Experienced Drivers - What drives you?

Nope. Not supervising staff of any kind again. Did it for for over 20 years Just going to work hard and go home now.

 

Praise the Lord, the Supervisors gone home, let's play!

 

Speed limit governed means 85 with a burst ability to 90. Texas has 85. And yes semis can run 85 safely. Traffic wont like it but tough. It's far worse to dip a semi into traffic at 60 max and then snarl it waiting for someone to slam in to the decapitation bar at 90 plus. The relative speed is enough and proven to take heads off once the trailer frame gets that far into the cabin.

 

What you have to understand is most truly experienced drivers already have something we're happy with. As Grumppy said, we're not looking. Average channels - magazine, internet, etc aren't going to work. Simply because the bottom feeders make up the vast majority of that content. Why would we even pick that up or click that link? We've paid our dues and we're not going to put up with bottom feeder shenanigans any more.

Honesty. Integrity. Steady work. On time pay. Mutual respect. Loyalty. Benefits. Home time. Answering the @$%= phone.

And even when you have all that it all boils down to money.

 

Or lack there of.

 

6 months is not a experience driver a experience driver has atleast 500k safe miles and atleast 5 years under his or her belt 6 months lol

 

As a newer driver who's been with far too many companies here's my answers to your questions then I'll throw in some extra insight.


1. What makes you want to join a particular company? Money. The money has to be there. I have to be able to support my family and pay my bills. And that's not just on loaded miles or the percentage of the load. That's on break down pay, multi stop loads, detention pay, lay over pay, reimbursements, party increases, good benefits that don't cost me 25% of my paycheck.

2. What factors make you leave a company? Disrespect, lying, constant breakdowns, making me feel like I'm just a number rather than one of the gears in the engine.

3. What incentives would make you want to stay with a company? Recognition, obtainable bonuses for safety, mileage per gallon, pay increases for reaching milestones.

4. Are there any particular things you look for in a trucking advertisement? Graphics, visuals, information that appeal to you? Advertisements mean nothing to me, I ask one of your driver's how the company is, if they give me a decent run down and it sounds like he's happy, I'll call you.

5. Where do you see yourself in regards to trucking in 1 year? 5 years? In 1 year, hopefully where I am now, in 5 years maybe having enough saved up to buy my own truck.

 

Pay at the end of the day we are all out here to make a living for our families if the company won't or can't pay us enough to do so the we go elsewhere.... So decent enough CPM/hourly pay combined with miles/hours to me the rest is just a bonus... Give me a truck that will pull a load legally and safely and pay me right for it and I'll do it otherwise f off

 

The best carriers don't have to advertise, because their reputations precede them.

Payroll discrepancies. Micromanagement. In-cab cameras. Favoritism. Poor maintenance. Second-rate equipment with undesirable specs. Incompetent and/or apathetic dispatchers. Safety Dept constantly amending and/or implementing new policies. Expecting me to pay company expenses (lumpers, scales, tolls, repairs, etc.) and then wait for reimbursement at the company's leisure. Finding out that the recruiter was dishonest in their portrayal of the company.

An honest dispatcher who treats me as an equal, not an underling. Management expecting drivers to earn their safety bonuses. Getting me home on time.

I want specific information instead of vague generalities and empty phrases. "$0.40 per loaded mile, practical miles" instead of "top pay." "Minimum 2 weeks out earns you 2 days off" is better than "great hometime." And I don't care what your top driver earned last year, tell me what an average first-year driver grossed on his/her W2. Also, I don't want to see an attractive young woman depicted in your ad unless she'll be my co-driver.

1 year: I will still be driving for my current employer.
5 years: I will have completed by bachelor's degree and will hopefully be in a supervisory or management position.