Driver responsibility with the cleanliness of issued trucks?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Lonesome7.3, Apr 13, 2009.

  1. Passin Thru

    Passin Thru Road Train Member

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    YUP! I ran with the same group. Got a lot of comments too. For awhile pulled Snickers M&M trailers and everyone seemed to think I stoped and gave free samples.
    I will always dislike reefers, too much noise but we did't have to lump em anyway.
     
  2. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    I was carrying PowerAid out to Tempe,Az from Chattanooga. Back in those days there was nothing between ElPaso and Tucson. Daytime temps in the summer could be near 130 but would drop to 60 at night. If you rubbed down the truck a little everyday, it was easy to maintain the shine and the polish.
     
  3. Lonesome7.3

    Lonesome7.3 Medium Load Member

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    I love hearing those kind of stories. The "this is how we use to do it" stories I think are my favorite.
     
    Ducks Thanks this.
  4. Red Fox

    Red Fox Road Train Member

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    I give belated thanks to TripleSix and the crew for keeping me awake and entertained over many a long night. Especially those runs across I-10 to Cally. Sometimes it would be morning before you wanted it to be because the convo was that good.
     
  5. Lonesome7.3

    Lonesome7.3 Medium Load Member

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    I wish I could say I knew how that felt. Most of the convoys I have been on were not that enjoyable.
     
  6. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    I hear ya on that one. A good convoy with good conversation can help you roll 1000 miles overnight. Its harder to do nowadays. Seems like so many guys want to get on the CB and talk about something they heard on CNN/FoxNews/ or one of those paranoid radio programs on the AM bands. The news is staged. Pro wrestling is more real than the national news.
     
  7. Lonesome7.3

    Lonesome7.3 Medium Load Member

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    :biggrin_2559: That would be funnier if is was not so true. :biggrin_25523:
     
  8. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I realize I'm late to the party, but my opinion on cleaning is this.

    Give the driver a clean truck when he hires and tell them you expect it to stay that way obviously with in reason. The interior is where the driver lives and its all him to keep that clean. Devise some sort of incentive if you have to to help with this. $50 monthly bonus would be one idea. Or maybe a $25 cash bonus, some thing to be worth while. If the truck is dirty and stays dirty after a warning they get docked $25 or $50 to pay some one to clean it.
    Some drivers might give so little of a #### about the interior they would take the hit every month to avoid cleaning.

    The exterior is much larger and costlier to keep clean, that is a good tax write off for you. I might check into a flat fee to have a wash service clean em every weekend, or every other weekend depending on weather and how much dirt/mud your company typically gets into. I can promise you that even as a former O/O the last thing I felt like doing on the weekend was washing the truck.
     
    Lonesome7.3 Thanks this.
  9. Lonesome7.3

    Lonesome7.3 Medium Load Member

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    Thanks, that is good advice.
     
  10. Red Fox

    Red Fox Road Train Member

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    No kiddin'.
    Even back when, it was like drinking: one good time in ten. But being the addict, you'd remember only the good time and look over the nine lousy ones.
    I get so tired of these jerks who have to drag out their dirty laundry every time the adults are talking. My regular runs to Savanna with the wife are usually spent listening to FM these days.