Driver responsibility with the cleanliness of issued trucks?

Keep the HOS factor in mind . Say a driver gets in too late Friday evening . You may not want to interfere with his 34 hour restart by having him come in Saturday to wash the truck . If your drivers work less than 70 hours a week that wouldn't be an issue . But since trucks also need to be greased it may be worthwhile to hire a part-timer to come in and wash and grease trucks , check lights , and do minor repairs .

 

I don't like to drive a dirty truck inside or outside! It does make a bad impression to customers and also the state police where I live LOVE to pull over dirty trucks in an effort to get some money from fines.

If you hire me and let me wash the truck at a truck wash 2 times a month you will always have at least one clean truck on the road!!

 

Many drivers have no desire to spend any extra time on a truck or around a truck. They simply want to go home and enjoy their time off with their families. If they were that concerned about the trucks appearance they would probably be owner ops already. The fact that they are company drivers means they simply want the job to make money not to enter a truck show.

I for one will never wash a company truck "by hand." Nor would I spend any of my time doing it. The company can pay for the wash on the road or wash it at the terminal.

If you are that concerned with "appearances" then I agree with RickG when he suggested; "But since trucks also need to be greased it may be worthwhile to hire a part-timer to come in and wash and grease trucks , check lights , and do minor repairs."

I have seen trucks that were rolling trash cans and trucks that were so clean that it was doubtful they ever were work trucks at all. The bottom line should be "profitability." As long as the drivers don't; cut up the dash, splice wires, or vandalize the truck I would leave them alone (provided they were good workers and serviced my customers).

If you are too anal retentive about this stuff (like going into a drivers assigned truck and nosing around) you may lose some great workers. I for one would not work for anyone that entered MY truck without MY permission beforehand. Even if YOUR name is on the title if it is ASSIGNED to me so STAY OUT.

Bottom line is; If you trust me with a 100,000 tractor plus a customers freight to be delivered on time (without claims) then you should respect MY privacy.

Be sure your priorities are straight.

 

Lonesome,
I think your driver's are lucky to have a owner who cares the way you do. There is a dump truck company that is near my hometown that has 25 plus trucks. The owner by all brand new Pete's and KW's when a new truck is due. He requires the drivers to maintain and clean the truck and keep it immaculate. Granted they are not over the road, but they run 400-500 miles a day in and out of quarries. Every time I stop them they are the cleanest trucks I see. This company has a low turn over rate. when the driver's truck is up for a new one, the owner takes the driver with him and lets him pick which color combination (cab/fenders), interior colors and other options. The owner is a friend of mine and I have asked why he does this? He response is that "I treat them the way I want to be treated. I pay them well and in return I expect them to take care of their equipment. Because without their truck, they can't make a living. I also have very few driver's that don't stick around for a long time."

 

There is a difference when the driver is home every night. The dump driver does not work longer that 10 hours. Washes in the yard and is probably paid by the hour.

Me, after being out all week and having chores at home, truck is parked. If you want it washed, pay for it during the week. Clean the inside prior to me getting it and it will remain that way. Leave the stinky cig smelling mattress and you get the crap of the truck that way.

If the truck reeks, I sure am not going to waste the time to fix up your truck. I have a life. I will not wreck it or damage it, but get real.