boss is my 'friend' or if the company treats other drivers like doggydoo, or if they expect a clean truck or a fast truck or slow.
What matters to me is MY sphere of operations, MY bottom line, which means how much money for how much hassle, safety that gets me home again, hometime, and the "tools" of my trade. In order to do my job satisfactorily I like equipment to work as it should and to have something to feel good about. That means to me, that the truck itself is part of my 'uniform'. The customer sees my clean clothes, haircut and shave/trim, right after seeing my clean truck in his yard. I've found even a 'forced' smile can open doors, and a ready right paw doesn't hurt either. (some guys just like to shake if they like ya)
I put on a bit of muscle since I hit the gyms at 46 and even that I notice changed people's attitudes towards me. (especially women, but don't tell the wife...) I think Lonesome has the right perspective on this: a professional demeanor and appearance signifies capability to a customer. For me personally, I can't feel good about looking trashy or ignore it; I'm too proud.
I apply all this to my construction business and it works. Less fighting on the bidprices, less 'freebies' expected, more alignment to MY schedule rather than theirs. The guy who taught me the remodeling business drove a wrecked truck, wore painter's pants and shirt (thought they made him look like a worker: they did) and had to fight for every dollar, and do a lot for free.

 

I've worked for a lot of different bosses over the years. I have found that the more insecure the boss is in his own mind, the bigger anal aperture he is. The man, or woman, who has confidence in him/herself is the one who is able to be a good supervisor. Keeping from becoming "buds" with the help, but knowing how to get the most out of them, with the least amount of negativity.

You get respect, by first off giving it, but also by holding yourself to a bit higher standard. A boss who tries to run his employees by terror, will never have any respect from them. Fear, yes. Respect, no.

One of the best ways to help yourself along these lines, is to develop a policy manual. It doesn't matter if you are running two trucks, or two thousand.

Have the policy manual. Give a copy to each driver, and require that they read it and become familiar with it. Insist that they sign a standardized form stating that they have read and understand all of the policies.

Keep that manual up to date, and make sure that each employee's is updated as well. Have regular driver/management meetings, if at all possible.

Having a policy, keeps both you and your employees on the same page. Including in that policy whatever penalty you deem fit for going out side of it, is essential.

The other essential is consistency. Do not play favorites with your employees. If employee A does something that is "punishable" but is let slide because he is such a good employee, it not only affects said employee A, but all the other employees who learn of it. Then when employee B does the same thing and you take whatever action is appropriate, because you have wanted to get rid of him anyway because he is a dirty, lazy slob, and you just don't like him so it gives you an excuse to fire his butt...

You have just handed employee B a good lawsuit for wrongful termination.

I have worked for outfits that just sort of made up policy as things happened. In other words, management by crises. Of course you change your policy as time and situations demand. But you do so the proper way.

You can't fire a guy for driving a pig pen today, THEN change the policy to include that as a terminating offense.

OK, I have to run do something, so my train of thought just derailed...


(coming honey...)